World Scholar's Cup


The World Scholar's Cup is an international team academic program with students participating from over 65 countries. The program was founded by DemiDec, in particular by Daniel Berdichevsky, in 2006. First taking place in South Korea in 2007 at the Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies, the World Scholar's Cup aims to teach students with interesting, not-taught-in-schools lesson, and finding common ground between people of different statuses.

Tournament format

A team for the World Scholar's Cup is generally composed of three students from the same or different schools, however teams of two or mixed-school teams are permitted too. Teams may participate in any regional round. If teams are unable to attend a regional round, but would still like to participate in the Global Round, they may qualify for a wildcard.
To qualify for the annual Global Round, teams must do one of the following:
To qualify to the Tournament of Champions at Yale University, New Haven, teams must:
The tournament is divided into junior and senior divisions, and participation in a division depends on the ages of the students of a team. Participants who are 14 years of age or older are classified as a senior. In the 2017 Hanoi Global Round, a new Skittles Division, was formed, for kids aged 8-12. In regional rounds, both divisions participate separately but simultaneously, while global rounds have the events of each division staggered, where the junior division competing in an event a day before the seniors' event. Closing ceremonies are held separately as well.

Events

Each Regional Round consists of four main events: the Scholar's Challenge, Collaborative Writing, The Team Debate, and the Scholar's Bowl. In addition to these four main events, non-competitive activities take place in select tournaments. These activities are both social and academic.

Team Events

The Scholar's Challenge

The Scholar's Challenge is a 120-question multiple choice exam given to each individual competitor to complete within 60 minutes. Prizes are awarded to top participants in each subject and to both top-scoring overall teams and individuals.
A feature of the Scholar's Challenge implemented in 2015 allows participants to select multiple answers per question. Though each question has only one correct answer, choosing multiple answers allows the participant to earn points inversely proportional to the number of answers chosen. For example, if a participant chose one single answer, and if it was correct, they would score a point; if they chose two answers and one was correct, they would score 1/2 a point; if they chose three and one was correct, they would score 1/3 of a point, and so forth. If time was running out, a participant can shade in all five answers and automatically win 1/5 of a point.

Collaborative Writing

This part is based on arguments, with students picking one of six different prompts. Each participant on a team must pick a different prompt. Participants pick one side of a topic and write for, against, or about it critically, providing evidence to support their claims using any resources available to them, with the exception of social media and communicating with people other than their teammates.
At the beginning of the event, students have 30 minutes to work with their teammates to discuss and research their arguments. Following the collaboration period, students have 45 minutes to write their essay. There is no word minimum or maximum, and students are expected to cite sources. Following the writing period, students then have 15 minutes to collaborate again with their teammates to edit one another's work, but they may not finish a teammate's essay.

Team Debate

All teams have assigned rooms and arguments. In the room, teams will have 15 minutes to confer within the room before the debate begins. Teams may use World Scholar's Cup materials or any outside resources to prepare.
Each debater will stand in front of the room for the length of his/her speech. Speakers may use notes, but should not read their speeches in their entirety. Students may speak for up to four minutes, however there is no penalty for speaking up to four minutes. The judge will signal time left using knocks, with two knocks meaning the speaker must stop speaking. Between speakers, teams will have 60 seconds to prepare before the next speaker is called.
Before the end of the debate, the competing teams are required to give positive and constructive feedback to the opposing team for roughly 90 seconds, before the judge announce a winning team. The winning team will then proceed to a designated room and the non-winning team to a different designated room, where each will face another team with the same number of wins and non-wins.
One cultural aspect of the debate is the 'lollipop'. In order to promote positivity and self-improvement, the World Scholar's Cup had replaced the term 'losing' with 'lollipopping' since 2015. This change was also reflected in the debate schedules that each team receives.

The Scholar's Bowl

The Scholar's Bowl is a quiz bowl usually held in a theater. Team members work together to answer multiple choice questions that are displayed on a large screen.
In order to answer the questions, each team of students is given a clicker that connects to a scoring computer on stage. Students then choose their answer by pressing their choice letter on the clicker. Students are given 15 seconds to submit their answer. The questions gets harder each time and worth more points than the previous one. There are sometimes rapid fire questions which have to be answered in 5 seconds, worth even more points.
The Scholar's Bowl implements many types of questions, many tend to include references to pop culture, and often include WSC in-jokes. This is often the last educational event of the competition before the awards ceremony.

