Australian Geography Competition details

Competition details

Running the Competition

We send you a set of multiple-choice questions for each participating student. These include knowledge and skill questions, within the time constraints of responding to stimulus material. We also send you an answer sheet for each participating student. Please check that you have received the right number when they arrive. We are not infallible.

You run the Competition under test conditions over a 35-minute period between 28 March and 6 April.

You send the completed answer sheets to us, postmarked no later than Thursday 7 April 2011. The answer sheets are computer marked.

Students' individual results and certificates – high distinction, distinction, credit or participation – and school participation certificates are returned to you by early June. All students correctly filling in their identification receive a certificate.

Age levels

Students are graded at three levels depending on their age on 31 August 2011. This cut-off date is determined by the age requirements of the international competitions, participation in which forms the major prizes. The students' printed scores, percentiles and certificate categories are calculated within their age cohorts

Junior level. For students 13 years or younger on 31 August 2011. These students' scores and certificates are graded using Questions 1-30. The highest-scoring student in Australia, in each State and in the combined Territories (ACT, NT and the External Territories), and a small number of other high-scoring students, each receive a book prize and certificate. Junior students may choose to answer Questions 1-40 for the chance to win prizes at the intermediate level. They should still fill in their correct age.

Intermediate level. For students 14 or 15 years old on 31 August 2011. These students' scores and certificates are graded using Questions 1-40. The highest-scoring student in each State and in the combined Territories, and the student receiving the next highest score in Australia, each win a fun-packed weekend to Sydney to compete in the Final for the under 16s, a book prize and certificate. Tied students are separated with questions given orally in pre-arranged telephone calls. Other very high scoring students and Territory winners each win a book prize and certificate. Junior students completing Questions 1-40 are also eligible for these prizes.

Senior level. For students 16 years or older on 31 August 2011. These students' scores and certificates are graded using Questions 16-50. Prizes at this level use scores with a weighting on the final 10 questions and tied students may be separated using school assessment. The highest-scoring student in Australia, in each State and in the combined Territories each receive a medal, book prize and certificate. For students in Year 11 or lower, the highest-scoring male and female students in each State and the combined Territories each win a place at Geography's Big Week Out in Victoria. A small number of other high-scoring students may also be awarded either of these prizes at the discretion of the organisers.

Final for under 16s

The Final for under 16s will be held in Sydney on 6 June 2011. It is an oral competition held before an audience. Costs (airfares, accommodation, meals, entertainment) of participation in the Final, and in the prize weekend preceding it, are met by the organisers. The prizes decided by the Final are:

First: all-expenses-paid trip to the 2011 National Geographic World Championship in San Francisco; $300; book prize; certificate

Second: play-off with second-placed student from 2010 for trip to the 2011 National Geographic World Championship; $200; book prize; certificate

Third: $100; book prize; certificate

Geography's Big Week Out

The 2011 Geography's Big Week Out will be held in Victoria, at a date yet to be confirmed. The event is a mix of stimulating and hands-on geography activities designed to challenge and extend high-performing senior students. Costs (airfares, accommodation, meals, entertainment) of participation in the Big Week Out are met by the organisers. The four members of Australia's team to the 2012 International Geography Olympiad in Germany will be selected based on students' performances during the 2011 Big Week Out. Australia's team to the 2011 Asia-Pacific Regional Geography Olympiad in Mexico is being selected from participants in the 2010 Big Week Out.

School prizes

A book prize and framed certificate will be awarded to the top school in Australia, each State and the combined Territories, based on the scores of school's best 5 students under 16 and best 5 students 16 years and over.

Entry deadline

If getting a school cheque is causing delays, then enter provisionally online or by fax (07 3367 1011) by 28 February, and send the cheque with the entry form to be received no later than Monday 14 March 2011. We recommend that you provisionally enter by fax or the internet unless you know the cheque has been posted on time. Entry forms do get held up in some school offices.

