The judging process typically takes an entire day (3-4 hour sessions at a time with limited breaks in between) and demands both physical and mental endurance. The night before judging, make sure you go over the rough spots of your project, practice for your family and friends at least once, and get lots of sleep. At the fair, be sure to have at least 2 bottles of water handy to help you remain hydrated and actively engaged in the judging process.

At Intel ISEF, you are presented with an index card that shows 10 time slots that last for approximately 12 minutes each. At least 4 of these 10 slots will be assigned to various Intel ISEF judges, while professional awards judges (i.e. navy, army, homeland security, waste management, etc.) will more than likely stop by your project during your supposed 'breaks' to interview you for special awards. The good news is that Intel ISEF keeps everyone on a strict schedule, so you won't have to be worried about being kept in the hall overtime. The judges keep note sheets on which they grade you on a scale from 0-100, on items such as presentation style and project difficulty. At the end of the day, Intel ISEF volunteers tally up the scores and find each finalists' average in order to determine the award rank.

Approximately 600 awards are presented at Intel ISEF each year. Category awards include 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places, with cash prizes amounted at $3,000, $1,500, $1,000 and $500, respectively. There are also countless other prizes that you can win that include college tuition scholarships, summer internships and laboratory equipment. The top prizes of the entire fair include three $50,000 scholarships.

Hints and Tips for Judging:

> Don't talk too fast: practice your presentation a couple days in advance and use a timer and a voice recorder to account for fluctuations in your speech's speed.

> Don't be too verbose and clutter your speech with numbers and big words- it's ok to generalize unless a judge asks you to clarify your points otherwise.

> Business casual attire is appropriate. For men: dress slacks, a solid colored oxford shirt and a tie should suffice. For women: a simple suit with either pants or a knee-length skirt is acceptable. Remember that first impressions are all you get during these timed judging sessions.

> Wear comfortable shoes and keep good posture while speaking.

> Don't make up past studies or statistics in a hasty attempt to support a claim you're not sure about. It's okay to say "I don't know", especially at the high school level when experienced judges usually have a PhD attached to their names.

> Allow at least 2-3 minutes at the end of your presentation for your judge to ask questions.

> Bring rubber cement with you on fair day just to be safe. Your board should look tidy and orderly at all times.

> Mobile visual aids (such as copies of your abstract, or a thin binder that contains the data shown on your board) makes it easier to maintain eye contact and a constant flow to your speech. It is also useful in cases such as an encounter with an elderly judge, or larger groups of judges that cannot all crowd around your board at the same time.

> During your downtime, observe other participants and your soon-to-be judges. Watching them will aid in what type of judging style you should anticipate.

> Relax, meet new friends, and most of all have fun!