Community Events

The Scholar's Scavenge

The Scholar's Scavenge is an annual scavenger hunt at the Global Round and the ToC, and first took place in 2009 in Singapore.
Students are teamed up randomly and given tasks. At least one person in the team has a camera, and the tasks are completed by taking photos and videos. The tasks may relate to the curriculum, teamwork, organizer, or just silly. Each task is worth a certain number of points depending upon the difficulty. At the end of the scavenge, the leader collects the photos and score them. These scores do not count toward the scores in the competition as a whole, but are only used for this event. Teams with the highest scores can be called for an award in an award ceremony.

The Debate Showcase

Debate Showcase is an additional event, with the round's top 8 junior and senior debaters take part in this event. At Regional Rounds there is only one Debate Showcase with both juniors and seniors taking part. Regardless, 8 students debate in each Showcase.
The format mirrors the debate's format, but the students instead debate on stage in front of the rest of the participants. When all six speakers have gone, the host of the Showcase invites volunteers from the audience and debaters from the showcase to step forward and share their general thoughts on the topic that was debated.
Additionally, top-scoring round debate participants are the judging panel for the Showcase. When it ends, the panel announce the winners.

The Scholar's Ball

The Scholar's Ball was first added to the tournament in 2011 at the Global Round in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The idea spawned from a conversation about the competition where one party misheard "Scholar's Bowl" as "Scholar's Ball".
The Scholar's Ball encourages mingling, dancing, and the chance to "look sharp". Students are required to come in formal wear. Some students refer to it as a "pseudo-prom" or "nerd-prom". It was introduced to allow students mingle with students from different countries.

The Scholar's Show

The first Scholar's Show occurred in 2010 at the regional round held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It originated from several students playing "We Will Rock You" playing during an intermission. When the song was over, Berdichevsky invited any student wanting to showcase their talent to come forward.
Student performances range from vocal and instrumental performances to beat boxing, dancing, drinking hot sauce and magic tricks. The Scholar's Show is held at all two-day rounds, and at each Global Round and the Tournament of Champions.

Flag March

The Flag March happens at the end of every Global Round and ToC before the Awards Ceremony. In the Flag March, there is one representative from every country participating. The flag bearers carry the flag of their country and march to the stage,
followed by a staff giving a farewell speech.

The World Scholar's Camp

In 2012, the World Scholar's Camp was created, and took place in Singapore in December 2012. It included seminars and outings to various locations in Singapore.
Camps take place at various schools and cities through the year.
Awards Ceremony
The Awards Ceremony, also known as the Closing Ceremony, takes place just before the end of a round. Traditionally, staff members stand on stage and announce the winners for the entire round. Winners either get a gold medal, silver medal, a pineapple, or a trophy. The winner of the round gets the tallest trophy, and gets to interact with the props on the stage. Participants who don't get any medal and trophy gets a gold medal named the Da Vinci Award. Weeks later, a certificate will be shipped to all participants.

Very Emotional Farewell To The Year's Theme

Began in 2018 ToC, with scholars together saying emotive byes to the Havana theme and destroying the set of it, the Very Emotional Farewell To The Year's Theme is an event where scholars and staffs ultimately destroy the year's theme in a non-violent way. The event happens at every ToC at the New Haven Green.

Curriculum

The World Scholar's Cup curriculum has six subjects. The theme changes annually. Students are often given questions that require critical thinking skills as well as their basic knowledge to come to a conclusion rather than focusing on memorization. For instance, instead of asking on which date an experiment was performed, the question would ask, "Which artist would be most likely to oppose this experiment?"
The subjects are:
Until 2009, mathematics, economics, and trigonometry was included in the curriculum. However, in 2010 it was eliminated in order to better address the goals of the competition stating that it is inflexible and difficult to debate. In 2008, the World Scholar's Cup added a 'film' category to its visual arts section, and in 2010 added a "music" category to its art section.
Until 2013, the World Scholar's Cup released curriculum guides each year—one for each subject. The guides were available free-of-charge on its official website. Starting in 2013, topic outlines and theme-relevant material was made freely available to students through their website. The World Scholar's Cup recommends connecting each section of the outline to the given theme and how they connect or impact society.
Until 2014, there was a Current Affairs section, which was replaced by Social Studies. To address its absence, Current Affairs would from thereon out be integrated across all six subjects instead.

