Academic Pentathlon

This course is designed to prepare students for the Academic Pentathlon Regional Competition put on by the network of Independent Study of Schools. Students will work through the thematic curriculum using the online platform through Schoology and participate in office-hour meetings with their regional coach, April Glauner. Competitions are 100% online.

About Academic Pentathlon

In short, an Academic Pentathlon is an event comprised of five tests and a written essay. Students will take these tests during:

  • a scrimmage competition
  • a regional competition
  • a state competition (qualification-based)
  • a national competition (qualification-based)

An important detail to note is that students of any GPA can join. Teams are required to have a mix of student grade/academic levels, comprised of students with lower grades, students with average grades, and students with high grades. This means that AcaPen is for EVERYONE! Check out the Pentathlon website for further national details.

Elementary School Students Preparing for Academic Pentathlon

To participate in the Academic Pentathlon as a 6th, 7th or 8th grader, it’s great that you're already thinking ahead! The competition consists of five different events, and each one tests different skills. Here's a breakdown of the skills you should prepare for:

1. Literature:
  • Skills: Reading comprehension, analyzing stories, understanding themes, characters, and plot.
  • Preparation: Read books at your grade level or higher. Practice summarizing stories and discussing their themes, characters, and important events. Get familiar with different genres like fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
2. Mathematics:
  • Skills: Solving math problems, understanding basic algebra, geometry, and word problems.
  • Preparation: Review math concepts like multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, area, perimeter, and basic algebra. Practice solving problems quickly and accurately.
3. Science:
  • Skills: Understanding science concepts like earth science, biology, physics, and chemistry. Ability to think critically and apply knowledge.
  • Preparation: Study topics in science that are covered in your grade. Learn about ecosystems, the human body, forces, energy, and natural resources. Be ready to answer questions or solve problems based on your knowledge.
4. Social Science:
  • Skills: Knowledge of history, geography, and cultures. Understanding timelines, historical events, and the relationship between people and places.
  • Preparation: Study U.S. history, geography, or world history that’s typically covered in middle school. Practice identifying places on maps and understanding historical events and their impacts.
5. Fine Arts:
  • Skills: Understanding art, music, and dance concepts. The ability to analyze and interpret works of art.
  • Preparation: Look at art pieces from different periods and cultures. Listen to different types of music and try to understand their characteristics. You might also learn a little about famous artists or musicians.
General Tipcs
  • Time Management: Practice balancing time between subjects. Each event has a time limit, so working efficiently is key.
  • Critical Thinking: Many of the events will require you to think critically and apply your knowledge to solve problems. Practice doing this through mock quizzes or by solving different types of problems.
  • Practice: Join study groups, practice with older students, or work with your teacher to get used to the competition format.
  • Stay Organized: Keep your study materials organized, and create a study schedule to make sure you're covering all the topics.