Quizzing - The Game

General Info

Whoever developed the game of Bible quizzing was brilliant! It’s not a new game, dating back to at least the 1950s. More than a dozen denominations and church groups throughout North America run quizzing leagues. While rules may differ from one group to another, they have one thing in common. Questions based on the Bible text are asked in a certain way that points to one specific verse and only that verse. A question is considered to be “key” at the point where only one answer satisfies the question. Sometimes, the prepared quiz questions indicate when the question is “key” with “>>”, sometimes called the jump mark.

Types of Questions

There are several types or categories of questions.

• Quote (Q, Q2): The chapter and verse numbers are given to the quizzer who then quotes that verse word-perfect. Some quote questions are quote-two. This occurs when the verses individually do not provide a complete thought, for example, the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22, 23.

Quote Question: Quote Acts chapter 2 verse 38. »
Answer: And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

• Finish-the-verse (FTV, F2V, FT, FTN): Up to the first five words of a verse are given to the quizzer, who then quotes the rest of the verse word-perfect. Also in this category are: finish-two-verses when the verses individually do not provide a complete thought; finish-this when the last part of a verse forms a complete thought and starts a new sentence; finish-this-and-the-next when the last part of a verse starts a new sentence and the next verse is needed to complete a thought.

FTV Question: And Peter said to them, »
Answer: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

FT Question: “Repent and » be baptized every …
Answer: One of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

• Straight forward or interrogative (INT): These are often short questions that require short answers. The question must include unique material within the first five words of the question. Unique material can be a word, a two-word phrase or a three-word phrase that appears only once in the quizzing material. Some question writers, further classify these questions as “INTI,” a straight-forward question beginning with an interrogative (what, who, where, when, why), and “INTF,” a straight-forward question with the interrogative at the end of the question.

INT question: Repent and » be what?
Answer: Baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

INT question: The forgiveness » of your what?

Answer: Sins.

• Multiple answer (MA): This is similar to the straight-forward question, but the answer has at least two parts, often distinguished by “and.” Multiple-answer questions include lists.

MA question: For the promise is » for whom?
Answer: You and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.

• Reference (CR, CVR, MA CR, MACVR): There are several sub-categories of reference questions. In each case, the question includes a word or phrase that appears more than once in the quizzing material. The answer to the question varies based on the reference given. When quizzers jump before the quiz master finishes asking the question, they must finish the question in addition to providing the answer to be called correct.
• Chapter reference: The question includes a word or phrase that appears more than once in the material, but only once in that particular chapter.

CR question: According to Acts 2, you » will receive what?
Answer: You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

• Chapter verse reference: The question includes a word or phrase that appears more than once in the material and more than once in that particular chapter, which triggers the need for the question to include the verse number.

CVR question: According to Acts 2:38, » the name of whom?
Answer: The name of Jesus Christ.

• Multiple answer chapter reference: This is similar to a chapter reference question, but the answer has at least two parts.

MA CR question: According to Acts 1, for he » was what?
Answer: For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.

• Multiple answer chapter verse reference: This is similar to a chapter verse reference, but the answer has at least two parts.

MA CVR question: According to Acts 2:17, » who shall prophesy?
Answer: Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.

• Situation (SIT): This type of question appears in narrative books only: the Gospels and Acts. The question includes a quotation spoken by a person or entity, and the quizzer is asked to identify one or more aspects: who said it; to whom was it said; about whom was it said; when was it said; how was it said; why was it said. At most, three of these situation interrogatives will be required by the question; the quiz master will announce which interrogatives are required before reading the question. If quizzers jump before the quiz master completes the quotation, they must finish the quote and answer the question.

SIT question: Who said it. “Repent and » be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Answer: Peter

Answering Questions

Regardless of the type of question, questions are asked in a certain form once the question type is introduced:

“Question number one. Question. [Insert actual question].”

