Agriculture
The Agriculture exam will include the following general agriculture subject areas:
animal science, agronomy, forestry, nutrition, dairy and meats, genetics and reproduction,
agricultural management, agricultural mechanics and electricity, and agricultural
economics. The exam will consist of multiple choice and true/false questions. Students
may bring their own non-graphing calculator; however, the sharing of calculators is
not permitted, nor is using the computer’s calculator.
Algebra
Problems will be multiple-choice and include simplifying algebraic expressions as
well as solving algebraic equations/systems of all types. Some problems may be application
problems. Scratch paper will be provided. No calculators are allowed for this test.
English
The English test will focus on the basic elements of composition: grammar, punctuation,
mechanics, and sentence clarity.
European History
This exam covers the period of European History from 1700 to the present. It incorporates
social, political, and economic topics.
Health Occupations
The Health Occupations exam will include the following subject areas in a multiple-choice
test format: math, medical terminology, anatomy, nutrition, and skills for a nursing
assistant including CPR, communication and skills for a nursing assistant.
Poetry
The poetry contest will require students to produce a short poem in response to a
prompt (a photo or painting) provided on the day of the contest. This poem must be
the original work of the student. It can be any form, but it cannot exceed twenty
lines.
Since there are so many forms and styles of poetry, and so many measures of poetry,
a grading rubric cannot be provided. The best measure of a poem is how well it accomplishes
what it attempts to accomplish. Students will be provided paper and pencils, but they
are encouraged to bring their favorite writing pen or pencil.
The overall first, second, and third places will be awarded.
Psychology/Sociology
This exam will consist of questions from the fields of Psychology and Sociology, as
would have been discussed in a high school level psychology/sociology class.
Public Speaking
The entrant should deliver an informative speech, 3-5 minutes in length, incorporating
a visual aid or some form of electronic presentation support. Each speaker will be
judged on speech content and delivery skills. Hints: Speech introduction gets attention,
relates the material to the audience, establishes the credibility of the speaker,
reveals the subject and previews the content of the speech. The body of the speech
should have two to more main points that are easy to identify, is well organized,
developed and supported with cited evidence. The conclusion should restate the main
points and have a memorable closing statement. Visual aids can be charts, diagrams
or objects. Rooms are equipped with computers and large screen televisions or projectors.
Contestants with electronic presentations (e.g. PowerPoint, Google Slides…) should
bring them on a flash drive to run them directly if possible. If contestants are running
them from the cloud, they should come early to establish their link and connect before
competition begins. (We should not have to sit and wait on contestants to get their
presentation up.) All speakers are encouraged to come early and load and test their
presentation before speaking begins. Timekeepers will be provided when possible.
Please note: There is not a final round to this competition. Results will be tabulated on rank
and rating of all speakers. The overall first, second, and third places will be awarded.
**One participant per school.
American History
This exam covers the period of American History from the pre-Columbian era to the
present. It incorporates social, political, and economic topics.
Art
This comprehensive multiple-choice exam evaluates students’ knowledge of major art
concepts, styles, artists, and historical periods from prehistory to modern times.
It covers elements and principles of design, key works of art and architecture, and
the cultural significance of artistic movements across history.
Biological Sciences
The test in Biological Sciences will consist of questions about topics normally encountered
in a comprehensive general biology course, namely cell biology, genetics, ecology,
systematics, anatomy, physiology, evolution, development, reproduction and behavior.
Chemistry
The exam will include both conceptual and calculation-based questions in chemistry.
A periodic table will be provided. Students may use their own non-graphing calculator,
but calculator sharing is not allowed, and the use of a computer calculator is prohibited.
Flash Fiction
The flash fiction contest will require students to produce a very short story in response
to a prompt (a photo or painting) provided on the day of the contest. This story must
be original, suggest an engaging theme, be told in the writer’s unique voice, and
exhibit expressive language.
It should also be organized and provide exposition, rising action, climax, and some
falling action or resolution.
The writer should also demonstrate knowledge and creative use of punctuation, grammar,
sentence structure, and word choice.
Students will be provided paper and pencils, but they are encouraged to bring their
favorite writing pen or pencil.
The overall first, second, and third places will be awarded.
Geometry
Problems are drawn from geometry including trigonometry. Exact answers are required.
