Competition Terms of Service
These terms are an agreement between you and Exam Center LLC, a Virginia limited liability company (“Exam Center”, “we”), which operates Exam Center.
1. Who may register
A student takes part through a registration made either by a parent or legal guardian with a parent account, or by the student's school through a bulk order. The person who makes the registration owns it: only they can edit it, withdraw it, appeal a result, receive the certificate and claim a prize on the student's behalf.
2. Eligibility and grade bands
Each competition names the grade bands it is open to. A student competes in the band of the grade entered at registration. False grade or age information leads to disqualification without refund.
3. Sittings, dates and times
Each country has its own sitting with its own dates, times and currency. Times are shown in the sitting's time zone and are decided by the server clock. No extra time is given for a late start, a lost connection or a device problem; a stage that is missed cannot be retaken.
4. Fees, payment and refunds
Entry fees are shown per grade band and per sitting and are paid by card through Stripe. A registration can be withdrawn with a full refund within the refund window stated on the competition page (usually 7 days after registration) and never after the registration deadline. After that, fees are not refunded, including when a student does not take part, is disqualified, or a later stage requires confirmation that was not given. School orders are refunded on the same terms per seat until the seat is assigned to a student.
5. Nicknames
Every participant chooses a nickname. Public result lists, certificates shown to third parties and the live panel use the nickname only. A nickname must not contain the student's real name, must not impersonate officials or other people, and must not be offensive; the organizer may replace a nickname that breaks these rules.
6. Integrity
The student works alone, on one device, with no outside help or communication and without other tabs, apps, notes or calculators unless a stage allows them. The exam page runs in full-screen; leaving it, switching tabs or windows, pasting and opening developer tools are recorded, and repeated events end the exam automatically. Some stages require a camera or Safe Exam Browser. Breaking these rules leads to disqualification, the loss of the fee and of any prize, and may lead to exclusion from future competitions. The integrity policy is accepted at registration and again in the waiting room before every stage.
7. Scoring, results and appeals
Multiple-choice questions are scored by the key; a wrong answer may cost the penalty stated for the grade band, a blank answer costs nothing. Typed answers are compared mathematically, so equivalent forms (1/2, 0.5, 2/4) are accepted unless the question demands a specific form. Results are provisional when first announced and become final when the appeal window closes. One appeal per question (and one general appeal) may be filed within the appeal window; the jury's decision is final. If a question is voided or an additional answer is accepted, scores are recomputed for the whole grade band.
8. Advancement, confirmation and waiting list
Advancement between stages follows the rule published for the competition; ties at the cut are all admitted. A qualified participant may have to confirm participation by a deadline; unconfirmed or withdrawn places pass to the next participants in the ranking, who are notified and given their own confirmation deadline.
9. Prizes and identity
Prizes are awarded by the final ranking per grade band. Before a prize is handed over, the person who made the registration provides the type, last four digits and name of an official document of the student, and a delivery address; the organizer may ask for additional verification. Prizes not claimed within 60 days of the announcement are forfeited. Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash unless stated.
10. Organizer's rights
Exam Center may correct obvious errors, change a stage date with notice to all registered participants, disqualify participants for breaches of these terms, or cancel a competition (in which case fees are refunded in full). Decisions are recorded with their reasons.
11. Liability
Exam Center provides the platform with reasonable care but cannot guarantee uninterrupted access on every device or network. Liability is limited to the fee paid for the registration concerned, to the extent the law allows.
12. Contact
Questions about a competition, an appeal or a prize go to the organizer through the parent or school panel or by replying to any competition e-mail.