ENTRIES. As many as THREE students from
EACH GRADE LEVEL (grades 5, 6, 7 and 8) may be entered in the
VOCABULARY District Contest from each school. Designated adults
representing each school will select contestants to represent the
campus at the District Meet based on their abilities and interest in
word studies, as well as other factors, which are
decided upon by each school. Each grade level is judged
separately in contest.
• NATURE OF THE CONTEST.
The Vocabulary Contest is similar to a SAT preparation course. Test
items are very similar in construction and content to those that might
be found on a SAT verbal test. The vocabulary list for the
current year consists of 300 words, and is found on pages 68-69 of the
Academic Handbook. Although each test item will be composed using
at least one of these words, a well-read student who has a broad,
cumulative vocabulary will perform best in this contest, for many of
the words used within the tests are not used in everyday middle school
language. The contest contains 30 items—approximately 12 - 13
sentence completion, 11 - 13 analogies, and 4-7 questions over a
reading passage that is from 400 to 700 words in length.
Contestants have 30 minutes to answer the questions.
• WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CONTEST.
The contest director will announce the time and place that contestants
and one adult should report for verification of the scoring of tests.
Tests and answer sheets will be distributed to contestants face up, and
contestants will be instructed to write their grade levels and their
contestant ID numbers in the spaces provided on the front cover of the
test and on the answer sheet. Contestants must not open the test
until the start signal is given. The contest director will tell
contestants their ID numbers, usually during roll call. (Alternates
taking the place of absent registered contestants should be sure to let
the contest director know as they enter the room to save time in roll
call.) No alarm watches or other devices that emit sound are
allowed in the contest room.
TIME ALOTTED. Contestants will have 30 minutes beginning at the start
signal. A 5-minutes left time warning may be given, but contestants
should be responsible for their own time management. Contestants
will remain quietly in their seats until the time has expired.
MARKING ANSWERS. Contestants will use a dark ink pen or pencil to
write answers in the blanks provided on the test. ERASURES AND
MARKOUTS IN THE ANSWER SPACE ARE NOT PERMITTED. Any marking in
the answer space will constitute an attempt.
• SCORING.
Add 5 points for each correct answer. Subtract 2 points for
each wrong answer. No points are added or deducted for unanswered
or skipped items.
• VERIFICATION PERIOD.
No pens or pencils should be in contestants’ hands while tests and
answer sheets with keys are reviewed. Contestants and ONE coach
OR parent OR adult have 15 minutes to check the computation of scores
and ask questions about items counted incorrect. If the contest
is held before March 31, tests must be turned back in to the contest
director. Contestants will be disqualified from the contest
should the paper be taken from the room prior to this date. After
verification has been completed, awards will be issued. (At State,
medals will be awarded through 6th place.)
• PREPARATION FOR CONTEST.
Read and follow all instructions provided in the “Information
Pertaining to All Contests” section of the PSIA Academic
Handbook. Observe and practice with students all rules and
procedures delineated in the “Instructions to the Contestant” and in
the “Checklist for Contest Directors” and the”“Checklist for
Graders.” Preparation for the Vocabulary Contest should include
researching definitions in the Merriam Webster
Collegiate Dictionary, 10th or 11th edition. Provide
students with multiple opportunities to take practice tests from SAT
preparation books, such as Barron’s and Gruber’s. Test taking
strategies for SAT type tests are also beneficial. Four practice
tests from previous year’s contests are available on the PSIA Study Materials Order Forms.
• PERSONNEL NEEDED FOR CONTEST.
Contest Director and Assistant Director from two different schools,
each knowledgeable of contest construction and administration.
Graders. Director and assistant director may also serve as
graders. To expedite the grading process, provide at least two
math certified graders for every 15 papers.
