Speech
Alaska Academic Decathlon students prepare and deliver a four-minute speech along with devising a two-minute impromptu speech based on one of three prompts. Their speeches are scored by a panel of three judges using the United States Academic Decathlon grading rubric.
The speech event is part of the in-person state competition, held at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Interview
Academic Decathlon students participate in a seven-minute professional interview scored by a panel of three judges. Questions and grading rubric are provided by the United States Academic Decathlon curriculum team.
The interview event is part of the in-person state competition, held at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Essay
Both Academic Decathlon (high school) and Pentathlon (middle school) students write a timed essay based on one of three prompts. Volunteer readers read and score the essays using a national rubric created by USAD.
Essay judging is done remotely, with your own device and at your leisure during a set reading period. A brief, mandatory training is provided via Zoom.
Proctored testing
Alaska Academic Decathlon students will be tested on the subjects studied. Tests are proctored by impartial volunteers.
The proctored testing is part of the in-person state competition, held at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Set-up
The Alaska Academic Decathlon State Competition features both academic and social events, which require set-up.
Volunteers play a vital role in setting the stage (literally) for success — and fun.