Thank you for your interest in The International 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 International History Bee and Bowl were founded in the USA 2010, and we launched our Asian Division in the fall of 2011. We have already seen over 1000 schools and approximately 50,000 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, but not until 2015 or 2016 or so.
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” or “Middle School” Division?
A: The Junior Varsity Division is meant for students aged 14-16. We will also have a Middle School Division for students aged 13 and younger. JV and Middle School teams will play for a separate title at each tournament, though they may also play a few higher division teams in the process. In the Bee, Middle School, JV and Varsity will be kept entirely separate. This ensures that younger students 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 Championship?
A:Yes! The International History Bee and Bowl will inaugurate a separate Asian Championships in the spring of 2014 to be held in either Singapore or Hong Kong. For the most up to date information on the Championships, see the tab on the menu bar.
Q: What’s this rumor about an International History Olympiad?
A: It’s more than a rumor, it’s true! Beginning in the Summer of 2015, we will be debuting the International History Olympiad in the USA. Students from around the world can qualify for it beginning this year, if you finish in the top half in your regional division at your tournament in the 2013-14 school year. Even if you graduate in 2014, you will still be eligible to compete. The International History Olympiad is being planned as a week-long event in the summer which will feature Bee and Bowl competitions, historical simulations and debates, interactions with history professors and students from around the world, field trips, and more! Contact Nolwenn Madden at nolwenn@historybowl.com for more information. As details become available, we’ll also post them here on our websites.