FAQs + Rules Changes

One of the most popular sections of the Science Olympiad website is the Frequently Asked Questions page, known as FAQs. While some might think of a FAQ page as a place you can only find general answers, Science Olympiad also uses the term “FAQs” to serve as an important question-and-answer forum for students, coaches and National Event Supervisors to ask for and receive deeper explanation of the Science Olympiad Rules. 

On the FAQ page, questions will be reviewed by Science Olympiad’s national team of experts. A question that rises to the level of requiring an answer shows the Science Olympiad experts that there is something written that needs more explanation, and should be noted by all students and Event Supervisors.

When a question submitted alerts Science Olympiad to something that needs to be changed in the rules, such as a misspelling, an omission or to explain measurement terminology, Science Olympiad will issue a Rules Clarification. A Rules Clarification, as stated on our website pages, is made to “correct the rules in the Science Olympiad Rules Manual.” 

Over time, there has been confusion over the weight that should be given to the answers to FAQs and the Rules Clarifications. While State Directors, Event Supervisors and Tournament Directors are trained to review Rules Clarifications before running a tournament, knowing that they are actual CHANGES to the rules, some forget to review the answers to the FAQs that have been asked, reviewed and posted. Science Olympiad will continue to educate our members on the importance of reviewing BOTH the Rules Clarifications/Rules Changes, and the FAQs and their Answers. By reviewing the FAQs and Answers (which in many cases reveal common misunderstandings), Event Supervisors and Tournament Directors will add to their learning about the Science Olympiad event they are supervising, and be prepared to run the event armed with the latest information.

To Submit a Question or Review Answers to Previously Asked Questions

To Review Rules Clarifications/Changes for the 2024 Science Olympiad Season