WHAT IS THE CRITICAL THINKING CHALLENGE?
The Critical Thinking Challenge is a team competition,
open to all
individual students, from grades 3 – 6, that
promotes the
practical application of mathematics, encourages
teamwork, builds
confidence, and increases learning skills, all while
having FUN!
80% of adults "strongly agree" that K-12 schools should
teach critical thinking
to students, according to a Gallup poll on American
attitudes toward public education. While achievement in the classroom may depend on mastery of
content in core subject areas such as math and reading,
Gallup says
it also "depends on more than knowledge of core content.
Critical thinking
, creativity, communication, and other soft skills, as well as
student physical and social well-being, are also necessary for
future
success in higher education and in the workplace."
(ProCon.org)
HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE CRITICAL THINKING CHALLENGE
Participation Criteria
- Online registration only. Click the banner at the top of the page to get started.
- Registration period: April 13 - May 3, 2026
- 3rd to 6th Graders in the 2026 Spring Semester
- $10 non-member registration fee (FREE for Eye Level students).
COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Local Event
Test Location: Local Eye Level Learning Centers
Date: May 9 or May 16 , 2026(date set by each learning center)
- 25 Question Competition
- Regardless of the school grade, all participants will answer the same questions
- After the test, the Center Director will make one team consisting of 2 members based on the results
- One team per Eye Level Learning Center for the National Final Round
- 25 Question Competition
- Regardless of the school grade, all participants will answer the same questions
- After the test, the Center Director will make one team consisting of 2 members based on the results
- One team per Eye Level Learning Center for the National Final Round
National Final Round
The final round will be conducted online via Kahoot!
Date for the Final Round: June 6th, 2026 4PM (EDT), via Kahoot!
RULES
- Only teams who pass the 1st round will be invited to the National Final Round
- One team from each Eye Level Learning Centers
- Two members per team
- To be eligible for the National Final Round, all team members must have registered online during the registration period
- Each student's school grade must be verified by submitting an approved document prior to participation in the National Final Round
- Total: 20 Critical Thinking Questions, which increase in difficulty as teams advance
- The teams selected for the final round will need to visit the Eye Level center to participate in the final round
- The team will need to join the Google Meet to participate in the final round. They will utilize additional tablets or mobile devices to access Kahoot!
- The teams with the most points will win 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place
- If there is a tie, tied teams will enter a tie breaking round
PRIZE
NATIONAL FINAL ROUND PRIZE
GRAND PRIZE (1 TEAM)
$1,000 USD (team)
2nd PLACE PRIZE (1 TEAM)
$500 USD (team)
3rd PLACE PRIZE (1 TEAM)
$300 USD (team)
SAMPLE TEST PAPER & TEST LOCATION
The sample test questions are available only at your local Eye Level Learning Center.
Find the Nearest Test Location For You.