CONTEST MECHANICS, RULES AND CRITERIA

For all Contests:

1. The competition is open to all pupils and students in the Division of Negros Occidental.
2. Only first place winners in the area level can participate in the Division level.
3. The number and/ or the order of the presentation of the contestants shall be determined
by drawing of lot to be done any time before the contest proper.
4. The decision of the board of judges in all contests is final.

SPELLING: Grades 7 or 8 for Secondary

a) The English Department of the Division will prepare the set of spelling words.
b) The Chairman of the Spelling Contest will appoint the Quiz Master and will orient
the same on the mechanics of the contest which are as follows:
Mechanics:
2.1 All contestants will spell same set of words in writing. Before a word is read,
contestants will raise their pentel pens first.
2.2 The word will be read twice by the Quiz Master. After the first reading, she will give
the meaning of the words and use it in a sentence. Then, she will read the word
again. After the second reading, the quizmaster will say “go”. Only then, will
contestants be allowed to write their answers. Automatically, the ten second time
limit will begin with the word “go” by the Quiz Master.
2.3 After the time limit, the bell rings and contestants should stop writing and show their
strips of paper with their answers to the judges.
2.4 Judges declare correct answers.
2.5 Point system shall be used. Scores will be reflected in the tally board.
2.6 There will be four rounds; easy, average, difficult, and clincher. The point assigned
for each category are:
Easy 1 point
Average 2 points
Difficult 3 points
Clincher 5 points (Clincher round takes place only if there is a tie)
2.7 Five (5) words will be spelled for each round except in the clincher round where there
will be as many words to be spelled until the tie is broken
2.8 Contestant who gets the highest points will be declared the winner.

c) Official trainers can only file protest immediately after the declaration of the correct
spelling by the judges.

VERSE CHOIR: 7 to 12 for Secondary

Mechanics
1. Verse Choir piece may be in prose or poetry from any literary source for elementary level
and published literary piece from literature preferably taken from Philippine, Afro-Asian,
American-English or World Literature for Secondary level.
2. Reference must be indicated including its author, book, and year published.
3. For Secondary level only, costume must be white t-shirt and pants. No accessories or print
figures on the shirt.
4. Number of participants should be minimum of 20 and maximum of 30 excluding props/
light/ sound in- charge. Failure to meet this will disqualify the performers. Contest
managers will take charge of checking the number of participants.
 5. Performance should be 5-7 minutes excluding entrance/ exit. One (1) point shall be
deducted from the performers’ total score for every minute or a fraction thereof in excess
or deficit of the allotted time.
6. Entrance and exit should not exceed 3 minutes. One (1) point shall be deducted from the
performers’ total score for every minute or a fraction thereof in excess.

Criteria
Interpretation 35%
Delivery 35%
(Blending of Voices/ Diction/ Pronunciation/Enunciation/ Intonation/ Clarity of words)

Oneness/ Precision of Movement/ Gestures 20 %

Stage Presence 10%
Elementary: (Appropriateness of Costume & Make- up/Appropriate use of the stage)
Secondary: (Appropriate use of the stage)
_____
Total 100%

CHARACTER PRESENTATION: Grade 7 to 12 for Secondary

Mechanics
1. Characters must be taken from any literary source like fairytales, fables, mythology, or
biblical stories or movie adapted character (a description of the character and the source
must be submitted to the contest managers during the registration).
2. Performance should be 6-7 minutes. One (1) point shall be deducted from the performer’s
total score for every minute or a fraction thereof in excess or deficit of the allotted time.
3. Entrance and exit should not exceed 2 minutes. One (1) point shall be deducted from the
performer’s total score for every minute or a fraction thereof in excess.
4. Contestant may provide background music, costume and make-up befit the character
he/she is portraying.
Criteria
Characterization/Interpretation
(including costume & make-up) 50%
Diction/Pronunciation/Enunciation 30%
Voice Projection 10%
Stage Presence 5%
Mastery 5%
Total 100%
ESSAY WRITING CONTEST: Grade 7 to 12 for Secondary
Mechanics
1. The topic shall be announced on the spot, a few minutes before the contest starts.
2. The essay must be written in English, must not be less than 200 words and not exceed 400
words.
3. The time limit is 40 minutes.

