The regular contest runs from the beginning of January through the end of
December for 50 weeks. You receive 1 point for entering the regular or rerun
contest and submitting an answer. The questions are divided into three categories:
elementary, middle and senior. You receive 2 points for the correct answer
to an elementary category question, 4 points for the correct answer to a
middle category question and 8 points for the correct answer to a senior
category question. If you get the correct answer to a regular
contest question, you are eligible for the bonus question. The points
awarded for the correct answer to the bonus question is as follows:
| January: 10 | February: 20 |
| March: 30 | April: 40 |
| May: 50 | June: 60 |
| July: 70 | August: 80 |
| September: 90 | October: 100 |
| November: 110 | December: 120 |
No points are awarded for an incorrect answer to a bonus question.
Points can also be earned by submitting questions. The rules for that are on the question submission page.
At the end of each month, whoever has the most points for that month receives a scholarship of $25. At the end of the year, whoever has the most points for the year receives a scholarship of $50. In the event of a tie for the most number of points, the following criteria are used in the following order to break the tie: the most number of eligible entries (i.e. an entry in which the answer is entered on the database) for the year to date, the most number of senior category questions answered correctly for the year to date, the most number of middle category questions answered correctly for the year to date and lastly, the most number of elementary questions answered correctly for the year to date. All entries and points awarded are based on the server clock displayed at the top of the contest entry page.
At the end of the year, everyone is reset to zero and the contest begins again for the next year.
In order to earn your scholarship, you must register under your correct name and country and your email address must be valid.