• Judges will be in teams of two or three people.
  • Interview Length: 8 to 10 minutes - Keep the same for each participant.
  • Judges conduct interviews. The participants will not have a presentation prepared.
  • Ask questions based on your initial review of research display boards.
  • Sample Questions (https://cusef.byu.edu/judges/possible-judge-questions/)
    • Explain your project.
    • What was your question/problem?
    • What was your hypothesis?
    • What was your control?
    • What was your variable(s)?
    • How did you test your hypothesis?
    • What were the results of your tests?
    • How did others help you with your project?
    • What is your conclusion?
    • Could you have come up with another conclusion?
    • Did you run into any problems?
    • How would you do your project differently if you did it again?
    • What are your unanswered questions?
    • What did you learn from your project?
    • Did you have fun doing your project?
    • Would you like to continue your project in the future?
    • If you do continue with your project, how would you proceed?
    • How did you come up with your idea?
    • How does your project relate to other research?
    • Does your project have practical applications?
    • Why did you choose to do a science fair project?
    • How much time did you spend on your experiments?
  • LVSF does not use a rubric to determine winners.
  • After interviews, you will caucus with your team of judges to determine winners.
  • Each judged category and grade must have a single first place winner. No ties!
  • One second place winner for second and third place as well.
  • You may award multiple Honorable Mentions. This is encouraged for larger categories.
  • Judge the project compared to the other projects in the grade and category, not to an outside standard.
  • If you see a project that’s “been done before,” remember, not for them.
  • Use your interview questions to clear up any doubts if you do not believe the work is the participant’s own.
  • Judge this year’s work only for Continuation Projects.
  • Each member of a Team Project should have a key role in the work.
  • They should be able to articulate what they did and be familiar with the work of the others.
  • Participants may be nervous!
  • This could be the first time participants have ever been interviewed by adults they have never met.
  • You can provide feedback and offer suggestions for the next time they participate.
  • When interviews are complete return to the judge’s area to caucus.
  • Once your group has completed the results sheet submit it to Jill at the head table in the judging area.