Process

Process for Online Rounds

Zoom Access & Group Coordination
Team Requirements
Format of the Qualifier Round
Answering Rules
Timing rules
Unique Question Sets
Punctuality and Disqualification Policy

Process for In-Person Rounds

Toss Up Questions
Bonus Question
Short Answer / MCQ
Challenge
Scoring
Sample Quiz
Instructional Videos

The process listed below describes how a typical NSB event is run. You can go through NSB-P Starter Pack to understand the process better. We should note that special circumstances may necessitate slight variations from event to event. Therefore please make sure to see the details on a specific upcoming event for any changes.

Process for Online Rounds

Zoom Access & Group Coordination

• The Zoom link for your qualifier session will be shared in the designated WhatsApp group.

• All participants will use the same Zoom link to join at the time specified in their individual schedules.

• Please join the WhatsApp group using the link sent to you via email to receive timely updates.

 Team Requirements

• A minimum of 5 team members must be present to participate.

• Reserve members are not required to join the session.

• All participating members must join from separate rooms or locations. No team member should be in the same physical space as another during the round.

Format of the Qualifier Round

• Each round consists of 30 questions: a mix of multiple-choice (MCQs) and short-answer (toss-up) questions.

• Questions will be read aloud by a moderator to the entire team.

Answering Rules

• Participants will not collaborate or communicate with each other during the round.

• Any team member may answer. To do so, they must type ‘B’ in the Zoom chat to buzz in.

• The moderator will acknowledge the first person to buzz, who must then begin answering within 3 seconds.

• Only the person who buzzes in may answer — team captains are not the sole spokespersons.

Timing Rules

• Participants have:

  • 7 seconds to buzz in after the question is read.

  • 3 seconds to begin answering after being recognized.

• Timed responses will be strictly enforced.

 Unique Question Sets

• Each team will receive a different set of questions — no two teams will receive the same round.

Punctuality & Disqualification Policy

• Once the moderator joins your breakout room, your team has 5 minutes to ensure all required team members are present.

• After 5 minutes, failure to have the minimum 5 members present will result in automatic disqualification.

Process for In-Person Rounds

Toss Up Questions

• The match begins with a TOSS-UP question
• A toss-up is worth 4 points
• A student has 7 seconds to buzz in and answer
• The student who buzzes fastest gets to answer after his/her number has been called out by the moderator.
• If a student answers wrongly on a tossup their team cannot buzz again

Bonus Question

• If the answer on a Toss-Up questions is correct
• A Bonus question is asked and is worth 10 points
• The team has 20 seconds to consult with each other and answer
• As the opposing team is not participating in a bonus question, there is no rush to buzz in before 20 seconds.

Short Answer / MCQ

Both Toss-up and Bonus questions are either

• Short Answer or Multiple Choice
• A participant can answer a multiple-choice question with either the letter answer (W, X, Y, or Z) or the verbal answer.
• W) Answer 1
  X) Answer 2
  Y) Answer 3
  Z) Answer 4
• If verbal answer is given, it must be exactly as indicated in the question or as read by the moderator (with the exception of mathematical expressions)
• The first response, as determined by officials, is the only one that counts. But if a participant gives both the letter answer and the verbal answer, both parts must be correct.
• Prefacing remarks such as “my answer is” or repeating the question, as determined by officials, may be considered as delaying the game and will be counted as an incorrect answer.

Challenge

• Challenges CAN be made to the scientific content of the question (whether a question is scientifically correct or not)
• Challenges CANNOT be made to the judgment calls by the officials
• Challenges must be made before the moderator begins the next question
• If answer on a toss-up is incorrect, and the team wishes to challenge the scientific content of the question, the first team must hold the challenge until after the opposing team has completed its toss-up opportunity.
• Challenges to scientific content are limited to 2 unsuccessful challenges per team per round
• Successful challenges do not count within this limit

Scoring

Correct answers

• Toss-up : +4 points, a bonus question
• Bonus : 10 points

Incorrect answers

• Toss-up : 0 points, opportunity for opposing team to answer
• Bonus: 0 points

Penalty for a blurt

• +4 points to opposing team
  Penalty for an interrupt followed by an incorrect answer
• +4 points to opposing team

Consultation among team members on a toss-up question

• +0 points, answer does not count even if correct

Scoring for Round Robin

• Every team will always get the points equal to their score for the match
• A WIN will add 100 points to that score
• A TIE will add 50 points to that score
• A LOSS will add {50 points minus number of points by which the team lost}.

Examples:

• Lose by 1 point —add 49 points (50 -1)
• Lose by 40 points —add 10 points (50-40)
• Lose by 50 points —add 0 points (50-50)
• Lose by more than 50 points—add 0 points (a minimum of 0 points will be added)

Sample Quiz

http://sciencebowl.pk/nsb_sample_quiz_2021.pdf

Instructional Videos

Full Round 1

Full Round 2

Tossup Bonus Correct

Stall

Stall Extended

Interupt Correct Bonus Wrong

Double Interupt

Conferring

Challenging

Blurt