Preparation for Judges

  1. Instructions for Divisional Award Judges
  2. Instructions for Special Award Judges
  3. Tips for a Good Judging Experience

Instructions for Divisional Award Judges

Before the Science Fair

  • Visit all the pages under the drop down menu item Judges on this page: https://tvsef.ca

On Science Fair Day

  • Come to your judging room at 9:00 am
  • Find your folder and name badge.
  • If you are judging as a member of a pair of judges, the Division Chief may ask you to replace a missing judge.
  • Judge your projects from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. (Round One)
  • Meet with the other judges on your team at one table. You have each judged the same 6 (or fewer) projects.
  • Enter your individual rankings on the Exhibit Ranking Sheet.
  • Discuss to determine final rankings.
  • Round two of judging is available from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
  • Decide on awards: Gold, Silver, Bronze Medals. Are any of these projects possible Canada Wide Science Fair candidates?
  • Thank you for contributing your time to encourage Canada’s next generation of young scientists.

Instructions for Special Award Judges

Before the Science Fair

  • Visit all the pages under the drop down menu item Judges on this page: https://tvesf.ca
  • Review the titles of the projects to create a short list of eligible projects.

At the Science Fair

  • Meet in your judging room at 10:00 am.
  • Introduce yourself, the award you are judging, and it’s age category.
  • View the Judging Briefing for Special Award Judges.
  • Identify any other judges who are judging the same award.
  • Review the Share the Wealth rules. These pairs of awards must be awarded to different students.
    • Research Western Award and the Western Engineering Summer Academy.
    • Engineers Choice Award and the IEEE Award.
  • If you are judging as a pair, the Special Award Chair may ask you to replace a missing judge for another award.
  • Judge your projects from 10:00 am – 11:30 am, and from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
  • Meet in your judging room to review your results and give your final decision to the Special Award Chief.
  • Thank you for contributing your time to encourage Canada’s next generation of young scientists.

Tips to ensure the exhibitors and you have a successful judging experience.

  • Introduce yourself – where do you come from, what do you do. Ask the students likewise.
  • Ask them what grade they are in. You might be surprised.
  • Ask questions in an upbeat and positive manner, remembering that these are elementary and high school projects, not MSc or PhD candidates.
  • The interview by Division Judges must last for 15 minutes. The students have worked very hard, and even the weakest exhibit is entitled to a full and rewarding interview.
  • Finish by telling the students how much you have enjoyed your time with them, and find two things about their presentation to praise.
  • Leave five minutes to fill in the Judge’s Marking Sheet.
  • Do not comment in any public area on any exhibit where an exhibitor or parent can hear you. The competition is intense, and rumours abound.
  • If you find an exhibit that you are unqualified to judge, or in which you have a conflict of interest, please inform your Category & Division Chief immediately.

PLEASE KEEP TO TIME!

Download these tips in pdf format