Thank you for your interest in The National History Bee and Bowl’s Asian Division! We’re excited to introduce history quiz tournaments to Asia and hope this page and the rest of the site can help you learn more about how our tournaments work and how you can take part. The National History Bee and Bowl were founded in 2010, and have already seen over 1000 teams and approximately 5000 students from across the Asia, Europe, and North America take part. Here are some FAQs that you might be interested in:
Q: What’s the difference between the Bee and the Bowl?
A: Real simple here – the Bee is for individual students; the Bowl is for teams. At all of our tournaments, whether in the Asia, the USA, or anywhere else, we run both competitions, though at different times so that all students who wish to compete in both can do so.
Q: What language are the tournaments in?
A: All tournaments that you see displayed on this website are in English. In the future, we will hold tournaments in other languages.
Q: Which types of schools can compete?
A: Any school that corresponds to a high school or middle school is welcome to compete. All students competing must be 18 years old or younger, though. Our tournaments are designed to be accessible to local schools, international schools, American schools, British schools, public schools, private schools, and religious schools. We are an equal opportunity quiz organizer!
Q: What about the questions? If you’re based in the USA, then this would have too much US history, right?
A: Not at all! Actually, about 30% of our questions will reference Asian history, a quarter will reference North American history, and about 30% will reference medieval and modern European history. The remaining 15% of the questions will reference ancient history, African history, Latin American history, and the history of Australia and Oceania.
Q: I’m not sure about a history tournament. I’m more of a science/literature/arts/philosophy/geography/sports/music/whatever person.
A: Our approach to history is highly inclusive, so don’t worry, you’ll still find questions for you! See, every field has its history. So basically, if it happened in the past, it can come up. Expect questions on everything from Beethoven to Brancusi, Plato to Pele, the Rolling Stones to Rimbaud in addition to the usual wars, revolutions, and the like.
Q: How do you answer the questions?
A: Our questions follow different formats, but for most questions, you’ll ring in with a buzzer, like on a quiz show. The questions that you use a buzzer for are called “pyramidal” questions. This means that they start off with harder information and become easier as the question goes on. When you think you know the answer, ring in! But if you’re wrong, then you can’t answer again, and neither can your teammates if you’re playing in the Bowl. This type of question rewards comprehensive knowledge and shows that this is much more than a mere trivia contest.
Q: How do we sign up?
A: Teachers and administrators should use the Register tab on the menu bar to access the registration page. There, just fill out the form for your school. The cost includes both the Bee and Bowl for up to 6 students on a team. If your school is bringing more than 6 students, then you should sign up for more than one team. Once you register, we’ll send instructions for how to submit payment.
Q: What’s the “Junior Varsity” Division?
A: The Junior Varsity Division is meant for students in tenth grade and younger. If your school doesn’t operate on a US grade system, then this is open to students aged 16 and younger. However, a JV team in the Bowl must be composed entirely of students aged 16 and under (or tenth grade and under). JV teams will play for a separate title at each tournament, though they may also play a few Varsity teams in the process. In the Bee, JV and Varsity will be kept entirely separate. This ensures that 13-16 year olds have a more equal playing field.
Q: Do I have to play in the tournament in the country my school is in / the site closest to us? Can we play more than once?
A: No! You can play at whichever site you like. A Chinese school, for example, can play in Japan – you don’t have to play in China. However, you can only play at one qualifying tournament this year.
Q: Is there an Asian Final?
A:The National History Bee and Bowl will inaugurate a separate Asian Championships in the spring of 2014 after we have added more tournaments to our Asian Division in the 2013-2014 school year. However, for this year, for teams and students who finish in the top half of the draw in the Bowl, or the top third of the Bee, we are happy to extend an invitation for our National Championships in Washington, DC on 26-28 April, 2013. For the most up to date information on the Championships, see the tab on the menu bar.