Frequently Asked Questions

High School Quiz Show
Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is High School Quiz Show?
Produced and broadcast by WGBH, High School Quiz Show is an award-winning single-elimination academic team competition for public high school students in Massachusetts. High School Quiz Show is now in its fourth season.

2. Who is eligible to participate?
Eligibility requirements include the following:

• All public high schools in Massachusetts are eligible to participate
• Each school must have at least one adult coach
• Each team must include 4 participating students and 2 alternates
• All participating students must be currently enrolled in the school they represent
• Each school may register a maximum of one team to participate

3. Why are private and parochial schools not eligible to participate?
High School Quiz Show is endorsed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education and was originally conceived of as a program to showcase and celebrate the academic achievement of public high school students in Massachusetts. Given recent broader interest in participation, the feasibility of including of private and parochial schools in future seasons is under review.

4. How do schools register to participate?
Registration for Season 4 of High School Quiz Show opened at 9am on Tuesday, September 18 and ended on Monday, September 24 at 5pm. Only the first 100 schools that register and meet the eligibility requirements are invited to WGBH to take the qualifying quiz on Super Sunday, November 4, 2012.

5. Can a school change its team members after registering online?
The four students who register as a team are considered final. If there is a conflict and a team member cannot compete, either (1) three members of the team can compete or (2) with the approval of WGBH, an alternate may be permitted to temporarily or permanently replace the member who cannot compete.

6. What is Super Sunday?
Super Sunday is a one-day qualifying event to determine the 16 teams that compete in televised matches of High School Quiz Show. Super Sunday for Season 4 will be held at WGBH on Sunday, November 4.

7. What is the time commitment for our team on Super Sunday?
Schools invited to Super Sunday are assigned one of three time periods on Sunday, November 4. Times are: 10am, 1pm, and 3pm. Teams traveling the greatest distance are typically scheduled in the afternoon session. Team members (coach and 4 participating students) must arrange for their own transportation and should expect to stay at WGBH for up to two hours. Alternates may attend but are not permitted to compete.

8. How many teams advance to televised competition following Super Sunday?
The 16 teams with the highest scores on the Super Sunday qualifying quiz advance to compete in High School Quiz Show Season 4.

9. Do you have any suggestions for how teams should prepare to compete in High School Quiz Show?
We suggest that teams and coaches watch past episodes of High School Quiz Show at highschoolquizshow.org to become familiar with the format, pacing, and the types of questions common to academic quiz competitions. There are also a number of resources that offer practice sets of questions, usually for a fee, however none of these materials will be completely representative of the types of questions on High School Quiz Show. While WGBH does not endorse any particular materials, the following is a list of some of the places where you may find helpful resources:

Academic Hallmarks
PO Box 998
Durango, CO 81302
info@greatauk.com
greatauk.com

NAQT
11521 W 69th Street
Shawnee, KS 66203
naqt@naqt.com
naqt.com

4 D Designs LLC
5940 Bertcliff Drive
Columbus, GA 31909
FourDDesigns@yahoo.com
patrickspress.com

Questions Unlimited
2908 W. Crestwood Dr.
Ozark, MO 65721
NAC1983@comcast.net
qunlimited.com

The Question Bank
P.O. Box 801
Richland, MO 65556
questionbank@webound.com

10. When will the matches be taped and televised?
High School Quiz Show Season 4 matches will be taped at the WGBH studios on the following dates in 2013:

• Saturday, January 26 (qualifying matches)
• Sunday, January 27 (qualifying matches)
• Saturday, February 2 (quarterfinals)
• Sunday, February 3 (semifinals and state championship)
• Monday or Tuesday, February 4 or 5 (Massachusetts vs. New Hampshire)

Snow dates for tapings are Saturday, February 9 and Sunday, February 10.
The broadcast dates of the matches will be decided later this calendar year.

11. What does the championship team win?
In addition to title of High School Quiz Show State Champion, the winning team will receive:

• The High School Quiz Show trophy
• Commemorative plaques for each team member and coach
• An award of $250 toward the team/school

12. Can family and friends attend the tapings of High School Quiz Show matches?
Yes! In fact, we strongly encourage teams to invite guests, including family, friends, cheerleading squads, school mascots, to join the studio audience during tapings. The reservation form will be available on highschoolquizshow.org for guests. Seats must be reserved in advance.