Judge Training & Orientation

This training guide prepares judges for a fair, consistent, and supportive evaluation experience at the Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair.

Judges evaluating student projects

Interviewing students during judging

Orientation and training session

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What Will Be Covered in the Orientation Session

Overview of judging responsibilities
How scoring works and how to use the judging form
How to conduct a student interview
How to evaluate scientific thought and engineering design
How to identify creativity and originality
How to assess communication and display quality
How to remain objective and supportive
How final deliberations work
Review of safety, ethics, and student privacy
Walkthrough of the venue and judging areas

Orientation Dates

Online Judge Orientation — TBA
Optional Q&A Session — TBA
Final Briefing — April 10 (morning of the fair)
2026 Judge's orientation Slideshow (PDF)
2026 Judge's Day of Orientation Slideshow (PDF)

What Judges Need to Know

Judges evaluate projects based on scientific thought, creativity, communication, and overall project quality. The goal is to encourage students and recognize excellence. Judges must remain objective, supportive, and consistent across all interviews.

What to Look For in a Project

Clear purpose and well‑defined question
Use of scientific method or engineering design
Quality of experimentation, testing, or prototyping
Understanding of results and limitations
Creativity and originality
Quality of display board and communication

Tips for Judging

Be friendly and approachable
Let the student lead the conversation
Ask open‑ended questions
Encourage nervous students
Take notes discreetly
Avoid comparing students directly

How to Conduct an Interview

Before the interview:

Review the project summary
Prepare 3–5 questions
Approach the student with a smile

During the interview:

Let the student explain their project first
Ask follow‑up questions
Encourage deeper thinking
Keep the tone supportive

After the interview:

Thank the student
Complete scoring immediately
Write brief notes for deliberation

Interview Length: 20 minutes per project

Sample Questions to Ask

What inspired your project?
What was your hypothesis or design goal?
How did you test your idea?
What challenges did you face?
What would you improve if you had more time?
What did you learn from your results?

Judging Form & Handbook

Review the official judging form and handbook before the fair:

Contact

Email: qrstf@live.com

Quinte Region, Ontario, Canada