BAAO Junior Astro Challenge

Competition dates

Opens 08:00 Friday 3^rd Nov and closes at 18:30 on Friday 24^th Nov 2023
Year Group: aimed at Year 10 (but Y7 to Y11 encouraged to participate)
Length: Consists of two, 25-minute online sections each of 30 questions
Location: Under teacher supervision in your school
Marked: Online competition
Cost: £20.00 registration fee per school with up to 999 entries
Prizes: Certificates

Competition Platform

Students Competition Login – Students should login to the exam portal here Competition platform with the details provided by their teachers.

Competition

The Junior Astro Challenge competition is designed to engage and challenge students of all abilities by offering them a range of problems to solve. Although most of the questions are based around the current GCSE curriculum, students will be able to gain more marks if they have a general knowledge in astronomy as well as taking a keen interest in the night sky. The key aim is that students enjoy taking part and are encouraged to do more astronomy. They do not need to cover technical topics outside the syllabus, but they might be shown some pictures of famous astronomers or astrophysicists and asked to identify one (Hawking, Galileo or Copernicus for example). Some general knowledge and everyday interest in physics would also be an advantage. The purpose is to be fun for the student and to be inclusive rather than discriminating between very able candidates.

The questions will be based on an assortment from the history of astronomy, the Solar System, the Moon, observational techniques, diurnal cycles, star patterns, and general astronomical knowledge to give the main topics. Some questions are done by a process of elimination, some are general knowledge and not likely to be covered in lessons, and some are from the school curriculum. It is an interesting Quiz and not an exam.

FOR STUDENTS Here are is a set ten questions which may give a flavour of the competition. It is a fun challenge and you can use your knowledge of astronomy of the planets which you will have studied when you were younger.

Students can see a mock paper with 10 questions here Ten sample questions

TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS JAS 2022 Instructions for teachers.

Teachers can see a mock paper with 30 questions on the JAS section of the Competition platform

• Registering your school: Registration is open on the Competitions platform. Teachers must initially register for the Competitions platform here.
• The competitions are taken in school under staff-supervised conditions at any time convenient during the competition dates. Active invigilation is required. Students may not do online searches during the competition.
• A desktop or laptop is needed for this exam. Tablets can be used but the system is not optimised for small or touch screens. Calculators, pens and paper should be available.
• Prizes: Schools will be able to conduct the BAAO Junior Astro Challenge in whatever way best suits their pupils, ensuring that they enjoy participating and have a reasonable expectation of recognition for their achievements. Certificates will be awarded.

Report and Grade Boundaries for Nov 2022 Competition
BAAO Junior Astro Competition Report Nov 2022 Report.pdf