NATIONAL COMPETITION 2023 UPDATE:
For the 2023 National competition, there we be two additional objective tests that will take place online prior to the national competition dates. We will continue to have the art and essay testing online and will add the music (non-listening) and literature tests to the schedule on April 13, 2023. The remaining objective tests (economics, social science, mathematics and science) will take place on April 28, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.
Please refer to the schedule for more details: Nationals 2023 Testing Dates
USAD has approved a new essay evaluation form for the 2022-23 decathlon season. This new form has been tested with essay judges across the nation and approved based on several factors, including inter-rater reliability, time required for scoring, and consistency. The new essay evaluation form is included in the Practice Test Booklet, the updated Essay Resource Guide, and Coaches’ Handbook. USAD is arranging for this new form to be in a format consistent for use with Apperson and Scantron for publication. The link to the form is here.
2022-2023 Eligibility Guidelines
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The USAD Eligibility Guidelines have been updated for the 2022-23.
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The “focus semesters” for GPA computation for tenth, eleventh-, and twelfth-grade students go back two years prior to the present grade level of the contestant. GPA calculations for ninth-grade students include only their grades earned while in the eighth grade and in the summer session between eighth and ninth grade.
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The policy of including a minimum of 4 eligible courses no longer applies since we will have two years of GPA courses included on the calculation forms.
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The policy on P/NP and credit/no credit will return to the same as it was pre-pandemic.
The 2022–2023 Academic Decathlon®
The U.S. Academic Decathlon® is excited to announce that the overall curricular theme for 2022–2023 will be The American Revolution and the New Nation.
2022–2023 Musical Works
The selected musical works for the 2022–2023 music curriculum are available here.
The outlines for the 2022–2023 Academic Decathlon curriculum have been posted.
Check out the video from the 2019 USAD Nationals in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Check out the video from 2019 USAP Nationals in Nashville, Tennessee.
United States Academic Decathlon®
The United States Academic Decathlon® is a ten-event scholastic competition for teams of high school students.
Each high school enters a team of nine students: 3 Honor students (3.80 - 4.00 GPA), 3 Scholastic students (3.20 - 3.799 GPA), and 3 Varsity students (0.00 - 3.199 GPA).
United States Academic Pentathlon®
Get ready for the Decathlon: the rapidly-growing Pentathlon program allows middle school students a chance to start experiencing the benefits of Academic Decathlon ahead of schedule.
Academic Pentathlon is comprised of five academic events: Literature, Mathematics, Fine Arts, Science and Social Science.
Click here for more information.
USAD Individual Competition
The United States Academic Decathlon Individual Competition has been created to help individuals achieve their individual academic goals.
Home school students, alternative school students, team alternates, and Academic Decathlon team members, this competition is for you!
USAD International Competition
USAD continues to recruit new schools for the International Competition. All English speaking International Schools are encouraged to participate. Teams for the International Academic Decathlon are created in the same manner as for the Academic Decathlon. Click here to find out how to get involved!