At the beginning of the contest, the first member of each team takes the correct labeled seat at the competition tables (4 teams per table). After answering a test question to make sure they understand the procedure, the first members of all the teams answer four questions. Each question is on an 8.5x11 inch sheet of paper; the student should write his or her name, the school name, and the school code on the back and put the answer to the question in a box provided on the front. They can take a total of 120 seconds for each question, but a correct answer counts 5 points if turned in after 40 seconds, 3 points after 80 seconds, and only 1 point after 120 seconds. The answers are graded immediately and the scores are tallied by computer. The scores of the top teams are projected on a screen, and updated to reflect each question before the next question is finished, so the current standings are known at all times. [However, names of teams with low scores are not displayed!] After the first contestants have answered the 4 questions, they go back to sit in the audience and the second contestants from each team take their places. These answer another 4 questions, and so on until each of the four team members has answered 4 questions, for a total of 16 questions per team. The scores on these 16 questions are added to determine the overall team score; plaques are given at the awards ceremony to the top several teams in the high-school category and the top team among math-science magnet schools.