Academic WorldQuest™

Academic WorldQuest™ tests players’ knowledge of current international politics, geography, global economics, history, and world cultures.

What is Academic WorldQuest™ (AWQ)?

  • AWQ is an academic competition for high schools, testing students’ knowledge of international events and current affairs.

  • The competition consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, including 10 sections of 10 questions.

How to Participate:

  • Each school can field 2 teams of 4 players with 1 substitute.

  • Teams compete by answering 10 rounds of 10 multiple-choice questions.

  • Participants prepare for the competition by studying an online study guide.

  • In the case of a tie, the competition can go into a tiebreaker round of 10 multiple-choice questions and then a sudden death round of five questions that require write-in answers.

Date, Time, and Location TBD

AWQ 2026 Registration
AWQ 2026 Study Guide

AWQ 2026 Competition Topics

  1. Pop Culture and Soft Power in International Relations

  2. The FIFA World Cup

  3. Migration and Immigration

  4. The U.S. Constitution and Foreign Policy

  5. The Belt and Road Initiative

  6. Tariffs and Trade

  7. Coffee and Chocolate: A Global Perspective

  8. Nuclear Policy Issues

  9. Focus Country: Australia

  10. Current Events

AWQ Rules and Regulations

  • Teams are not allowed to consult with the audience, wireless devices, cell phones, other teams, books, or written materials at any point during the competition.

    • Any team found by World Affairs Council judges, runners, or staff to be violating this rule will forfeit that round and a penalty of 20 points will automatically be deducted from that team’s score.​

  • If a team believes another team is cheating, they may tell a WAC representative. However, if the other team is not found to be in violation of any rules, the accusing team will forfeit two (2) points.

  • A team consists of four (4) players. Player substitutions are not allowed. A player can only use the bathroom during the break. If a player leaves at any other point during the rounds, he or she cannot return until after the break. ​

  • Parents, alternates, and other guests must remain “off the floor” at all times.

QUESTIONS?

Please contact us at contact@worldkentucky.org