THE HARVARD CRIMSON

GLOBAL QUIZ BOWL

For Middle and High School Students

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Priority Registration Deadline
May 15, 2025
Option to compete in one or multiple quiz categories
Full-length practice test available (in June)

This competition is for you if you’re passionate about or studying or planning to study any of  these areas:

  • Art & Art History
  • Economics & Business
  • Government & Politics
  • Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics (STEM)
  • Sports
  • World History

Summary

Preliminary Round
Online test with multiple choice and short answer questions
Semi-Final Round
Live rapid-fire questions via Zoom
Final Round
Live rapid-fire questions via Zoom
Team Size
2-5 students from the same school
Age Categories
Middle School (Grades 6-8) and High School (Grades 9-12)
Ten Quiz Categories
Choose to participate in one or more categories.

About The Harvard Crimson

Founded in 1873, The Harvard Crimson is the official student newspaper of Harvard University, and the oldest continuously published daily college newspaper in the United States. The Crimson has a rich tradition of journalistic integrity and counts among its ranks of editorship some of America's greatest journalists. More than 40 Crimson alumni have won the Pulitzer Prize; many of their portraits line the walls of The Crimson.

Countless Crimson alumni have gone on to make history in journalism, business, public service, and politics; distinguishable figures include Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Steve Ballmer, Linda Greenhouse, Jim Cramer, Susan Wojcicki and more.

Learn More

Compete in Multiple Categories

In this quiz bowl, you have the flexibility to compete in one or multiple categories and team up with different participants for each one. This setup gives you more opportunities to compete while allowing you to choose where to focus when it matters most. Have fun and make the most of it!

Which categories to participate in?

Compete in Multiple Categories
You’re free to participate in one or as many categories as you’d like.
Join Multiple Teams
You can form different teams for different quiz categories.
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Important Rules for Semi-Finals & Finals

  • Semi-Finals Conflict -  All semi-finals take place at the same time. If you qualify for more than one, you must choose which semi-final to attend.

  • Rejoining in the Finals - If you compete in a semi-final but don’t make it to the final, you can still join another one of your teams in the final if they qualify.

  • Finals Conflict - If multiple teams you’re part of make it to different finals, you must choose which final to compete in, as all finals happen at the same time.

  • Recognition - If your team wins but you didn’t attend the final, you’ll still receive a certificate and medal because you contributed to their success.

Why Join the Harvard Crimson Global Quiz Bowl?

Boost Your Academic Profile

Stand out in university applications by showcasing your knowledge in this prestigious competition

Excel in Your Studies

Strengthen your understanding of key knowledge, whether reinforcing what you've learned or getting a head start on future subjects in your school curriculum

Gain Global Recognition & Networking Opportunities

Earn awards and connect with like-minded peers who share your passion for learning and academic excellence

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How does the competition work?

Team size

2-5 students per team
(all team members must be from the same school)

Categories

Middle School Category

Grade 6 - 8 (Year 7 - 9)

High School Category

Grade 9 - 12 (Year 10 - 13)

What do teams need to do?

Preliminary: Test
Semi-final round: Live rapid fire questions
Final round: Live rapid fire questions
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Competition Format

Preliminary round

Day 1: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Day 2: Sunday, September 21, 2025
Day 3: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Day 4: Sunday, September 28, 2025

Description: The preliminary round is open to all registered teams worldwide

Format:

  • A 60-minute Test (multiple choice and short question)
  • Each team member will individually attempt a set of test questions
  • Only the top two scores will be used to calculate the team’s total score

No proctoring is not required. The test will be conducted online with anti-cheating algorithms in place. Participants must use a laptop or computer with a camera and keep it on throughout the test.

Preparation: Full-length practice tests and test scope will be available soon
Where: Online
When: The preliminary round will take place on four different dates, following the schedule below:
Day 1: Saturday, September 20, 2025:
Day 2: Sunday, September 21, 2025:
Day 3: Saturday, September 27, 2025:
Day 4: Sunday, September 28, 2025:
Note: To accommodate participants from various time zones, the test will be conducted in three different time slots.Your test time has been set according to the country you specified in the system.

Semi-final round

October 18, 2025 & October 19, 2025

Description: The top 30 highest-scoring teams in each quiz category from the preliminary round will qualify for the global semi-final round. All semi-final rounds across all quiz categories will take place at the same time.

Format: Live Zoom session to answer rapid-fire questions

Where: Online
When: The semi-final round will take place at four different timeslots, following the schedule below:
Time 1: Saturday, October 18, 2025 (10:00am - 11:00am EST):
  • Art & Art History
  • Biology
  • Math
Time 2: Saturday, October 18, 2025 (11:00am - noon EST):
  • Economics & Business
  • Government & Politics
Time 3: Sunday, October 19, 2025 (10:00am - 11:00am EST):
  • Sports
  • World History
  • Physics
Time 4: Sunday, October 19, 2025 (11:00am - noon EST):
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science

Final

October 18, 2025 & October 19, 2025

Description: The top 5 performing team from the semi-final round in each quiz category will advance to the global final round.

Format: Live Zoom session to answer rapid-fire questions

Where: Online
When: The final round will take place at four different timeslots, following the schedule below:
Time 1: Saturday, October 18, 2025 (11:00am - noon EST):
  • Art & Art History
  • Biology
  • Math
Time 2: Saturday, October 18, 2025 (noon - 1:00pm EST):
  • Economics & Business
  • Government & Politics
Time 3: Sunday, October 19, 2025 (11:00am - noon EST):
  • Sports
  • World History
  • Physics
Time 4: Sunday, October 19, 2025 (noon - 1:00pm EST):
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
Register Now!

Registration Deadlines and Participation Fees

Priority Deadline
Deadline: May 15, 2025
Fees: US$30 per student per category
Regular Deadline
Deadline: August 15, 2025
Fees: US$40 per student per category
Late Deadline
Deadline: September 6, 2025
Fees: US$50 per student per category

Fee waiver is available for individual low-income students. Please ask your school counselor or principal to send an email titled 'Fee Waiver Request' to waivers@algoed.co from their official school email with your email address and confirm you need a waiver.

All fee waivers must be requested before the regular deadline.

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Recognition

All participants will be awarded a certificate of participation. Participants will also receive their scores.
Preliminary Round
Country + Regional Awards
Champion
1st Runner Up
2nd Runner Up
Honor
Merit
Individual Awards
Top participants will receive individual honors, even if their teams may not win any awards.
Team Awards
Teams will be awarded based on the sum of their two highest individual scores.
Note
To qualify for country awards, participants must achieve a score above 70%. In other words, if a country has only one team, and it scores below 70%, no award will be granted.
Final Round
Global Awards
Global Champion
Global 1st Runner Up
Global 2nd Runner Up

Join the Challenge

This competition is more than a contest; it's your gateway to the  fascinating realm of global knowledge and academic exploration.

Register now to begin your journey through diverse topics, where you'll engage with thought-provoking questions and expand your understanding of the world around you.

Register Now!

Choose Category

About

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