What is Academic WorldQuest?
Academic WorldQuest is a Flagship Program of the World Affairs Council. The game was invented by the Charlotte, NC Council and is now widely played at the adult and high school levels in the council system around the country. It is an annual knowledge-based team competition for area high schools with questions focusing on international affairs, current events, the global economy, geography, world history, general knowledge about the world, and more.
The World Affairs Council of America started the national competition in Washington, DC in March 2003. Participants come from high schools that work with our councils. Academic WorldQuest is unique to the World Affairs Council system and has no direct competitor among K-12 knowledge-based competitions in the US or abroad. It has been a huge success since its inception.
The Mid-Hudson Valley Competition - Recent Winners and The 2025 Competition
- 2024: Kingston High School
- 2023: Kingston High School
- 2022: The Mount Academy
- 2021: Kingston High School
- 2020: The Mount Academy
- 2019: The Mount Academy
- 2018: Cornwall Central High School
- 2017: The Mount Academy
- 2016: Spackenkill High School
- 2015: Roy C. Ketcham High School
- 2014: Poughkeepsie Day School
- 2013: Roy C. Ketcham High School
- Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025
- Inclement Weather Date: Sunday, March 2, 2025
- Location: Henry A. Wallace Visitor Education Center at the FDR Presidential Library Museum, Hyde Park
- Winner's Prize: Attendance at the National Competition in Washington, DC (end of April)
- Budget Coverage: Up to $2500 for travel and hotel costs for winning team from Dutchess, Ulster, or Orange County
- Costs are not covered for teams outside the formal service area.
The National Competition
The National Academic WorldQuest Competition is typically a 3-hour event on a Saturday in April. It is part of a long weekend of activities in Washington DC, including a dinner and mixer on Friday night, visits to embassies, and free time for participants to sightsee. The details of the national competition can be found on the World Affairs Council of America website.
How To Play
The game is a contest between four-person teams representing a high school, a city, or a council. It is moderated by a prominent figure in the field of international affairs or journalism. Teams compete by answering rounds of questions displayed by PowerPoint.
A full competition is 100 questions (10 rounds of 10 questions per round.) Each team must produce a single answer to each question. When we hold our competition in person, the question is projected on a screen as part of a slide presentation and is read aloud by a moderator. The remote format will follow this general approach. Questions typically have four multiple-choice answers. The team with the highest number of correct answers wins. Prizes are awarded to the top three teams and the top team is selected to represent our council at the national competition.
What Makes Up A Team
A team consists of four students and may include one alternate. (Note: Locally, a team shall consist of up to four students and an alternate. Should that team advance to the national competition it must conform to the rules of the national board.) Team members can be freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors. No alternates or substitutes are allowed during the competition unless there is an emergency. Student observers are welcome.
NOTE: In the event of a tie, there will be tie-breaking rounds. A “Sudden-Death” option may of necessity be used if time runs out.
For more information, visit the World Affairs Council of America.
Enter the Competition
Contact Us to Register
Karen Nichols
Email: Karen.nichols722@gmail.com
Note: Space is limited, and each high school may register two teams.