Your duty as a Science Bowl MODERATOR is to:

The Moderator is the person responsible for controlling each match. You must be familiar with how the game is played and all of the contest rules. The Science Bowl is an oral competition in which two student teams attempt to answer toss-up and bonus questions. 

Each regional competition round is divided into two eight-minute halves with a two-minute break. 

The Moderator completes the official score sheet for every match.

The first half begins as soon as the Moderator begins the first toss-up question. Before reading the question, the Moderator identifies:

1. Whether it is a toss-up or bonus question.

2. The subject area.

3. Whether it is a multiple choice or short answer.
   
   

[Scenario 1: Toss-Up question is answered correctly, followed by a bonus question] Suppose a contestant elects to answer the toss-up question. In that case, they activate the lock-out system (an electronic device that “locks out” all other contestants and identifies the student who wishes to answer the toss-up question). The Moderator or the Science Judge will then verbally recognize the student. Should the student answer the toss-up question correctly, the student’s team receives 4 points and is awarded a bonus question. A correct answer to the bonus question results in the team receiving an additional 10 points. Play then continues by reading the next toss-up question to the two teams.

[Scenario 2: A student interrupts the reading of the entire question called an INTERRUPT]
As a toss-up question is read, a student may interrupt the reading of the question [the interrupt]. If the student is verbally recognized and answers correctly, that team is awarded 4 points, and the team wins the right to answer a bonus question.

If the student interrupts the question, is verbally recognized, but answers the toss-up question incorrectly, 4 points are awarded to the opposing team, and the question is read in its entirety to the opposing team. That team may answer the toss-up question for a chance at the bonus. (The opposing team that did not interrupt receives 4 points AND can answer the bonus question too if the toss-up question is answered correctly.)

A student MUST wait to be verbally recognized by the Moderator or Science Judge before beginning to answer the toss-up questions. Suppose a student answers a toss-up before being verbally recognized. If the response is ignored (i.e., the Moderator should not reveal whether the answer was correct or incorrect), then the opposing team is given 4 points and offered the toss-up question. This rule is necessary to avoid situations where two team members think they have activated the lock-out system and blurt out simultaneous answers. If the student answers without buzzing, ignore the student, and there is no penalty.

The game ends when the second half ends, or 23 toss-up questions have been read. The winning team is the one with the greater point total.

The Moderator will be provided with the questions well in advance of the actual event. It is crucial that the Moderator read all the questions before the competition to help ensure that they can read them smoothly. 

The Moderator must read the following before Round Robin Rounds 1 and 2.

 After these rounds, please give the teams the option of hearing the reading of the “Important Rules.”

Moderator:  “Please let me remind you of several important rules we will be carefully observing during this match.”

1. If the Question Judge is recognizing the students: On toss-up questions, you MUST be verbally recognized by the Question Judge before replying. The Scientific Judge will identify you by saying either Team “A One,” “A Captain,” or “B One,” “B Three,” etc.
   
   On toss-up questions, you MUST be verbally recognized by me before replying. I will identify you by saying either Team “A One,” “A Captain,” or “B One,” “B Three,” etc.
   

2. On toss-up questions, there can only be NONVERBAL communication.
   

3. The only acceptable answer to a multiple-choice question will be one of those read by the moderator. If you give the scientific answer rather than the letter (W, X, Y, or Z), your answer must be exact.
   

4. Challenges must be made before I begin the next question. All challenges must come from the team members who are actively competing.
   

5. On bonus questions, you have 20 seconds AFTER I finish reading the question to begin your answer to the question. If you fail to begin your answer before the Timekeeper says, “TIME,” you have missed your bonus question. You will hear the Timekeeper say, “5 SECONDS,” when you have only 5 seconds left to begin your answer.
   

6. On the bonus question, only the team captain’s answer will be accepted.
   

7. At the conclusion of each match, the two captains need to review and sign the Official Score Sheet. By signing the score sheet, each team captain is agreeing to the final score as written on the Official Score Sheet.