College Subject Distribution

This is the template distribution used by NAQT for its collegiate Sectional Championship Tournaments (both Division I and Division II).

The Collegiate Novice Series and Intercollegiate Championship Tournament (ICT) use the same category weights, but with different numbers of packets.

Category Name Weights Per Set
(16 Packets)
Tossup / Bonus
Per Packet
     Literature 44 71 / 70 4.4 / 4.4
         American Literature 34 16 / 16 1.0 / 1.0
         British Literature 34 16 / 16 1.0 / 1.0
         European Literature 34 16 / 16 1.0 / 1.0
         World Literature 34 16 / 16 1.0 / 1.0
         Religious Literature 10 5 / 4 0.3 / 0.2
             Judeo Christian Literature 5 3 / 2 0.2 / 0.1
             Non Judeo Christian Literature 5 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
         Any Literature 4 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
     Science 44 72 / 69 4.5 / 4.3
         Biology 34 16 / 16 1.0 / 1.0
             Anatomy Medicine Biology 10 5 / 5 0.3 / 0.3
             Cell Molecular Biology 10 5 / 5 0.3 / 0.3
             Organismal Population Biology 10 5 / 5 0.3 / 0.3
             Any Biology 4 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
         Chemistry 34 16 / 16 1.0 / 1.0
             Organic Chemistry 10 5 / 5 0.3 / 0.3
             Inorganic Chemistry 6 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
             Thermodynamics 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Quantum Mechanics 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Any Physical Chemistry 3 2 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Analytical Chemistry 4 1 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
             Biochemistry 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Any Chemistry 5 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
         Physics 34 17 / 15 1.1 / 0.9
             Electromagnetism 5 3 / 2 0.2 / 0.1
             Quantum Physics 5 3 / 2 0.2 / 0.1
             Thermodynamics Statistical Mechanics 4 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
             Classical Mechanics 3 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Continuum Mech Plasma Physics 3 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Particle Physics 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Condensed Matter SolidState 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Optics 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Atomic Nuclear Physics 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Relativity 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Any Physics 4 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
         Math 17 8 / 8 0.5 / 0.5
             Analysis 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Algebra 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Applied Statistical Math 4 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
             Any Math 9 4 / 4 0.2 / 0.2
         Astronomy 9 4 / 4 0.2 / 0.2
         Computer Science 8 4 / 4 0.2 / 0.2
         Earth Science 7 4 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
         Other Science 7 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
     Fine Arts 29 47 / 46 2.9 / 2.9
         Visual 43 21 / 21 1.3 / 1.3
             Painting 23 11 / 12 0.7 / 0.8
             Architecture 7 4 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
             Sculpture 6 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
             Other 7 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
         Music 43 21 / 20 1.3 / 1.2
             Composers Works 23 11 / 11 0.7 / 0.7
             Opera 8 4 / 4 0.2 / 0.2
             Jazz 6 3 / 2 0.2 / 0.1
             Instruments Theory ClassicalPerformers 4 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
             Any Music 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
         Performance 6 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
             Dance 4 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
             Theater 1 1 / 0 0.1 / 0.0
             Any Performance 1 0 / 1 0.0 / 0.1
         Any Fine Arts 4 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
     History 44 72 / 69 4.5 / 4.3
         American History 58 22 / 20 1.4 / 1.2
             American Military History 35 3 / 4 0.2 / 0.2
             American Govt History 80 9 / 8 0.6 / 0.5
             American Social History 65 7 / 6 0.4 / 0.4
             American History 20 3 / 2 0.2 / 0.1
         European History 53 19 / 19 1.2 / 1.2
             British History 10 5 / 5 0.3 / 0.3
             French History 6 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
             Russian History 6 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
             Germanic History 6 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
             Eastern Mediterranean History 4 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
             Nordic Baltic History 2 0 / 1 0.0 / 0.1
             Iberian History 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Central Eastern Europe History 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Benelux History 1 1 / 0 0.1 / 0.0
             Any Europe History 1 0 / 0 0.0 / 0.0
         World History 53 20 / 19 1.2 / 1.2
             Asian History 20 11 / 10 0.7 / 0.6
                 China Taiwan Mongolia History 4 3 / 2 0.2 / 0.1
                 Japan History 2 2 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
                 Indian Subcontinent History 4 3 / 2 0.2 / 0.1
                 Middle East History 4 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
                 Korea History 1 0 / 1 0.0 / 0.1
                 Southeast Asia History 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
                 Central Asia History 1 0 / 1 0.0 / 0.1
                 Caucasus History 1 0 / 0 0.0 / 0.0
                 Any Asia History 1 0 / 0 0.0 / 0.0
             African History 7 3 / 4 0.2 / 0.2
                 North Africa History 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
                 Sub-Saharan Africa History 5 2 / 3 0.1 / 0.2
             South American History 4 3 / 2 0.2 / 0.1
             North American History Non-US 7 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
                 Mexico History 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
                 Canada History 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
                 Central America History 1 1 / 0 0.1 / 0.0
                 Caribbean History 1 0 / 1 0.0 / 0.1
                 Any Other North America History 1 0 / 0 0.0 / 0.0
         Ancient History 16 6 / 6 0.4 / 0.4
