Common mistakes that participants make are:

There is still a lot of time before the competition. No !! Your project is over a time-frame of a year or more !

I shall collect the data at a later time. No!! Collect it as it happens, you are going to forget about it or misplace it.

I shall spend time on my project closer to the competition date. No!! closer to the competition you are going to panic because the workload will be massive.

I partake in the competition because my principal say I must do so. Stop!! If you are not motivated - get out- don't do it !