As soon as a quizzer jumps, the quiz master stops asking the question. The quizzer then must answer the question. If the quiz master did not finish the question, the quizzer must provide the information in the question as well as the answer. The information does not need to be given in a question-and-answer format except in the case of a reference question.

The 2024 Bible Quizzing Rule Book states on page 23:

Only the first response of the quizzer will be considered, however, if the response by the quizzer is in context and is not incorrect, the quizzer will be allowed their full answering period to satisfy all requirements of a correct response.

“Context” is five verses before and after the verse that includes the question and answer. The “context” rule does not apply to quotation, chapter-verse reference, and any variation of finish-the-verse questions.

Quiz masters will use their discretion to determine if the answer given by quizzers is incorrect or if they will give quizzers an opportunity to try their answer again (i.e., if they have not given incorrect information and they have remained in context of the correct answer). If quizzers provide an answer by quoting material within the 30-second time limit, the correct answer may be accepted by the quiz master, even if it is not the first information given.

As a general practice, encourage your quizzers to answer straight-forward and multiple answer questions by quoting the verse where the question and answer are found. If a mistake is made in quoting the verse, quizzers will have time to fix the mistake. If, however, quizzers give a one-word answer and that answer is not correct, they will not have an opportunity to fix the mistake because their first answer was incorrect.

The Trinity Rule is fully explained in the 2024 Bible Quizzing Rule Book (page 22). In summary, the correct person of the Trinity must be given and quizzers cannot move between persons of the Trinity when answering. “Jesus” and “Christ” may be interchanged. Quizzers cannot move from a specific person to “God” when “God” is the answer. However, quizzers can start with “God” and then move to the correct person of the Trinity when a specific person is required.

Rules of the Game

We follow the C&MA Bible Quizzing Rule Book with CMD Bible Quizzing Modified Rules. Both documents are online at https://cmdbiblequizzing.org/rules

• Officials: a quiz master reads questions, an answer judge listens for correct answers, a scorekeeper records results of quiz, question by question. All three sit at a table in front of the quiz teams.
• Quizzers: three to five per team. Up to four are on the bench at a time.
• Teams: three in each quiz.
• Quizzes: comprised of 20 questions with questions 16 to 20 having A and B questions for toss-ups and bonuses. There is also provision for a three-question overtime if teams are tied at the end of an elimination quiz. Those in the statistics room will break ties formed during preliminary quizzes.
• 15-question quizzes are used at one-day quiz meets in the fall. Questions 12 to 15 have A and B questions. Those in the statistics room will break ties.
• 30 seconds to answer correctly. If an incorrect or incomplete answer is given, the quiz master is allowed to provide certain prompts. At the quiz master’s discretion, he or she may use “again” and/or “more” to prompt a quizzer to provide more or correct information in the question or the answer. The quiz master is not required to provide a prompt, with the following exceptions:
• If a clarification of a pronoun is needed (as noted in the answer), the quiz master will ask for the clarification.
• If a quote or FTV answer is incorrect, the quiz master will say “again,” but only after the entire verse has been quoted. On Q/Q2V questions, if the quizzer jumps before the quiz master says the full reference, the quiz master will ask, “What is your reference?”
• On CR/CVR/CRMA/CVRMA questions, if a quizzer jumps before the quiz master says the full reference, and the quizzer provides all the information in the question and the answer, the quiz master will first ask, “What is your reference?” After the quizzer provides the correct reference, the quiz master will ask, “What is your question?”
• Maximum of four correct questions per quizzer (not including bonuses). This is reduced to three in 15-question quizzes. This is referred to as a “quiz out.”
• If a quizzer makes three errors, that quizzer must leave the bench. This is referred to as an “err-out.”
• The first quizzer to jump, indicated by light on quiz master’s box, gets opportunity to answer the question. If incorrect, another question, called a “toss-up”, is read for the other two teams. If the toss-up is also answered incorrectly, the team that did not jump is asked a bonus question. According to CMD Bible Quizzing modified rules, anyone on this team is allowed to jump and answer the question. In all cases, quizzers must wait for the quiz master to call their names before coming forward to answer.
• Quizzers and coaches are not allowed to communicate from the time when the quiz master announces the question type until points have been awarded for that question. Communication includes talking, making eye contact and pointing among quizzers and between quizzers and coaches.

