PSYC Competition - 2025

The Psychology Students Youth Competition (PSYC) is a student-led non-profit organization designed to promote the growing interest in psychology and provide opportunities to high school students in Ontario.

 

​Eligibility

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Participants are welcome from grades 9-12. Teams are composed of groups of 2-3 members. You are welcome to register as an individual; however, you will be paired to form groups of 2-3 arbitrarily. See the registration button below.

Official Reference (Exam Content Sources):​​

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Ontario Psychology Curriculum

AP Psychology

IB Psychology

NOBAPROJECT

OPENSTAX PSYCHOLOGY 2E

Written Test:

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Duration: 60 minutes

Weighting: 50%

Scoring: Average between team members

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1. 50 questions, multiple-choice format

2. Test Outline (AKA Question-Topic-Split):

   • Developmental Psychology - 18%​

   • Biological - 18%

   • Cognitive - 18%

   • Social - 18%

   • Clinical Psychology - 18%

   • Research/Ethics - 10%

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Formal Presentation:

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Duration: 10 minutes (7 minutes +/- 1 min presentation + 2/3 minutes questions)

Weighting: 50%

Scoring: Overall Grade for all members

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What is it: An oral presentation (you will need to create a slide deck) that explores psychological considerations behind a modern, global, social issue. Emphasis is on demonstrate of psychological knowledge with accompanying skill in presentation ability and thoughtful evaluation.

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** You will need to email us a PDF of your slidedeck before the competition date. 

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** A list of Topics for the presentation will be released 10 days in advance of the competition date. Competitors will have the opportunity to choose their Top Three and will then be assigned a topic. We will try to give everyone their top pick. 

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Details:

1. ~15-25 slides (include your bibliography/citations in a separate document, APA format)

2. You are welcome to use any additional content beyond the provided resources, though it is not required.

3. The file uploaded should be a pdf named GroupName-PSYCPresentation.

4. Not simply a retelling of facts or research. The idea is to tell a story about your social issue. You must be persuasive emotionally.

5. Explain all stages of your work in a way that demonstrates clear understanding.

6. Use of a form of existing or original reserach is strongly encourage

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Structure:

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Introduction:

1. BRIEF summary of your social issue and its relevance

2. BRIEF summary of the psychological concepts related to the issue & branches of psychology that will be covered

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Body (should use 2-3 branches of psychology):

1. Focus on evidence from various sources

2. Include support from secondary research

3. Relate the psychological theory to the issue

4. Relevance to society and future considerations

 

Conclusion:

1. Restate social issue (not word-for-word)

2. Include possible solutions to the problem according to your own research and critical thinking

3. Address limitations and ethical dimensions of your analysis/argument

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Judge Q & A

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See presentation rubric here.