Champions

Overall Individual Champions

Seniors

YearRoundLocationChampionSchoolCountry
2012GlobalBangkok?Hwa Chong Institution
2012ToCYaleGlenys PoonNational Junior College
2013GlobalDubaiHerbert ChangKaohsiung American School
2013ToCYaleMedha GoyalChinese International School
2014GlobalSingaporeTerran KroftKaohsiung American School
2014ToCYaleNora JandhyalaGEMS Wellington International School
2015GlobalKuala LumpurChauncey LoInternational School of Beijing
2015Mini GlobalIrelandYuval BekerAhad Ha'am High School
2015ToCYaleChauncey LoInternational School of Beijing
2016GlobalBangkokDylan KroftKaohsiung American School
2016Mini GlobalPragueVishal SriramAmerican International School Chennai
2016ToCYalePavithra ChempakanalloorHenry Wise Wood Senior High School
2017GlobalHanoiNicol YongSt Joseph's Institution International Singapore
2017GlobalAthensZhuoyan LiKeishin High School
2017GlobalCape TownDana ChiuehInternational Bilingual School at Hsinchu Science Park
2017ToCYaleTyus SheriffSenri-Osaka International School
2018GlobalKuala LumpurTyus SheriffSenri-Osaka International School
2018GlobalBarcelonaEmily DengUniversity of Toronto Schools
2018GlobalMelbourneAlessandra LimSt Joseph's Institution International Singapore
2018Mini GlobalDurbanHeather SandisonMerrifield College
2018ToCYaleTyus SheriffSenri-Osaka International School
2019GlobalBeijingSarah SweaHan Chiang High School
2019Mini GlobalNur-SultanAnushka ChakrabortyIndian High School Dubai
2019GlobalThe HagueShaurya ChandravanshiAl Diyafah High School, Dubai
2019GlobalSydneyXavier DickasonSt. Andrew's College
2019Not-so-Mini GlobalManilaTim LinInternational Bilingual School at Hsinchu Science Park
2019Mini GlobalDurbanSiddhant TandonDubai International Academy
2019ToCYaleSarah SweaHan Chiang High School

Juniors

YearRoundLocationNameSchoolCountry
2012GlobalBangkokKevin KuoKaohsiung American School
2012ToCYaleDavid Boo KohHwa Chong Institution
2013GlobalDubaiMilo ThursfieldArdingly College
2013ToCYaleChauncey LoInternational School of Beijing
2014GlobalSingaporeYifeng DongDulwich College Shanghai
2014ToCYaleAatmik GuptaModern School, Barakhamba Road
2015GlobalKuala LumpurEmile Timothy AnandCambridge International School, Dubai
2015Mini GlobalIrelandOwen YeungPo Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School
2015ToCYaleSze Ann PangNanyang Girls High School
2016GlobalBangkokAlessandra LimSJI International School
2016Mini GlobalPragueAlexa Jeanne Wong LosteImmaculate Conception Academy
2016ToCYaleTyus SheriffOsaka International School
2017GlobalHanoiAdam Mihir LibbySishya School
2017GlobalHanoiAmy Mance Iona Presentation College
2017GlobalAthensSarah Luna NabhaniMentari School Jakarta
2017GlobalCape TownAnika SharmaPathways World School Aravali
2017ToCYaleChi Dao MaiStanford Online High School
2018GlobalKuala LumpurAnthony ShenKaohsiung American School
2018GlobalKuala LumpurMaia Anika Punzalan Miriam College
2018GlobalBarcelonaVishnumaya DeepakchandranGEMS Modern Academy
2018GlobalMelbourneDipika ChoudhuryPerth Modern School
2018GlobalMelbourneMuhammad Rafi Permadi BINUS School Simprug
2018Mini GlobalDurbanInga WaitMerrifield College
2018ToCYaleDipika ChoudhuryPerth Modern School
2018ToCYaleRafi Rahman Yahdieka
2019GlobalBeijingKimberly Johnson UsmanSingapore School Pantai Indah Kapuk
2019GlobalBeijingJustine English Nord Anglia International School Dubai
2019Mini-GlobalNur-SultanMing Xuan ZhangAlmaty International School
2019GlobalThe HagueAnne Ling-Yi WuKaohsiung American School
2019GlobalThe HagueAmy Ren Mulgrave School
2019GlobalSydneySirimongkul HengWestern International School
2019Mini-GlobalManilaBernice ZarzuelaDe La Salle Santiago Zobel School
2019Mini-GlobalDurbanKate Hiewon AhnAmerican International School of Johannesburg
2019ToCYaleEmma JohnsonKelmscott Senior High School
2019-----