Scoring

• Scoresheets are available online at https://cmdbiblequizzing.org/scoresheets
• 20 points awarded at start of quiz if all team members are on time (see 2024 Bible Quizzing Rule Book, page 28); for each correct answer in regular and toss-up questions; for correctly answered bonus questions in the first 16 questions.
• 10 bonus points awarded when third, fourth and fifth team members answer a question correctly (not including bonuses); when one person answers four correctly without error; and on correctly answered bonus questions beginning with question 17 (prior to 17 bonus questions are worth 20 points).
• In 15-question quizzers, 10 bonus points are awarded when third, fourth and fifth team members answer a question correctly; when one person answers three correctly without error; and on correctly answered bonus questions beginning with question 13 (prior to 13 bonus questions are worth 20 points).
• 10 points deducted for every incorrect answer starting at question 17; when the same quizzer makes two errors; each team error starting with the third team error; when three fouls are committed by one person; when four fouls are committed by the team.
• In 15-question quizzes, 10 points are deducted for every incorrect answer starting at question 13; when the same quizzer makes two errors; each team error starting with the third team error; when three fouls are committed by one person; when three fouls are committed by the team.
• Time-outs: each team is allowed up to two 60-second time-outs, can be requested by the coach, the captain or the co-captain. Only one time-out may be taken after question 17 (A/B, if asked).
• Fouls: If team members are talking or communicating in any way after the question type is introduced by the quiz master; if hands are used in jumping; if a light goes on after “question” but before the question is actually read (can jump before whole question is read). When fouled, that quizzer can’t answer that numbered question including toss-ups and bonuses. If one person receives three fouls, that person must leave the platform and is penalized 10 points. If a substitute takes that seat, the substitute is ineligible to answer that numbered question.

Sportsmanship & Strategy

Quizzers and coaches are encouraged to demonstrate sportsmanship throughout the competition.

• Cheering for quizzers from other teams when they answer questions correctly and empathizing when they give incorrect answers are ways to encourage one another.
• “Burning questions,” jumping so fast with little hope of answering correctly in order to prevent another team from answering a question, is discouraged.
• In the elimination quizzes, toward the end of a quiz, if a team is out of the running for first or second place, that team is encouraged to let the other two teams compete for the placing.

Strategy is part of competition. There is no one right strategy and strategy often varies depending on the circumstances of the quiz. As coach, you are the quarterback of the team in addition to the cheerleader. You make the calls, slowing down some quizzers and speeding up others. Here are some very general guidelines.

