Although slight variations may exist in regional guidelines of projects, the national standards are widely used. Student researchers must categorize their research in one of the six research areas: Environmental Science (Earth and Space Science), Engineering, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Medicine and Health (Behavioral and Social Sciences), and Mathematics and Computer Science. Students begin by submitting a 200-word abstract, containing the researcher's project title, name, high school (city and state), and designated teacher/sponsor/mentor. The research should engage the interest and curiosity of readers from many backgrounds while presenting the nature of the research problem, brief methodology, and significant conclusions reached.

Students are then required to electronically submit a written paper of the research conducted. The paper should be at least 5-6 pages, but no more than 20, appendices included. The maximum file size allotted for submission is 1.8 megabytes. The paper should contain a title page, acknowledgements, table of contents, introduction, materials and methodology, results, discussion/conclusions, references, and any appendices. Any graphs, tables, and figures should be easily viewable by the judges.

Finally, students prepare an oral presentation for delivery at the symposium. 12 minutes are allotted for each presentation, followed by a 6-minute question-and-answer session primarily by the judges. Audio-visual equipment provided by the symposium includes an overhead projector, LCD projector, projection screen, a laser pointer, and a PC-based computer configured with Microsoft 2000 PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat. Further details are provided on the National JSHS website.

Students' oral presentations are judged on a 100-point scale, as enumerated by the judges' scoring sheet, which can be accessed at the JSHS website. Scoring is based on the statement and identification of a research problem; acknowledgement of sources and major assistance received; creativity and originality; research or engineering design, procedure, and results; discussion/conclusions; and skill in communicating the results (both orally and in writing). Judges are those who are actively involved in research or hold a doctorate degree, and may or may not be specialized in the student's chosen field of work. It is highly recommended that students follow the judging sheet when constructing their presentations, as points are awarded on the basis of a "checklist," following each of the presented criteria. Presentation of graphical displays should be kept simple yet sufficient to convey the underlying message. Students should also be prepared to communicate their findings in an eloquent manner easily understandable by a variety of judges and audience members.