Overall Team Champions

Seniors

YearRoundLocationChampionsSchoolCountry
2012GlobalBangkokSara Ng, So Phia Ong, Chun Shin YauHwa Chong Institution
2012ToCYaleDikaios Pang, Louiz Kim-Chan, Glenys PoonNational Junior College
2013GlobalDubaiTerran Kroft, Herbert Chang, Kevin KuoKaohsiung American School
2013ToCYaleMedha Goyal, Jimin Kang, Cuthbert ChowChinese International School
2014GlobalSingaporeKean Murphy, Jack Tan, Cheng Tat Chua
2014ToCYaleEnrique Chuidian, Jonathan Mak, Nicholas ValloneChinese International School
2015GlobalKuala LumpurZihan Chen, Julie Wang, David ZhaoTsinghua International School/Phillips Academy Andover/
2015Mini GlobalIrelandMaayan Asiskovich, Yuval Beker, Maya MichaelyAhad Ha'am High School
2015ToCYaleNicole-Ann Lim, Caitlin Wee, Chan Wen-ShuenNanyang Girls High School
2016GlobalBangkokIvy Gao, Linda Huang, Ng Zi LingNanyang Girls High School
2016Mini GlobalPragueVishal Sriram, Nate Malone, Uday SahariaAmerican International School Chennai
2016ToCYaleKelvin Ho, Clement Ho, Owen YeungPo Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School
2017GlobalHanoiEunice Lee, Sze Ann Pang, Teo Yue QiNanyang Girls High School
2017GlobalAthensHila Ofek, Gull Shakhar, David JanglespiedRehovot School for Gifted and Talented
2017GlobalCape TownBrandon Lin, Wendy O-charoenrat, Dana ChiuehInternational School Bangkok / International Bilingual School at Hsinchu Science Park /
2017ToCYaleNatalie Kainz, Jeff Hu, Jenny HuKing George V School
2018GlobalKuala LumpurVan An Trinh, Lexi Prichard, Terry GuoIsland School/Iona Presentation College/Conestoga High School//
2018GlobalBarcelonaJeremy Flics, Matthew Flics, Grace PangBrooklyn Technical High School/Hwa Chong Institution/
2018GlobalMelbourneTara Kripalani, Alessandra Lim, Kyle LimSt Joseph's Institution International Singapore
2018Mini GlobalDurbanHeather Sandison, Britney Schroeder, Banoyola SicwebuMerrifield College, Brettonwood High School
2018ToCYaleSkye Inada, Minami Matsushima, Tyus SheriffSenri-Osaka International School
2019GlobalBeijingItamar Galyam, Shelly Napadensky, Hallel Ben AriRehovot School for Gifted and Talented
2019Mini GlobalNur-SultanJuveria Hasan, Sakshi Koul, Vanessa Angela D'SouzaIndian High School Dubai
2019GlobalThe HagueBrady Sanders, Colby Sanders, Shaurya ChandravanshiRidge Point High School, Al Diyafah High School/
2019Not-so-Mini GlobalManilaKatelyn E. Chen, Joshua Zhao, Janet Chen JiangInternational Bilingual School at Hsinchu Science Park
2019ToCYaleSarah Swea, Rhowan Ho, Hoven EweHan Chiang High School
2019-----

