Official Competition Rules

I. Purpose

The High School 3MT Competition challenges students to present their research, inquiry, or creative work clearly, concisely, and engagingly to a non-specialist audience using only one static slide in three minutes or less.

All disciplines are welcome: STEM, humanities, social sciences, arts, business, and more.
The aim is to showcase excellent, accessible communication across all high school academic fields.

II. Eligibility

Age: Participants must be 14–18 years old on the competition’s close date.
Enrollment: Entrants must currently attend high school (grades 9–12 or equivalent).
Type of Work: Original research—not simple class reports or personal stories. Projects must show an original question, process, or investigation.
Solo Entries: Only one presenter per entry. No teams.

III. Presentation Rules

Time Limit: Maximum length is three minutes. Over-time entries are disqualified.
Slide Policy: Only one static slide allowed (.ppt, .pptx, or PDF).
- No transitions, animations, or any motion.
- Slide must be visible throughout the talk.
No Media/Props:
- No additional video, audio, extra slides, costumes, props, or other objects.
Delivery:
- Spoken word only—no poems, raps, or songs. Quoting a line for context is allowed, but not entire performances.
- No cue cards, notes, or scripts; talks must be memorized.
Commencement: Timer starts at the speaker’s first word or movement.
Presence: Speaker must remain in view for the entire presentation; no one else may appear or assist.
No Editing: Only simple trimming of the video’s start and end is allowed. No music, visual effects, or audio enhancements.

IV. Judging Criteria

Each judge will score entries based on three equally weighted criteria:

V. Disqualification

An entry will be disqualified for any of the following:

Exceeding three minutes.
Use of more than one slide, animations, or transitions.
Use of props, audio/video files, cue cards, or scripts.
Reciting a poem, song, or rap performance.
Getting help from others or not meeting originality/content rules.

VI. Procedures

Submission Overview: All students must fill out the Google Form for entry submission by the deadline.
Slide Submission: Slides must be sent in .ppt, .pptx, or PDF format, along with the video.
Video Requirements: Presentation is to be recorded using Zoom (see instructions on the “Record & Upload Guidelines” page).
Uploading: Video must be uploaded to the drop box on the submission form.
Judging: Judges, balanced between experts and non-experts, will review the videos.
Prizes: Grand prize of $1000 will be given for first place.
Finality: All judges’ decisions are final.
Code of Conduct: Respectful behavior is required from all participants. Plagiarism or misrepresentation will result in disqualification.

Note: All presentations must comply with contest rules, including the use of only one static slide, no editing except starting/ending trim, and no audio/video enhancements. Videos must replicate a live presentation as closely as possible.