Changes to
entry

If, after paying to enter, a school wishes to withdraw from the Competition or reduce the number of participating students, the organisers must receive notification of this in writing by 10.00 am Monday 14 March 2011. A refund will be made, less a $20.00 handling fee. No refund will be given if notification is received after the specified time.

If a school wishes to increase its number of students, we need to receive notification of this by 10.00 am Monday 14 March 2011. You may also use any spare answer sheets sent in the Competition pack for additional students and send the extra payment back with the answer sheets. You may NOT use photocopies of answer sheets as they cannot be computer marked.

Dates of Competition

We recommend that all students from one school complete the Competition on the same day. It is up to the school which of the days between 28 March and 6 April is chosen. We realise that not all schools can arrange to have all their students compete on the same day so, if necessary, schools may spread the Competition over two or more days.

If your school cannot compete between 28 March and 6 April, then you may hold the Competition as soon as possible before those dates. The planned dates for the Competition to be put into the mail to schools are 15-18 March. If for any reason you are forced to hold the competition after 6 April then you must notify the organisers of this. In that event, and as long as we receive the answer sheets by 15 April, your students will be marked and receive certificates, but will not be eligible to receive prizes.

Security

Competition question sets must be under the teacher's control until 7 April 2011. Although the possibility exists of a student hearing some questions from another, such a student would not succeed in the Final for under 16s or the selection process for the international competitions. On balance, we believe that the disadvantages of insisting that the Competition be held everywhere at the same time outweigh the problem of possible cheating.

Distance
education, home
school and
vision-impaired
students

We can be more flexible with dates for Schools of Distance Education. Teachers should contact Kath Berg to discuss any problems. For distance education and home school students to be eligible for prizes they must complete the Competition under test conditions. Teachers of vision-impaired students should contact Kath Berg to discuss options.

Past questions

Past Competition questions are available on the web. Schools can obtain single copies from some past years by sending to us an A4-sized stamped envelope addressed to the school.

Last updated 22 December 2010. For more information email admin@rgsq.org.au
Return to home.

