Individual Online Academic Competition

Welcome to the United States Academic Decathlon Individual Competition (USADic)!
USADic is a prestigious academic competition open to high school students from around the world.

Register

  • Sign Up: Easily register through our website to join the competition. Registration opens in June, with the competition starting in January. Students have the option to register before to any specific round. The competition culminates with Round IV, Nationals, held in late April or early May.
  • Leveled Playing Field: Multiple divisions and subdivisions ensure participants compete against those of a similar academic stature.
  • Exclusive USAD Curriculum: Upon registration you'll receive access to the custom USAD curriculum materials. Those that already have this year’s official USAD curriculum will not receive another copy.

Prepare

Study the Curriculum: Engage with our comprehensive curriculum materials, which cover seven subjects: Art, Economics, Literature, Mathematics, Music, Science, and Social Science.
Aligned Tests: Our tests are carefully crafted to mirror the curriculum, giving you a clear roadmap to success.

Compete

Rounds I, II, and III: There are 3 rounds of online competition, making it easily accessible to anyone. Each round of competition covers all seven subjects. The tests are designed to have a high degree of difficulty, challenging even the brightest and most talented.
Round IV Nationals: The culmination of the competition is the 4th and final round: Nationals.

  • Online: All participants have the opportunity to compete in the Online National Competition.
  • In-person: Exclusive to those who qualify, this thrilling multi-day experience brings together top performers from around the world for an in-person event where they will compete, collaborate and connect with like-minded individuals.

Why Join USADic?

  • Become an Academic Champion: Strive for excellence and achieve the highest levels of academic success.
  • Challenge Yourself: Expand your knowledge and push your academic limits.
  • Gain Recognition: Stand out in college applications, earn recognition, and win medals.
  • Develop Skills: Enhance critical thinking, communication, and analytical abilities.
  • Join a Community: Connect with like-minded students passionate about learning.

Get Started Today!

Ready to embark on an unforgettable academic journey? Register now and take the first step towards showcasing your talents in USADic! Group registration is for those registering multiple students (other than coaches) at once and are interested in a discount. All participants will compete individually. Details may vary.

Single Person Registration
Coach Registration - Group discounts apply.
Group Registration - Group discounts apply.

Interested but looking for more details? Scroll down for an in-depth overview of how the competition works.

Scholastic

Qualifications

Students may not be actively competing in the USAD Team Competition. They must be eliminated, an alternate, or not on a team.

Competition

Individuals will compete online against other students on USAD's testing platform on a scheduled date and time.

About Image

Competition Overview

USADic is a prestigious academic contest that welcomes high school students from around the globe. Designed as an individualized version of the traditional team- based United States Academic Decathlon (USAD aka Academic Decathlon®), USADic offers a unique opportunity for students who are interested in academic competition. By participating in USADic, students can demonstrate their academic skills, build confidence, and connect with peers from around the world. Participants compete in one of the following divisions:

  • Division I - Schools without an Academic Decathlon® program: This division is for participants who are from a school that doesn’t offer an Academic Decathlon® program, including home-school and virtual students.
  • Division II - Eliminated / Alternate USAD Team Competitors: This division is for participants who are from a school that has an Academic Decathlon® program and meet the following criteria:
    • Team members whose Academic Decathlon® teams were eliminated before the national round of team competition may continue to compete individually in USADic. However, students who are currently active members of their school's 9-person Academic Decathlon team are not eligible to register until their team has been eliminated from the competition. If your team was eliminated from competition and you wish to compete in USADic, this is your division
    • Non-participating team members: Students who are part of a competing team but are not participating in competition as a team member. Some may call this an alternate.
  • Division III - International Students: This division is for participants from outside the United States.

Within each division, participants compete in a subdivision based on their USAD GPA:

  • Honor: 3.80 – 4.00
  • Scholastic: 3.20 – 3.799
  • Varsity: 3.199 and below

*USAD uses their own criteria to calculate a participant’s GPA. This may cause the participant’s USAD GPA to vary from their school’s GPA.

Registration

We encourage participants to register as early as possible to allow ample time to review the curriculum materials and prepare thoroughly. Registration opens in June, with the competition starting in January. Although registration covers all rounds of the competition, students have the option to register before to any specific round. The competition culminates with Round IV, Nationals, held in late April or early May

Registration is done through our website via our Registration Page.