Juniors

YearRoundLocationChampionsSchoolCountry
2012GlobalBangkokJasmine Thng, Alicia Lim, Selina XuNanyang Girls High School
2012ToCYaleJun Kai Sebastian Guek, Jun Teck Roystan Ang, David Boo KohHwa Chong Institution
2013GlobalDubaiAngela Lin, Yifeng Dong, Romain SpecielDulwich College Shanghai
2013ToCYaleClaudia Meng, Tara Parekh, Adele LimDulwich College Shanghai
2014GlobalSingaporeClaudia Meng, Adele Lim, Tara ParekhDulwich College Shanghai
2014ToCYaleHelen Bae, Stella Qiu, Jessie FanSkyline High School /West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South/International School of Beijing/
2015GlobalKuala LumpurKhong Yan Yi, Vivien Tan, Wong Zi LingNanyang Girls High School
2015Mini GlobalIrelandRotem Steiner, Nimrod Nakdimon, Owen YeungOrt Kramim High School/Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School/
2015ToCYaleRuth Scharff-Hansen, Melissa Adams, Gordon ChiGerman Swiss International School
2016GlobalBangkokChi Dao Mai, Khoi Dang Vinh, Gabrielle Jia-Min HoAustralian International School Vietnam/Vo Truong Toan High School/International School Ho Chi Minh City
2016Mini GlobalPragueClaire Quan, Annie Qiu, Kevin Xu, Sandra ChangShanghai American School, Pudong
2016ToCYaleKyle Lim, Alessandra Lim, Tara KripalaniSt. Joseph's Institution International
2017GlobalHanoiKohana Ah-Teck, Sasha Pond, Luka MurphyTanglin Trust School
2017GlobalHanoi Supasinee Siripun, Willa Blair, Victor PhisitkulRuamrudee International School
2017GlobalAthensNoam Rotem, Ofek Linchevsky, Noa AlonRehovot School for Gifted and Talented
2017GlobalCape TownAileen Bachtiar, Kathleen Humato, Fiona LimantoNational High Jakarta School
2017ToCYaleMinh Le Hai, Ghina Hijanah Abdul Ghani, Chi Dao MaiKells Academy/MRSM Alor Gajah/Stanford Online High School//
2018GlobalKuala LumpurAdam Mihir Libby, Sibhi Aravindan, Tejas NarayanSishya School/American International School Chennai
2018GlobalKuala Lumpur Melissa Steffi de Chavez, Zoie Irasusta, Maia Anika PunzalanMiriam College
2018GlobalBarcelonaMuktha Kaja, Abhay Sharma, Rohit VivekGEMS Modern Academy
2018GlobalMelbourneHealth Muller, Xavier Dry, Pearson ChambelScotch College Perth
2018GlobalMelbourne Giang La Chau, Linh Dinh Tran Phuong, Linh Phan KhanhHanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted
2018Mini GlobalDurbanRehema Onchuru, Nozwelo Sibanda, Aymaan ZahirAl-Nur School
2018ToCYaleAdam Mihir Libby, Sibhi Aravindan, Tejas NarayanSishya School/American International School Chennai
2018ToCYale Samantha Claire Arcenas, Marie Anne Eloiza Beriña, Leica Juliene CeciliaMiriam College
2019GlobalBeijingKhok Jie Ying, Phua Yi Jun, Ariel TearNanyang Girls High School
2019GlobalThe HagueAnaya Sheth, Uddant Patodia, Shreya TandonHill Spring International School
2019Mini GlobalNur-SultanKushaal Baviskar, Abdullah Haroon, Stylanios ZuburtikudisBrighton College Abu Dhabi
2019GlobalSydneyJocelyn Mary Koswara, Devina Graciella Kwee, Olivia TjahjadiKelapa Gading School
2019Not-so-Mini GlobalManilaRafi Rahman Yahdieka, Cornelia Madeleine Sagita, Mikaila Maulidina Surya
2019ToCYaleChloris Wong, Ran Zhao, Katherine YanKing George V School