Competition details
Running the Competition	We send you a set of multiple-choice questions for each participating student. These include knowledge and skill questions, within the time constraints of responding to stimulus material. We also send you an answer sheet for each participating student. Please check that you have received the right number when they arrive. We are not infallible. You run the Competition under test conditions over a 35-minute period between 28 March and 6 April. You send the completed answer sheets to us, postmarked no later than Thursday 7 April 2011. The answer sheets are computer marked. Students' individual results and certificates – high distinction, distinction, credit or participation – and school participation certificates are returned to you by early June. All students correctly filling in their identification receive a certificate.
Age levels	Students are graded at three levels depending on their age on 31 August 2011. This cut-off date is determined by the age requirements of the international competitions, participation in which forms the major prizes. The students' printed scores, percentiles and certificate categories are calculated within their age cohorts Junior level. For students 13 years or younger on 31 August 2011. These students' scores and certificates are graded using Questions 1-30. The highest-scoring student in Australia, in each State and in the combined Territories (ACT, NT and the External Territories), and a small number of other high-scoring students, each receive a book prize and certificate. Junior students may choose to answer Questions 1-40 for the chance to win prizes at the intermediate level. They should still fill in their correct age. Intermediate level. For students 14 or 15 years old on 31 August 2011. These students' scores and certificates are graded using Questions 1-40. The highest-scoring student in each State and in the combined Territories, and the student receiving the next highest score in Australia, each win a fun-packed weekend to Sydney to compete in the Final for the under 16s, a book prize and certificate. Tied students are separated with questions given orally in pre-arranged telephone calls. Other very high scoring students and Territory winners each win a book prize and certificate. Junior students completing Questions 1-40 are also eligible for these prizes. Senior level. For students 16 years or older on 31 August 2011. These students' scores and certificates are graded using Questions 16-50. Prizes at this level use scores with a weighting on the final 10 questions and tied students may be separated using school assessment. The highest-scoring student in Australia, in each State and in the combined Territories each receive a medal, book prize and certificate. For students in Year 11 or lower, the highest-scoring male and female students in each State and the combined Territories each win a place at Geography's Big Week Out in Victoria. A small number of other high-scoring students may also be awarded either of these prizes at the discretion of the organisers.
Final for under 16s	The Final for under 16s will be held in Sydney on 6 June 2011. It is an oral competition held before an audience. Costs (airfares, accommodation, meals, entertainment) of participation in the Final, and in the prize weekend preceding it, are met by the organisers. The prizes decided by the Final are: First: all-expenses-paid trip to the 2011 National Geographic World Championship in San Francisco; $300; book prize; certificate Second: play-off with second-placed student from 2010 for trip to the 2011 National Geographic World Championship; $200; book prize; certificate Third: $100; book prize; certificate
Geography's Big Week Out	The 2011 Geography's Big Week Out will be held in Victoria, at a date yet to be confirmed. The event is a mix of stimulating and hands-on geography activities designed to challenge and extend high-performing senior students. Costs (airfares, accommodation, meals, entertainment) of participation in the Big Week Out are met by the organisers. The four members of Australia's team to the 2012 International Geography Olympiad in Germany will be selected based on students' performances during the 2011 Big Week Out. Australia's team to the 2011 Asia-Pacific Regional Geography Olympiad in Mexico is being selected from participants in the 2010 Big Week Out.
School prizes	A book prize and framed certificate will be awarded to the top school in Australia, each State and the combined Territories, based on the scores of school's best 5 students under 16 and best 5 students 16 years and over.
Entry deadline	If getting a school cheque is causing delays, then enter provisionally online or by fax (07 3367 1011) by 28 February, and send the cheque with the entry form to be received no later than Monday 14 March 2011. We recommend that you provisionally enter by fax or the internet unless you know the cheque has been posted on time. Entry forms do get held up in some school offices.
Changes to entry	If, after paying to enter, a school wishes to withdraw from the Competition or reduce the number of participating students, the organisers must receive notification of this in writing by 10.00 am Monday 14 March 2011. A refund will be made, less a $20.00 handling fee. No refund will be given if notification is received after the specified time. If a school wishes to increase its number of students, we need to receive notification of this by 10.00 am Monday 14 March 2011. You may also use any spare answer sheets sent in the Competition pack for additional students and send the extra payment back with the answer sheets. You may NOT use photocopies of answer sheets as they cannot be computer marked.
Dates of Competition	We recommend that all students from one school complete the Competition on the same day. It is up to the school which of the days between 28 March and 6 April is chosen. We realise that not all schools can arrange to have all their students compete on the same day so, if necessary, schools may spread the Competition over two or more days. If your school cannot compete between 28 March and 6 April, then you may hold the Competition as soon as possible before those dates. The planned dates for the Competition to be put into the mail to schools are 15-18 March. If for any reason you are forced to hold the competition after 6 April then you must notify the organisers of this. In that event, and as long as we receive the answer sheets by 15 April, your students will be marked and receive certificates, but will not be eligible to receive prizes.
Security	Competition question sets must be under the teacher's control until 7 April 2011. Although the possibility exists of a student hearing some questions from another, such a student would not succeed in the Final for under 16s or the selection process for the international competitions. On balance, we believe that the disadvantages of insisting that the Competition be held everywhere at the same time outweigh the problem of possible cheating.
Distance education, home school and vision-impaired students	We can be more flexible with dates for Schools of Distance Education. Teachers should contact Kath Berg to discuss any problems. For distance education and home school students to be eligible for prizes they must complete the Competition under test conditions. Teachers of vision-impaired students should contact Kath Berg to discuss options.
Past questions	Past Competition questions are available on the web. Schools can obtain single copies from some past years by sending to us an A4-sized stamped envelope addressed to the school.
Last updated 22 December 2010. For more information email admin@rgsq.org.au Return to home.