  • Discounts are available for those registering multiple participants (3 or more) at once. Group registration and coach registration start by filling out the form on the website and then following instructions sent to the provided email address. The person to register a group, the coach/group coordinator, will be responsible for all correspondence for the entire group. This includes all communication, all requested information, distributing curriculum materials to each person in their group, and distributing results to each person in their group. They will also receive and distribute all medals won by those in their group. If you are a USAD coach, you automatically assume this role.
    ** Participants registering as a group still compete as individuals. Group registration is for those other than coaches registering multiple students at once and want to receive discounted rate.
  • All payments are processed through PayPal. A PayPal account is not required to register.

The registration fee includes:

  • Division II: The competition participation fee. Students in this division already have curriculum materials and do not have to pay for curriculum materials again.
  • Division I and Division III: The competition participation fee, curriculum materials, and access to the Academic Decathlon® Online Training Center.
    • Academic Decathlon® Online Training Center: An exciting way to train for competition through a unique combination of individual study sessions, direct challenges, and national scrimmages featuring more than 7,000 questions. This powerful resource includes Flash Cards, Quick Quiz, Scrimmages, Head-to-Head Challenges, and Word Puzzles.

Once registered, login credentials for the online testing system are sent out via email. Instructions to download curriculum materials are also included for those who are getting a copy with their registration.

Curriculum / Theme

Each year, USAD generates its own unique curriculum. The curriculum materials cover all seven subjects: Art, Economics, Literature, Mathematics, Music, Science, and Social Science. Participants utilize the curriculum materials on their own to prepare/study for the competitions. USADic utilizes the official USAD curriculum materials. All decathletes use the same curriculum materials, whether it's for the Academic Decathlon® team competition or Academic Decathlon Individual Competition.

Each season is centered around a unique theme. The theme for the 2024-2025 season is "Our Changing Climate." Competition tests directly align with the curriculum materials provided, ensuring a cohesive learning experience.

Competition Structure / Schedule

USADic consists of up to four non-elimination rounds, each held online. The competition starts with Round I in January and concludes with Round IV in late April or early May. The schedule for the upcoming season is typically announced at the end of October. Detailed instructions are provided before each round of competition to guide participants through the process.

  • Rounds I, II, and III: Each round features seven 30-minute multiple-choice tests, which can be completed at any time during their respective designated testing window. The testing window is scheduled for a specific day and is typically open for 12 - 15 hours.
  • Round IV – The National Competition:This final round includes the seven, 25- or 30-minute, multiple-choice tests and a 50-minute essay component. This is the only round with the essay component. Round IV tests are spread out over 2 days, requiring participants to be available to test at specific times during those scheduled days. This round also offers participants the opportunity to win medals. Results for this round are posted to our website and medals are sent out through the mail. There are two ways to participate in the National Competition:
    • Online: All participants have the opportunity to compete in the Online National Competition.
    • In-person: Exclusive to those who qualify, this thrilling multiday experience brings together top performers from around the world for an in person event, where they will compete, collaborate, and connect with like-minded individuals.

Scoring / Results

After each round of competition results are emailed to the person who did the registration. Coaches and Group Coordinators will get the results for everyone they registered. Students who registered themselves will get thier own results.

There is 1 test per event for each round of competition. Each event has a possible score of 1,000 points. A participant's overall score is an accumulation of scores from all the events for that round.

  • Rounds I and II: Results include 1 report: the student's event scores. There is 1,000 points per event, 7 events, and a possible overall score of 7,000 points.
  • Round III: Results include 3 reports: the student's events scores, top scores for each event by division and subdivision, and overall top scores by division and subdivision. There is 1,000 points per event, 7 events, and a possible overall score of 7,000 points.
  • Round IV: Results are posted online and emailed and include 3 reports: The student's events scores, top scores for each event by division and subdivision, and overall top scores by division and subdivision.
    • Online Nationals scores 1,000 points per event, has 8 events including an essay event, and a possible overall score of 8,000 points.
    • In-Person Nationals scores 1,000 points per event, 10 events including the essay, interview and speech events, with a possible overall score of 10,000 points.

Requirements

  • Must be a high school student.
  • Must be 13 years of age or older.
  • Must not be a be a member of an official USAD team who is actively competing in Academic Decathlon competitions. (Can be a team member from a team that has been eliminated or an alternate on a team still competing).
  • Must follow our code of conduct.
  • Must return a signed USADic parent permission form. This will be provided to you once you have registered.
  • Rounds III and IV require a proctor to oversee the competition testing. What is a proctor?

Contact Us

Please feel free to contact us with questions or for further clarification on any aspects of USADic. Thank you for your interest in the United States Academic Decathlon Individual Competition (USADic). We look forward to welcoming you to our community of scholars!