• Work hard as a team to get the third-person bonus. It’s worth an extra 10 points.
• Strive to keep team errors to two, but encourage your quizzers to take them. The first two team errors, committed in questions 1 to 16 by two different people, are free. After that, errors will cost your team 10 points. Perhaps you’ll want to “push” your quizzers who are reluctant to jump or who don’t have a great command of the material to take a chance at jumping by telling them that if they get an error, it doesn’t cost the team and, because they are following your direction, it’s your Those quizzers might surprise themselves by answering correctly, giving them confidence to jump again.
• Discourage “one-person” teams, where only one person on the team is answering questions. Quizzers who want to answer all the questions need to be reminded that they can only answer four correctly before they quiz out. This type of quizzer is often better able to take the “pressure” of having to answer questions at the end of a quiz. Coach this quizzer to space out their jumps, leaving questions for their teammates. And the quizzers who don’t want to jump need to be reminded that one person can’t do it all. Quizzing is a team sport and is more fun when everyone on the team participates.
• Challenge “weaker” quizzers to jump early, within the first five questions of the quiz. As a quiz progresses, some quizzers find it more difficult to get in the game. Depending on the situation, you might ask the “stronger” quizzer(s) on your team to jump slowly for a couple of questions to give the “weaker” one(s) an opportunity to jump. Assign a “stronger” quizzer a seat on the bench beside “weaker” ones. The “stronger” can encourage the “weaker”.
• Slow down a quizzer who has correctly answered two questions in a row. The risk of an error on the third jump increases, because the quizzer might jump too fast. And if a quizzer correctly answers three in a row, ask that quizzer to not jump for at least a couple of questions. The risk of an error goes up even more and the other members of the team need a chance to contribute.
• Take your two time-outs. You can use this to encourage your quizzers, relieve some pressure if you sense the quizzers are getting uptight, and provide direction to those on the bench. You might have to tell your fast jumpers to slow down or your slow jumpers to speed up. If you have five quizzers, you will need to take a time-out to substitute one quizzer for another.

Quiz Room Etiquette

Quizzing is made even more exciting when spectators cheer on their teams. It’s important to be an asset and not a distraction.

• Spectators are not allowed to have any interaction with quizzers and coaches during a quiz.
• When entering or leaving a room during a quiz, it’s important to wait until the quiz is between two questions. Do not leave or enter when a quiz master is asking a question or when a quizzer is answering a question. Even the slightest noise can distract a quizzer or interrupt the process.
• The front row of chairs is reserved for coaches and substitute quizzers.
• The seats directly behind the officials table (if applicable) should remain unoccupied at all times during a quiz.
• Cheering and supporting quizzers and their teams is absolutely allowed and heartily endorsed once a quizzer has answered a question and the quiz master has rendered a decision. An encouraging word can be appropriate even when an error is made. Just getting up off the bench is an accomplishment for some.

Jumping

We must remember that we are using the Word of God to play a game, and His Word must be treated with respect.

Quizzers learn that timing is the key to jumping. They shouldn’t jump too early, but they shouldn’t wait too long either. “Jump and then think” is a good coaching mantra! If your quizzers “think and then jump,” another quizzer will have already jumped. Help them practice timing the jump before the end of the question and then anticipating the rest of the question. When asking questions at quiz practice, stop at the jump mark indicated by “>>.” Have the quizzer finish the question and provide the answer.

Most quizzers find that sitting forward on the bench with one foot slightly in front of the other works well. Quizzers should be on the front edge of the seat, supporting their weight with their feet.  Remember that hands are not allowed to help in any way. Rest hands and arms on the knees or upper legs. The slightest movement of the body should be enough to trigger the quiz light. With all the weight on the feet, the mid-section of the body should move first, not the feet or arms. Be positioned so the momentum is one of forward movement, not upward. Forward is faster. Think of an explosion when jumping. It must be quick. To help quizzers find this stance, have them sit on a chair. You should be able to pull the chair away from them and they should be able to maintain their stance. Quizzers can also practice by squatting against a wall and holding that pose. Most quizzing benches have a “click” that indicates the point at which their light will be triggered. Quizzers can practice the most comfortable and fastest position for themselves by listening to their own click.

Teach the quizzers to watch the quiz master’s face, mouth and neck. It’s possible to “see” a word being formed before it is actually said. Mimicking a quiz master by mouthing the words as the quiz master says them may also help. This must be done silently.

Do lots of jumping practice. Use colours, numbers, days of the week, months of the year, names, etc. Be sure to stop as soon as the light is triggered and before you are finished saying the word and have the quizzers figure out what you were going to say. Quizzers can also watch themselves in a mirror and see how they form words.

Work on helping quizzers focus. They should be looking directly at the quiz master and not at the floor, or around the room, at their friends or family. If other activity in the room is distracting, suggest the quizzer wear a ball cap with a brim.