Projects entered into the YRSTF will be judged according to criteria established by the Canada Wide Science Fair. Projects are judged in three areas:
- Scientific Thought
- Originality and Creativity
- Communication
Please consult the CWSF Judging Form for more details on the criteria being evaluated. Projects will be judged within their age divisions.
Projects will be judged within their age divisions and within their topic category. Successful projects may earn honourable mentions, bronze medals, silver medals, or gold medals. Projects that earn Gold medals, regardless of age or category, are eligible to compete in the Canada Wide Science Fair. The number of Gold Medals award is determined by the Canada Wide Science Fair allocation and available funding.
Each project is judged three times, by 3 independent judges, using the CWSF Judging Form. Projects are identified by a unique YRSTF project number and the student names. School names are only used for registration and communication purposes only. School names should not be listed on the project board.
In order to support fair and equitable judging practices, all volunteer judges are provided with the Judges Training Manual http://bit.ly/YRSTF_JUDGES that highlights the following policies and procedures:
- Projects are only identified to judges by the unique YRSTF project number and student name(s). School names are not shared.
- Judges are to spend the full 15 minutes with each project, listening to the presentation and asking questions.
- During judging, judges focus on the process of student work, scientific method, design thinking, problem- solving skills, and presentation skills. Evaluation is based on the judges rubric.
- Judges do not share any details with the students about their final score, where marks were allocated, or how the project compares to other projects. Feedback is provided anonymously at the end of the fair.
- Judges do not discuss projects on the exhibit floor in the presence of others.
- Students MUST acknowledge the contributions of any adults who have mentored them through the process in their final report. Students must be able to clearly articulate a strong understanding of the scientific process, scientific principles, and have a clear understanding of their work.
- Projects completed in a scientific laboratory with a mentor should be judged in the same manner as all other projects with a focus on scientific thought, originality and creativity and communication, as per the CWSF Judging Form.
