Academic Decathlon is an academic competition in Iowa. A division of United States Academic Decathlon, Iowa Academic Decathlon provides students of all learning levels the opportunity to excel academically through team competition.
The United States Academic Decathlon is a ten-event scholastic competition for teams of high school students. Each high school enters a team of nine students: 3 "A" or Honor students (3.750 - 4.00 GPA), 3 "B" or Scholastic students (3.00 - 3.749 GPA), and 3 "C or below" Varsity students (0.00 - 2.999 GPA). A theme for focus is selected each year.
Competition consists of seven multiple-choice exams—one in each of the following subject areas: art, economics, literature, mathematics, music, science, and social science. Students also take an essay exam and will be judged in a speech event as well as an interview event. The culmination of the competition is the Super Quiz relay. The Super Quiz relay includes questions (in multiple-choice format) from the following six subject areas: art, economics, literature, music, science, and social science.