IAC uses a rank points scoring system to determine the final scores for the US Geography Championships at the National Championships level. This process is completed for each division (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Grade 8, Grade 7, Grade 6, Elementary)
To determine final placement, scores will be determined by giving participating students a rank of 1 to N, with N being the number of overall competing students, on each of the three exam components (Multiple Choice, Written, Map Skills).
Tied students will split the average of their ranks (e.g. – if there are two students tied for second place, each would receive 2.5 points).
Students thus earn a number of placement points equivalent to their ranks. The students with the lowest overall number of placement points from all portions combined will thus be the highest ranking students, and that will be used to determine the overall scores.
If students tie on the overall placement, the tiebreaks will be (in respective order):
- Final placement on Multiple Choice exam
- Final placement on Written exam
- Final placement in Map Skills exam
- Additional 5 question Tiebreaker Multiple Choice exams (this process may be repeated as needed until a winner is determined).