Rules Corrections
Submit a Question is now CLOSED for the 2026 Season. Official Rules Clarifications/Corrections are made to clarify or correct the rules in the Science Olympiad Rules Manuals. Rules Clarifications are replies to commonly asked questions. If a response changes the meaning or corrects a rule it will be posted as an Offical Rules Correction. The Official Rules Corrections and Clarifications apply to all states and all tournaments and originate at the National level (please check your Regional or State Website for special updates pertaining to your regional or state events). Click here to view Event Clarifications or to Submit a Question. The official event rules can be found in the Science Olympiad Rules Manual free online; each registered member must join through their state Science Olympiad organization to participate.
2026 Science Olympiad Official Rules Corrections
Science Olympiad is issuing Rules Corrections for the following competitive events that should be applied to all competitions for the 2026 Season:
Helicopter B (10/13/25)
This rule correction is to correct the omission of a word from the original text.
Original rule
3.f.(sentence 1) The helicopter may use up to three fixed rotors.
Corrected Rule
3.f.(sentence 1) The helicopter may use up to three fixed pitch rotors.
Helicopter C (10/13/25)
This rule correction is to correct the omission of a word from the original text.
Original rule
3.f.(sentence 1) The helicopter may use up to three fixed rotors.
Corrected Rule
3.f.(sentence 1) The helicopter may use up to three fixed pitch rotors.
Robot Tour C (10/13/25)
This rule correction fixes a typo in the original text.
Original rule
5.h.ii. No 2x4 Obstacle Penalty: 50 points added to all Run Scores when a team chooses to to run with the 2x4 Obstacles.
Corrected Rule
5.h.ii. No 2x4 Obstacle Penalty: 50 points added to all Run Scores when a team chooses to to run without the 2x4 Obstacles.
Metric Mastery B (10/13/25)
This rule correction fixes miscalculations with incorrect multipliers in the scoring examples.
Original rule
4.d.iii.(three point scoring example) For three points: within-0.20: 13.25 cm x 22.12 cm = 293.0 cm2, within +0.20: 13.65 cm x 22.52 cm = 307.4 cm2.
4.d.iii.(one point scoring example) For one point: within-0.30: 13.25 cm x 22.02 cm = 289.6 cm2, within +0.20: 13.75 cm x 22.62 cm = 311.0 cm2.
4.d.iii.(range bullet) Measurements outside the range 289.6 cm2 to 311.0 cm2 will receive zero points
Corrected Rule
4.d.iii.(three point scoring example) For three points: within-0.17: 13.28 cm x 22.15 cm = 294.2 cm2, within +0.17: 13.62 cm x 22.49 cm = 306.3 cm2.
4.d.iii.(one point scoring example) For one point: within-0.22: 13.15 cm x 22.10 cm = 290.6 cm2, within +0.22: 13.67 cm x 22.54 cm = 308.1 cm2.
4.d.iii.(range bullet) Measurements outside the range 292.4 cm2 to 308.1 cm2 will receive zero points
Bungee Drop C (10/13/25)
This rule correction is to correct the omission of a word from the original text.
Original rule
6.c.i. The Drop Distance is defined as the distance between the lowest point of the mass and the landing surface on its initial descent.
Corrected Rule
6.c.i. The Drop Distance is defined as the distance (in centimeters) between the lowest point of the mass and the landing surface on its initial descent.
Engineering CAD C (11/06/25)
This rule correction is to correct a missing minus sign in the original formula in rule 4.c. for the delta mass calculation. There should be a minus sign between mass(student) and mass(correct).
Corrected Formula
Water Quality B (11/06/25)
This rule correction is to remove an incorrectly classified organism (Water Scorpion) from the Class I indicator column.
Original List
Class I - Pollution Sensitive Mayfly, Caddisfly, Stonefly, Dobsonfly, Gilled Snails, Water Penny, Riffle Beetle, Water Scorpion
Corrected List
Class I - Pollution Sensitive Mayfly, Caddisfly, Stonefly, Dobsonfly, Gilled Snails, Water Penny, Riffle Beetle
Water Quality C (11/06/25)
This rule correction is to remove an incorrectly classified organism (Water Scorpion) from the Class I indicator column.
Original List
Class I - Pollution Sensitive Mayfly, Caddisfly, Stonefly, Dobsonfly, Gilled Snails, Water Penny, Riffle Beetle, Water Scorpion
Corrected List
Class I - Pollution Sensitive Mayfly, Caddisfly, Stonefly, Dobsonfly, Gilled Snails, Water Penny, Riffle Beetle
Machines B (12/06/25)
This rule correction is to detail which time is to be used in calculating the Time Score.
Original Rule
Rule 6.c. Time Score (TS) = ((240-team's part II time in seconds)/240)x 15 points
Corrected Rule
Rule 6.c. Time Score (TS) = ((240-team's part II Device Test time in seconds)/240)x 15 points
Machines C (12/06/25)
This rule correction is to detail which time is to be used in calculating the Time Score.
Original Rule
Rule 6.c. Time Score (TS) = ((240-team's part II time in seconds)/240)x 15 points
Corrected Rule
Rule 6.c. Time Score (TS) = ((240-team's part II Device Test time in seconds)/240)x 15 points
