CATEGORY I: KNOWLEDGE & QURAN
KNOWLEDGE TEST:
There are 4 Knowledge Test levels. Each level has a corresponding book. You can find all Knowledge test books and corresponding reference material to help you prepare here.
Choose one book from the options of four, and take a test on it. The test is comprised of a set of questions and a short essay portion to judge reading and comprehension. The test will be open book, and no more than four students from the same team can register for the same book. But, even if multiple competitors from the same team are registered, the tests are individual.
QURAN MEMORIZATION:
Test your memorization and recitation of the Quran in Arabic, according to tajweed (rules of recitation). Level 1 is for beginners and Level 2, are for more advanced competitors. The judges will begin to recite a random verse from any Surah within the collection that correlates to your level, and you are prompted to continue until the judges motion to stop. This competition is split between males and females, and a maximum of 2 competitors from the same team can compete per gender (so in total, 4 – 2 boys, 2 girls) for each level of Quran memorization.
QURAN Recitation:
Recite and demonstrate your mastery of Quranic recitation and Tajweed rules. There are no distinct levels; the entirety of the Quran is the testable material. Judges will indicate where to start and stop the recitation. Evaluation will be based on three passages from any part of the Quran.
Competition Focus: Quranic recitation and Tajweed, not memorization.
Live Recitation: Each competitor will recite three passages live during their interview. Each passage will consist of approximately 10 verses.
Materials and Annotations: Competitors must bring their own Qurans without any annotations, including highlighting, underlining, attaching post-its, or writing in the margins. Color-coded Qurans with Tajweed rules listed are not permitted.
Interview Components:
Recitation of up to 3 passages.
Scoring based on pronunciation (Tajweed) during the recitation of the passages.
Oral testing on basic Tajweed rules for the final 10 points. Competitors are expected to identify various Tajweed rules within any verse from the Quran, such as the place of articulation of letters, qualities of letters, nasal sounds, and types of elongation (Madd).