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About the Pitch Perfect Competition

Guidelines

General Instructions

Dates of the Competition

Evaluation Criteria

Consent Form

Annexure 1
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True to the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of Madam

Varkey, the Pitch Perfect Competition is designed to
encourage creative problem solving among students. Modelled on
the 3 Minute Pitch/3 Minute Thesis, which is currently popular in
business start-ups and universities, the competition invites
students to make compelling 2-minute/3-minute presentations
and propose innovative solutions to an existing problem or issue.
Through the competition, students will be empowered to
conceive, research and present futuristic ideas, thus preparing
them for the real world of entrepreneurship and global social
responsibility.

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Guidelines for the Competition

The competition will be conducted in 4 categories.

Time limit
Category Eligibility criteria
Presentation Q&A
1 2 minutes 1 minute KG1 & KG2 / FS2 & Year 1
2 2 minutes 1 minute Grade 1 to 4 / Year 2 to 5
3 3 minutes 1 minute Grade 5 to 8 / Year 6 to 9
4 3 minutes 1 minute Grade 9 to 11 / Year 10 to 12

The topics for the various categories are as follows:

Category Topic

We all know how hard our mothers work to make our lives happy and comfortable.
1 What is the one gadget that you would like to invent to make your mom’s life better and
why?

We all have our favourite Disney/fairy tale character. What quality or power could be
2
granted to your favourite character to make him/her better and why?

Let’s say we have the opportunity to move to a new planet. Share an innovation
3
to start life afresh so as not to repeat the mistakes humans made on Earth.

There is a belief that the current system of education does not sufficiently equip young
4 adults for future jobs. Suggest an innovative solution to bridge the gap and prepare
students better for the future.

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General Instructions

 The competition is open to boys and girls.

 Only one participant per school is allowed in each category.
 The event will be conducted on the GEMS OOD campus in full compliance with the COVID 19
safety protocols. Accompanying teachers must present a copy of their vaccination card/Al Hosn App
or a negative PCR report valid for 48 hours.
 Each participating school is allowed to bring one teacher in-charge along with the participant/s.
 The competition will be judged on the basis of Effectiveness of the solution, Innovation & Creativity,
Communication, Persuasion and Q&A session. There will be negative marking for exceeding the time
-limit. (Detailed Rubric provided)
 No PowerPoint presentations and physical models to aid the presentation are permitted.
 The Q&A session will be conducted by the judges and will be based on the presentation made by
participants – hence, student’s internalisation of the topic is mandatory.
 Hands-free mikes will be provided to all participants.
 The order of performance will be determined through a draw of lots.
 Students need not wear masks while on stage.
 Participants can use gestures – movement on stage is permitted.
 Participants are not allowed to step down the stairs or walk into the audience.
 The dress code will be Blue Jeans & White Top/Shirt; an Abaya is also permitted.
 Photography by audience is not allowed. School will arrange for a photographer.
 The decision of the judging panel will be final.

There will be 3 winners per Phase and an Overall Rolling Trophy will be awarded to the school
with the highest overall points. Please note that GEMS OOD will not contest for the Overall
Trophy.

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Dates of the Competition

Prelims:

Category Date
1 21st March 2022
2 22nd March 2022
3 23rd March 2022
4 24th March 2022

Finals:

Final Competition will be held on 31st March 2022*

*The timings will be intimated closer to the competition

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Evaluation Criteria

Score Points
Criteria Description
(60 points)
Effectively addresses the issue from multiple
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE IDEA/
perspectives 10 points
SOLUTION
Emphasises on key points

Unique perspective
INNOVATION & CREATIVITY 10 points
Creative ideas

Clarity of speech
Fluent delivery and voice modulation
VERBAL COMMUNICATION 10 points
Use of contextual vocabulary
Use of correct grammatical structure

Confidence
Effective eye-contact
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION 10 points
Body language and gestures to complement
the verbal content

Ability to ‘sell’ the idea and convince the

audience effectively
Presenting a practical and feasible idea
Use of persuasion techniques:
PERSUASION 10 points
• Appeal to reason
• Appeal to emotion
• Tone
• Rhetoric and repetition

Shows presence of mind and confidence

Q&A 10 points
Addresses the question with relevant points

NEGATIVE MARKING
If a participant exceeds the stipulated time, 5 points will be deducted.
If a participant exceeds the time by more than 1 minute, he/she will be disqualified.

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Madam Varkey Memorial Pitch Perfect Competition 2021-2022

CONSENT FORM

To
The Executive Principal
GEMS Our Own English High School
Dubai

Dear Sir
Thank you for inviting our school to participate in the Madam Varkey Memorial Pitch Perfect
Competition, 2022.
(Please tick as applicable)
☐ Our school will participate in the competition.
☐ Regret to inform that our school will not participate in the competition.
*If you choose to participate, kindly fill and send Annexure – 1 along with this consent form.

Thank you

Yours sincerely

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Signature of the Principal School Seal

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Annexure – 1

Name of the School

Contact number of the School

Name of the Teacher Co-ordinator

Email ID of Teacher Co-ordinator

Mobile# of Teacher Co-ordinator

We permit GEMS OOD to use the photographs/videos of our participants on the school’s social media
platforms.
☐ Agree ☐ Disagree

Category Name of the participant (in BLOCK letters) Grade

KG1 & KG2 /

FS2 & Year 1
Grade 1 to 4 /
Year 2 to 5
Grade 5 to 8 /
Year 6 to 9
Grade 9 to 11 /
Year 10 to 12

*Kindly email the consent form to jyothichinnu.z_ood@gemsedu.com by 14th February 2022

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Signature of the Principal School Seal
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