Project Grade Categories

Grade 5–12 projects are classified by grade to inform the judges of the level of background expertise the student might reasonably be expected to have acquired in his/her schooling; however, students who prepare top quality projects often dramatically exceed the expectations of their school grade curriculum. Sci-Tech projects are an ideal opportunity for a student to demonstrate achievement at Level 4 in the Ontario Curriculum.

Toronto Science Fair is committed to recognizing excellence in project-based science and sending Toronto's best grade 7-12 to the Canada-Wide Science Fair. 

TSF categories are:

• Elementary (grade 5 and 6)

• Junior (grade 7 and 8)

• Intermediate (grade 9 and 10)

• Senior (grade 11 and 12)

Canada-Wide Science Fair categories are:

• Junior (grade 7 and 8)

• Intermediate (grade 9 and 10)

• Senior (grade 11 and 12)

Tips for Success

How to make your project the best it can be  (PDF format)

• Keep a log book as you work on your project.  This is a record of what you do and what you think and observe as your project takes shape.  You should display this book with your project at the Toronto Science Fair. 

• Look over the judging form that will be used at our fair.  See what the judges will be looking for with regard to Scientific Thought, Originality, experimental design, etc.  Consider whether you can strengthen various parts of your project to meet these criteria of excellence.  See project judging form here.

• Prepare Ethics forms if required.  If you are experimenting with human or animal subjects, there are special considerations with regard to ethics.  There are specific forms that you will need to submit for animal experiments and ones involving human low risk and high risk experiments.  Don’t forget that you need to get Informed Consent to experiment with human subjects, even yourself.  If minors are involved, you need to seek parental consent.  Ethics forms should be displayed with your project at the Toronto Science Fair.  

• Ensure that safety best practices are followed during experimentation.  Seek help if you are not sure about safe experimental methods for your project.  Work under adult supervision.

• Make your project as thorough and complete as possible.   Do more than one experimental trial.  Double check that you have accounted for all important variables.  Follow up on questions that present themselves as you work through the early stages of your project.  

• Use footnotes and create a bibliography. Acknowledge any information or ideas you take directly from any source.  Copying and pasting blocks of text without saying where it came from is plagiarism.  Significant examples of plagiarism can lead to disqualification.  Master your topic sufficiently that you can express the ideas in your own words.

• Use pictures in your display.  Look for images that will help show what your project is all about.  Take pictures with your cell phone as you develop your project.  Many of these may be just right as images to explain what you are doing and what you discovered.