Continuation projectS

Continuation Project Eligibility

• Continuation projects are welcomed and celebrated in the Science and Engineering Fair program. However, a valid continuation MUST include a substantial difference from each prior years' work. It is strongly recommended that you do a first draft of Form 7 BEFORE you start your project, so you can be sure that it is substantially different from prior years. 

• Valid continuations might include:

  • A whole new experiment that was inspired by the prior year's results

  • Adding a new variable with multiple test groups

  • Using a substantially different methodology

• When planning a continuation project, it's useful to think not only, "Is this different enough to be allowable?," but also, "Is this different enough to be competitive?" 

Continuation Project Documentation

• Research Plan - This should describe THIS YEAR'S project ONLY. It's encouraged that you reference last year's work in the Rationale section, but the question/problem, materials, procedures, and any subject-specific items should ONLY include information about THIS YEAR's work.

• Forms 1, 1A, 1B, and 3 should all be completed as they relate to THIS YEAR'S project ONLY.

• Project Title - When titling your project, add the Year # to the end of the title. For example: "Interactive Effects of Temperature and Metal Type on Corrosion rates: A Year 2 Study" OR "The effects of temperate on copper corrosion rates in saltwater (Year 2)"

• Form 7 and attachments:

  • Complete Form 7 describing how this year's project is different than the prior year's project. Attach the prior year's Abstract and Research Plan. 

    • Form 7 is an "after" form. We recommend that you complete a first draft (DON'T sign/date) before beginning in order to plan your project better. You can update it as needed, then sign/date after you finish. If you are still collecting data when you submit your project in January, please date it near the due date with an accurate date (do NOT forward-date anything)! In case revisions are needed, we use the date to make sure we have the most recent version in your official project file.

    • NOTE: Judges see this form on your project display. You do NOT need to use complete sentences; you DO need to concisely showcase how this year's project is different.

  • If this year's project is a Year 3+ project, you will complete multiple Form 7s. Each will compare THIS YEAR'S project to each prior year. You will also need to attach all of the prior Abstracts and Research Plans relevant to the continuation. For example:

    • (1) Form 7 showing Year 3 vs Year 2

    • (2) Year 2's Abstract + Research Plan

    • (3) Form 7 showing Year 3 vs Year 1

    • (4) Year 1's Abstract + Research Plan

  • It is very important that the prior years' Abstracts and Research Plans are clearly labeled with the year at the top!

• Check out this sample Form 7 (annotated with instructions) and complete project file sample.