Assessment criteria

Assessment criteria

One of the first things to consider when you start your project is our assessment criteria: the different things that our judges will consider when scoring your project.

The main advice from our judges is to provide as much relevant information as possible. Remember, your project does not need to be finished to enter The Competition. We understand that restrictions may impact students’ ability to fully complete their projects. The judges will bear this in mind when reviewing your work.

The questions under each section are simply prompts to get you thinking about each step of your project, not a checklist.

Familiarise yourself with the full criteria below:

Project overview

This is the first time the judges will hear or read about your project. The judges will be looking for a brief summary of your overall project. You should include a brief but clear outline of your project's purpose, how you planned to achieve your project aims, your key results and conclusions.

Project concept

Introduce your project idea and explain why it matters

This section is about your motivation and aims. Tell the judges what inspired your project and what you hope to achieve. Think about the real-world problem or opportunity you're addressing and who might benefit from your solution.

Consider the following questions:

• what is the purpose of your project and what are you aiming to achieve?

• what real-world problem or opportunity does your project explore?

• who might be affected by your project and how have you considered their needs or perspectives?

Project process

This section looks at how you explored your topic, made decisions, and adapted your ideas. Whether you investigated a question or designed and built something, show how you organised your work and thought carefully about your approach.

Research, planning and organisation

• what research or existing products did you explore to understand your topic? How did they influence your approach?

• what different designs or methods did you consider, and why did you choose the one you used? Did you think about sustainability when comparing different approaches? For example, have you considered using sustainable materials or how you can reduce waste?

• how did you plan and organise your project? What steps did you take to stay on track?

• did you seek support or feedback from others to help improve your project?

Experimentation and refinement

• how did you apply the scientific/engineering/technological method or including managing variables and controls?

• what results did you get, and how did you test or evaluate them? If you couldn’t collect data, what would you expect to see?

• did you face any challenges during testing or building, and how did you overcome them?

• did you test or refine your design, prototype, or investigation? What did you learn from this?

• if you couldn’t build or test a prototype, did you create evidence to show how it could work in practice?

Project outcome

Share the results of your project and its potential impact

This section focuses on what you achieved and how your findings relate to your original aims. Think about how your outcome could be used in the real world, and whether it has potential for further development or environmental impact.

• how well did your final outcome meet your original aims?

• how do your results or design support or challenge your initial ideas?

• could your outcome be used in the real world or developed further for industry or commercial use?

• how would you communicate your innovation to your target audience?

• have you considered any environmental benefits or impacts of your project?

Reflections and next steps

Reflect on your learning and future plans

This section is about what you’ve learned and how you might build on your project. Share your reflections on what went well, what you enjoyed, and what you’d do next.

• how could you continue developing your project in the future?

• what changes would be needed to fully meet your aims or make your project market-ready?

• what did you learn from the project and what did you enjoy most?

Project ethics

Consider the wider impact of your project

Ethics refer to careful consideration, or a set of principles that help us to decide what is right or wrong. People working in science, engineering and technology act to improve the well-being of society. They must take steps to act in a way that is kind, fair and does not harm people or the environment.

Think about how your project affects, or could affect people, communities and the environment. If you worked with participants, explain how you considered their wellbeing.

• how can your results / design be used for good?

• will everyone benefit from your project? If not, who is less likely to benefit? What can we do to ensure your project equally benefits everyone?

• could your results/design cause harm to other people, communities, or the environment?

• will negative outcomes affect some people more than others? What can you do to prevent or minimise the negative effects?

• if your project involved participants or test subjects, how did you consider their wellbeing? For example, did you explain how their input, such as survey responses, would be used within your work?

Essential skills

These skills will be assessed across your whole entry

They reflect how you approached your project, worked with others (or independently), and brought your ideas to life. Make sure your entry shows evidence of the following:

• clear communication - explaining your ideas clearly and helping others understand your work

• enthusiasm for your project – showcasing your interest and passion for your topic and what you’ve created

• innovation and creativity - bringing original ideas or new ways of thinking to your project

• problem finding and solving - identifying challenges and coming up with thoughtful solutions

• resilience - dealing with setbacks or difficulties and continuing to make progress

• teamwork and leadership (for group projects) - ensuring everyone had a clear role, contributed meaningfully, and felt heard

• independence and self-motivation (for individual projects) - managing your time well, setting goals, and driving your project forward on your own

Advice on entry formats

This year competitors are asked to submit a written project entry or a short video about their project.

When completing your written entry, please ensure you cover the assessment criteria. If you are submitting a written entry, please keep these word counts in mind:

• Project overview: 150 words max

• Project concept: 300 words max

• Project process: 400 words max

• Project outcomes: 400 words max

• Project ethics: 200 words max

• Next steps and reflections: 350 words max

If you are submitting a video entry, videos should be no longer than 5 minutes. 

Download our guide on filming a video entry