Some problems are application problems. The problems are not multiple choice; scrap
paper will be provided. Non-graphing calculators may be used on the test. Sharing
calculators between participants is not permitted.
Introduction to Business
This exam includes comprehensive coverage of introductory business fundamentals. The
topics covered will include business concepts such as finance, accounting, marketing,
and management. Students should be enrolled in or have completed an Introduction to
Business course.
Literature
The literature test will focus on works from both American and British literature.
Students who have read widely from these two areas will likely be most successful.
Medical Terminology
Medical terminology is the accepted language of healthcare used to describe the human
body, its functions, and procedures. It is a universal language that allows healthcare
professionals to communicate effectively. Medical terms are made up of word parts;
prefixes, word roots with combining vowels, and suffixes. Learning medical terminology
allows you to understand the meaning of medical terms by breaking them down into their
word parts.
Philosophy and Religious Studies
The test in Philosophy and Religious Studies will consist of questions about topics
normally encountered in introductory courses in Philosophy, World Religions, and Ethics,
namely moral frameworks, metaphysics, epistemology, notable philosophers, and cultures,
histories, and traditions of major Eastern and Abrahamic religions.
Public Speaking
Depending on the number of participants.
American Government
This exam may include a combination of short answer questions and/or essay questions,
and/or multiple-choice questions drawn from the following topics: The period dating
from the Declaration of Independence through the Grand Convention of 1787; the executive
branch including the current role of the media and interest groups; the role of the
legislative branch including the current tension between the legislative and executive
branches over the exercise of Constitutional powers, such as war; the judicial branch
including landmark decisions effecting judicial jurisdiction such as Bush v. Gore;
the current growth and function of the bureaucracy in U.S. Government; taxing and
budgeting, including the current debate in government over the utility of Supply Side
and Keynesian economic policy; the changing role of the U.S. in the world, including
the impact of the events of September 11, 2001; the effects of globalism on the U.S.
and other foreign policy issues; the changing relationship between the federal government
and the states and its impact on Missouri government.
Computer Technology
The test will ask questions from the following areas: computer concepts, Microsoft
Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Access, OLE using Word/Excel/Access,
Internet, HTML, and computer programming concepts.
Ozark Studies
The Ozark Studies exam focuses on questions about the Ozarks region, and includes
questions about the geography, history, literature, and culture of the Ozarks.
Human Anatomy and Physiology
This test focuses on introductory concepts learned in Human Biology and/or Anatomy
& Physiology courses. Questions will include cellular biology, biochemistry, histology,
human anatomy, human physiology, epidemiology, and pathophysiology.
Music Fundamentals and History
The Interscholastic Music Fundamentals and History Competition explores a wide range
of topics, covering both the core principles of music and its historical development
from the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century.
The Music History section focuses on recognizing key musical periods, notable composers
and their defining works, and the stylistic characteristics of each era. Additionally,
it examines the cultural, economic, and religious influences that shaped musical evolution
throughout history.
The Fundamentals of Music section delves into the technical aspects of music theory
and composition. This portion includes general music terminology and may cover topics
such as notation, rhythm, chord progressions, harmony, scales and modes, articulations,
instrument pedagogy and history, technological advancements in music creation, professional
organizations, and music publication.
Pop Culture
The Pop-Culture competition will consist of questions regarding pop-cultural events,
artifacts, and phenomena that have had an impact on the “shape” of culture in the
20th and 21st centuries. The exam will represent several areas of culture including
entertainment, technology, and global events.
Please note, the academic study of pop-culture is not akin to trivia; rather, the
academic study of popular culture, also known as popular culture studies, is a critical
theory-based field that combines cultural and communication studies. It examines a
wide range of media and genres that appeal to a broad audience, including: music,
literature, film, art, television, video games, fashion, comics and graphic novels,
and more. The academic study of pop-culture is more invested in elements of popular
culture that have had an impact on socioeconomics, the political landscape, sociological
relations, philosophical changes, and, in general, the “human story”.
Trigonometry
Problems will be multiple-choice and include circular and triangular trigonometry
and applications. Topics will include solving trigonometric equations, using identities,
interpreting graphs and analyzing vectors. Scratch paper will be provided. Scientific
calculators are allowed for this test.