Coach of The Year

2011James UnsworthAustralian International School Malaysia-
2012Nicholas MokuaLight International School-
2012Michael SheridanInternational School of Beijing-
20122013Glenda ClarkWinchester School
20122013Frank HardeeNorth London Collegiate School Jeju
Emily Fitzpatrick2013Qatar International School-
Tomohiko Takasaki2013Delegation of Japan-
2014Matt RobergeMentari School Jakarta-
2015Selena GallagherInternational School Bangkok-
2015Darren LimPrince of Wales Island International School-
2015Matthew Savage & Marie BeanlandBromsgrove International School-
2015Mara NanamanNational High Jakarta-
2015Simeon Sostenes Enriquez-Padre21st Century Private Academy-
2015Jason CaesarJincai High School-
2015Agustina Ken HendrayaniSekolah Ciputra-
2016Gina WilliamsBahçeşehir College-
2016Yaniv BoxerHillel School-
2016Saltanat RahmanovaAychurok Girls High School-
2016Mitch PryorInternational School Yangon-
2016Jennifer ChungPo Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School-
2016Nate SamuelsonShanghai High School International Division-
2016Adrian WalkerSt. Christopher's School Bahrain-
2016Katarina LovenjakOŠ Danile Kumar-
2016Craig BowkerBESA Leadership Academy-
2016Joyce MburuRusinga School Nairobi-
2016Dalia Ben AssaAhad Ha'am-
2016David SheppardTanglin Trust School-
2017Louise OrmesherIona Presentation College-
2017Jonathan MarshBritish School Muscat-
2017Sumana ChatterjeeGEMS Modern Academy-
2017William NorrisUCSI International School Kuala Lumpur-
2017Kristine OehlersNanyang Girls' High School-
2017Steve SheriffSenri-Osaka International School-
2017Jake SklarewInternational School of Beijing-
2017Seth RobertsInternational Bilingual School at Hsinchu Science Park-
2017Yaffa GluskaRashish Junior High-
2017Carmen OgwenoBrookhouse School-
2017Janice DoyleDominican International School Taipei-
2017Agafe Joy DiazCreative British School-
2017Marie BeanlandScotch College Adelaide-
2017Orit FederRehovot School for Gifted and Talented-
2017Cynthia SamynadenBrettonwood High School-
2017Elizabeth SerhanLa Salle High School-
2017Charles SokoRhodes Park School-
2017Patience MasairePeterhouse Boys School-
2017Nuhal NassarEnglish Talents School-
2018Eka DeviSDI Al Azhar 35 Surabaya-
2018Tom WashRuamrudee International School-
2018Ashli CarteGEMS World Academy Singapore-
2018Mark WilliamsFrench International School of Hong Kong-
2018Zainab NoorLahore Grammar School State Life-
2018Peter FlynnDubai English Speaking College-
2018Danielle RichmondConcordia International School Shanghai-
2018Lydia SundaramuttyHELP International School-
2018Shannon HancockInternational School of Amsterdam-
2018Aaron StambouliehSt. George's School of Montreal-
2018Ece KahramanKoç School-
2018Craig SandersRidge Point High School-
2018CJ JuniorLight International School-
2018Marlene GracieGrace Trinity School for Girls-
2018Divya PandandaPathways School Noida-
2018Adam SaligmanAlmaty International School-
2018Eliysha SaputraSingapore National Academy-
2018Sam SterrettScotch College-
2018Felda Mohammed AsariKolej Yayasan Saad-
2018Petri MostertCurro Hillcrest-
2019Marie NietoDwight School-
2019Yasin MotaraBritish School of Bahrain-
2019Diana RichardsonEmirates International School Meadows-
2019Gary CairnsSt. Joseph's Institution Malaysia-
2019Simon Goddard WeedonDoshisha International Junior and Senior High School-
2019Tanya AthertonSacred Heart College-
2019Vaishali ThukralHeritage School Rohini-
2019Thomas BravoShenzhen Houde Academy-
2019Hellena MariaGlobal Jaya School-
2019Fenty GultomSekolah Victory Plus-
2019Dr. Abhilasha ChaubeIndian High School Dubai-
2019Sundoss ShadLahore Grammar School 1A1 Senior-
2019Edgar SalmingoSt. John Bosco High School -
Coach of the DecadeNigel KawPioneer Junior College-
Coach of the DecadeMatt RobergeMentari School Jakarta-

Alpaca Scholar of the Year

Cria Scholar of the Year

Alpaca of the Year

MVP