Criteria
Content and Message 40%
Organization and Style 30%
Mechanics 20%
Over-all impact 10%
Total 100%

POEM WRITING CONTEST: Grade 7 to 12 for Secondary

Mechanics
1. The topics shall be announced on the spot, a few minutes before contest starts.
2. Poem can be free verse style.
3. Contestants shall be given a time limit of 40 minutes.
Criteria
Content (Originality, Authenticity/ Relevance of Ideas) 50%
Mechanics (Spelling, Styles) 20%
Organization 30%
Total 100%

READ- A- THON: (Grade 9 or 10 for Secondary)

Mechanics
1. A team of three pupils/ students will be given 2 hours to read a story. Each member of the
team is assigned an event (Interpretative reading, Retelling and Vocabulary &
Comprehension Test). After the allotted time for reading, each member will proceed to
their designated event.
2. There will be four rounds; Easy (multiple choice), Average (multiple choice), difficult (open-
ended), and clincher (open- ended). The point assigned for each category are:
Easy 1 point
Average 2 points
Difficult 3 points
Clincher 5 points (Clincher round takes place only if there is a tie)
3. The Story and the Vocabulary Test will be prepared by the English Department of the
Division Office.
 Criteria for Retelling
Accuracy of details 30%
Interpretation (Analysis and insights given to the story, Paraphrasing)
Delivery 30%
(Facial expressions and gestures, Voice projection and clarity of words
Pronunciation, Enunciation, Diction) 30%
Stage presence (Appropriate use of the stage, Confidence) 10%
Total 100%

Criteria for Interpretative Reading

Ability to read with accuracy 30%
Correct oral interpretation 30%
Voice projection, Pronunciation, Enunciation, Diction 30%
Stage Presence, Level of confidence 10%
Total 100%

SMART TALKING: Grade 9 or 10 for Secondary

Mechanics:
1. There shall be one (1) contestant per cluster.
2. Contestants shall use English in talking about his/her ideas on the topic to be given on the
spot.
3. Preparation time is 3 minutes while delivery time is 2-3 minutes only.
4. One (1) point shall be deducted from the performers’ total score for every minute or a
fraction thereof in excess.

Criteria:
1. Wit & Intelligence 30%
2. Organization & relevance of Ideas to the topic 30%
3. Articulation/diction 20%
4. Stage Presence 10%
5. Appropriateness of attire 10%
TOTAL 100%
ON-THE-SPOT SONG WRITING CUM INTERPRETATION & PRESENTATION:
Grade 7 to 12 for Secondary

Mechanics:
1. Language to be used is English.
2. The song should be about the given theme (to be given on the spot).
3. The contestants shall be given 3 hours to prepare and 2-3 minutes to perform.
4. The writers shall be given the freedom of making the composition and its styles.
5. Song interpretation shall be done by a group of 5 members including the composer/writer.
6. The contestants shall be responsible for all the musical instruments (most preferably
acoustic/improvised musical instruments) during the final performance.

Criteria:
1. Lyrics 30%
2. Melody 30%
3. Relevance 15%
4. Interpretation 25%
TOTAL 100%

LITERARY & GRAMMAR QUIZ: Grades 9 & 10 for Secondary

Mechanics:
1. The English Department of the Division will prepare the set of questions.
2. The Chairman of the Grammar Contest will appoint the Quiz Master and will orient the
same on the mechanics of the contest which are as follows:

Mechanics:
2.1 Participants to this contest will be a team of two (2) students, one (1) from Grade 9,
and one (1) from Grade 10. Teams will have only one answer. Before the question is
asked, contestants will raise their pentel pens first.
2.2 The question will be read twice by the Quiz Master. After the second reading, the
quizmaster will say “go”. Only then, will contestants be allowed to write their
answers. Automatically, the ten second time limit will begin with the word “go”
by the Quiz Master.
2.3 After the time limit, the bell rings and contestants should stop writing and show their
strips of paper with their answers to the judges.
2.4 Judges declare correct answers.
2.5 Point system shall be used. Scores will be reflected in the tally board.
2.6 There will be four rounds; easy, average, difficult, and clincher. The point assigned
for each category are:
Easy 1 point
Average 2 points
Difficult 3 points
Clincher 5 points (Clincher round takes place only if there is a tie)
2.7 Five (5) questions will be asked for each round except in the clincher round where
there will be as many literary and grammar questions to be asked until the tie is
broken
2.8 Contestant who gets the highest points will be declared the winner.
 3. Official trainers can only file protest immediately after the declaration of the correct answer
by the judges.
DANCE THEATER: Grade 7 to 12 for Secondary

Mechanics:
1. Contest piece must be taken from a published literary piece preferably from Philippine
Literature, Afro-Asian Literature, American-English Literature or World Literature.
2. The number of participants is 8-10 only.
3. Music: recorded or actual indigenous music for all competing teams.
4. Allotted time for presentation is 5 to 8 minutes only.
5. One (1) point shall be deducted from the performers’ total score for every minute or a
fraction thereof in excess or deficit of the allotted time.
6. Each entry is required to submit a list of members with their story line at the venue
during the opening program through the contest manager.

Criteria:
Dance 40%
 Creative dance movement - 20%
 Mastery & Synchronization of movements- 20%
Dramatic Essence 20%
Theatrical Value 40%
 Costume & Props- 10%
 Staging Choreography- 20%
 General Impact of the Presentation- 10%
Total 100%