Growing since 1995
The Australian Geography Competition is a contest for Australian secondary school students, assessing their geographical knowledge and skills. The Competition aims to encourage student interest in geography and to reward student excellence.
The Competition is open to students in all Years of secondary school. Primary schools may also enter though teachers should check the past questions for level of difficulty. To be eligible for major prizes, students must be studying geography, or an integrated social science that includes geography.
In 2024, the Competition will be held online within schools, from Wednesday 15 May to Wednesday 29 May. The Competition consists of mainly multiple-choice questions testing geographical knowledge and skills. All participants receive results and certificates (top 1% in Australia, high distinction, distinction, credit or participation). Students will be graded at school Year levels – Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10, Year 11, and Year 12. Outstanding students at each Year level win prizes which include books and special certificates, and medals for first in Australia.
The top students in Year 11 (aged between 15 and 18 years old on 30 June 2022) in each state and the combined territories are invited to participate in the annual Geography’s Big Week Out, a five-day event which focuses on fieldwork, spatial technologies and analytical skills. Australia’s teams to the annual International Geography Olympiad are selected from the students at Geography’s Big Week Out. Flights, accommodation, and meals for participants at Geography’s Big Week Out and the International Geography Olympiad are met by the Competition.
Held annually since 1995, the Competition has a wide appeal to students, their families and teachers. Over 73,000 students from 720 schools entered in 2021.
The Competition is a joint initiative of the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland and the Australian Geography Teachers’ Association.