Projects should involve laboratory, field, or theoretical investigations. Library research and collections may be worthwhile supplements but, by themselves, these do not normally merit a high rating. Equipment construction should involve a creative approach or an original idea to merit a high rating. All entries should be judged according to relative merit without regard to the student's age. However, the exhibitors are not Ph.D. candidates - they are elementary or secondary school students and should be judged against an appropriate standard.
Every student deserves a fair portion of a judge's time.
At the outset, judges should casually examine a representative sample of exhibits to establish a standard against which to judge. First give the student an opportunity to make an oral presentation, when you will be looking for a clear explanation that shows interest, enthusiasm, care and understanding. It is important to find something positive to comment on. Each exhibit will have a judges' record sheet. Please sign when you have judged the exhibit.