             Ancient Greece History 3 1 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
             Ancient Rome History 3 2 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Ancient Egypt Near-East History 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Ancient Asia History 1 0 / 0 0.0 / 0.0
             Ancient Americas History 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Any Ancient History Non-Classical 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
         Religious History 8 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
         Any History 8 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
     Geography 12 19 / 19 1.2 / 1.2
         North American Geography 25 5 / 5 0.3 / 0.3
         World Geography 75 14 / 14 0.9 / 0.9
             European Geography 25 4 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
             Asian Geography 30 4 / 5 0.2 / 0.3
             African Geography 20 2 / 3 0.1 / 0.2
             South American Geography 10 2 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             Any World Geography 15 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
     Mythology 8 13 / 13 0.8 / 0.8
         Classical Myth 4 7 / 6 0.4 / 0.4
         Scandinavian Myth 1 1 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
         Non European Myth 1 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
         Nonclassical Myth 1 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
         Any Myth 1 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
     Pop Culture Sports 16 26 / 26 1.6 / 1.6
         Sports 25 7 / 6 0.4 / 0.4
             Major Sport 12 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
                 Baseball 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
                     Modern 10 0 / 1 0.0 / 0.1
                     Any Time 10 1 / 0 0.1 / 0.0
                 Football 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
                     Modern 10 1 / 0 0.1 / 0.0
                     Any Time 10 0 / 1 0.0 / 0.1
                 Basketball 2 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
                     Modern 10 0 / 1 0.0 / 0.1
                     Any Time 10 1 / 0 0.1 / 0.0
             Minor Sport 5 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
                 Modern 2 1 / 0 0.1 / 0.0
                 Any Time 3 0 / 1 0.0 / 0.1
             Any Sports 8 3 / 2 0.2 / 0.1
                 Modern 1 2 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
                 Any Time 1 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
         Pop Culture 75 19 / 20 1.2 / 1.2
             TV 9 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
                 Pop Culture TV Modern 1 2 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
                 Pop Culture TV Any Time 1 1 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
             Music 15 4 / 5 0.2 / 0.3
                 Pop Culture Music Modern 1 2 / 3 0.1 / 0.2
                 Pop Culture Music Any Time 1 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
             Film 18 6 / 5 0.4 / 0.3
                 Pop Culture Film Modern 1 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
                 Pop Culture Film Any Time 2 4 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
             Video Games 11 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
             Musicals 5 1 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
             Comics 3 0 / 0 0.0 / 0.0
             Other 6 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
                 Pop Culture Other Modern 4 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
                 Pop Culture Other Any Time 4 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
     Social Science 11 18 / 18 1.1 / 1.1
         Anthropology Sociology 24 5 / 5 0.3 / 0.3
         Archaeology 8 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
         Biological Anthropology 2 0 / 0 0.0 / 0.0
         Economics 16 4 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
         Linguistics 8 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
         Government 8 2 / 2 0.1 / 0.1
         Jurisprudence 4 0 / 0 0.0 / 0.0
         Psychology 16 3 / 4 0.2 / 0.2
         Any Social Science 4 0 / 0 0.0 / 0.0
     Theo Phil 9 14 / 14 0.9 / 0.9
         Theology 25 4 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
         Philosophy 75 10 / 11 0.6 / 0.7
             Pre 1800 30 3 / 4 0.2 / 0.2
             Post 1800 30 3 / 3 0.2 / 0.2
             Any Time 40 4 / 4 0.2 / 0.2
     Current Events 10 16 / 15 1.0 / 0.9
         Business 5 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
         US Current Events 50 8 / 7 0.5 / 0.4
             Political 36 3 / 4 0.2 / 0.2
             Social 22 3 / 2 0.2 / 0.1
             US Current Events 20 2 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
         World Current Events 50 7 / 7 0.4 / 0.4
             Political 40 3 / 4 0.2 / 0.2
             Social 15 1 / 1 0.1 / 0.1
             World Current Events 35 3 / 2 0.2 / 0.1
     Miscellaneous 10 / 16 16 / 25 1.0 / 1.6
         Mixed 18 / 35 14 / 22 0.9 / 1.4
             Pure Academic 11 / 22 9 / 14 0.6 / 0.9
             Impure Academic 7 / 13 5 / 8 0.3 / 0.5
         Mixed or General Knowledge 4 2 / 3 0.1 / 0.2

The Weights column gives the numeric weights associated with each category; these are relative to the weights of sibling categories. If, for example, a category had two children, one with weight 2 and the other with weight 3, then the first would receive 40% of questions (2 / (2+3)) and the second would receive 60%. If two weights are specified, then tossups and bonuses are treated differently.

The Per Set column shows the total number of tossups and bonuses in that category for the entire set.

The Per Packet column shows the per-set numbers divided by the number of packets in the set. The total number of tossups in this category in a single packet will be this number either rounded up or down; the bonuses follow a similar constraint. In addition, a single set will never have a packet in which both of those numbers are rounded up and another in which both of those numbers are rounded down.

Question sets may differ slightly in that in each category (not only the innermost categories), at most one question may be shifted from tossup to bonus (or vice versa). For example, if a category is listed as 0/1 here, it does not mean that every question set will have a bonus and no set will have a tossup; there is an equal chance that the one question would be a tossup or a bonus.