TeenTech Awards 2027
Category Judging Criteria
Years 12-13
Please read the relevant category criteria carefully as this will help you to develop and evidence your project clearly.
Use the TeenTech Project Development Guide to help you understand what to include in your submission.
Published Judging Criteria – Innovation Categories Years 12-13
Best Innovation and Ethical and Responsible Innovation
Originality of Idea
You should show strong creative thinking and present an idea that feels fresh, original or a smart evolution of something that already exists. Your project should stand out and offer a genuinely innovative solution to a real problem.
Clarity of Idea
You should explain your idea clearly so people can easily understand what it is and why it matters. You should also show that you understand the industry or sector your idea belongs to.
Ethical Thinking
You should show that you’ve thought about the ethical side of your idea, how it’s designed, made and used. Think about sustainability, fairness, accessibility and the impact your idea could have on people and the planet.
Quality of Design
You should show who your idea is for, what they need and how your innovation meets those needs. You should explain the difference your idea could make and how it compares to existing alternatives.
Quality of Research Methods and Presentation
You should show that you’ve researched your idea well (with all sources referenced) and used reliable information. Your work should be clearly presented, well organised and easy to follow.
Industry Influence
You should show how you’ve used advice from industry experts, mentors or other helpful people (like teachers, family or friends). Explain how their feedback helped you improve your idea and whether you plan to work with them further.
Understanding of Engineering, Scientific and Technological Principles
You should show that you understand the STEAM principles behind your idea and the practical challenges of developing it. Think about the technology, resources or market factors that might affect how your idea becomes a prototype or product.
Practicality
You should show how realistic it is to take your idea forward. Think about whether the technology exists, whether the market is ready and what barriers you might face in getting your idea out into the world.
Quality of Planning and Project Management
You should show that you planned your project well and managed your time, tasks and teamwork effectively.
Use of Data
You should show that you used data to support your decisions, strengthen your idea or inspire your thinking.
Evaluation of Project and Next Steps
You should explain what you learned, how your thinking changed and what you might do differently next time. Show how the project inspired you and how it helped you grow your STEAM skills.
Patient Safety
Describing the Problem
You should clearly explain the problem you are tackling, why it matters and what your idea aims to achieve.
Innovation
You should show how your idea solves the problem better than existing solutions. You should think creatively and explain why your idea could make patient safety better.
Impact
You should explain who would benefit from your idea and show evidence or examples of how it could help them.
Viability
You should show that you understand the costs, risks and time needed to develop your idea. You should also clearly show how your idea has progressed and any successes you’ve had along the way.
Expert Advice
You should show how you used advice from mentors, industry experts or other helpful people (like teachers, family or friends) and explain how this feedback improved your idea.
Planning and project management
You should show how well you planned and managed your project. If you worked in a team, you should explain how you chose roles and worked together effectively.
Presentation
You should present your work in a clear, organised way. Your points should make sense and your visuals should help explain your idea. You should also show that you have answered all the key questions you set at the beginning of your project.
Published Judging Criteria – Skills Categories Years 12-13
Creative and Digital Media
Originality of idea
You should show creative thinking and explain what makes your idea stand out. Make sure it feels unique and original and tell us where your inspiration came from.
Quality of digital and/or creative skills used and evidence of intention to further develop these skills as a result of participating in the TeenTech Awards
You should show how digital and/or creative skills are an important part of your project. Explain the skills you used, what you learned during the process, and how you plan to develop these skills further after taking part in the TeenTech Awards.
Choice of Media and presentation of results/ideas
You should choose the best way to showcase your idea, whether that’s a presentation, animation, game, short film or something else and explain why it was the right choice. Your work should be clearly structured, easy to follow and visually engaging. You should also show that you have answered all the key questions you set at the beginning of your project.
Analysis and Insight
You should explain which tools you used and what digital or creative skills you learned. Show that you can pull out useful insights from your work to help answer your problem statement.
Understanding of potential market
You should identify who your audience or market would be, who would use your idea and who would benefit most. Explain how you explored people’s needs, whether you found any competitors, and how you made your idea accessible. If you focused on a niche market, explain why.
Use of Industry Experts
You should show how you used advice from industry experts or other helpful people, such as teachers, mentors, family or friends. Explain who you spoke to, what you asked and how their feedback helped you improve your idea. If you plan to continue working with them, mention that too.
Skills and Thoroughness
You should show that your project is well executed, with strong effort, good technical quality and careful development of your idea.
Planning and Project Management
You should show how well you planned your project and managed the creative process, especially when using digital tools. If you worked in a team, explain how you chose roles and worked together effectively.
Learning
You should show how the project has changed your thinking, what you’ve learned about creativity and how it has inspired you to explore new opportunities in this field.
Digital and Data Skills
Originality of idea
You should show creative thinking and explain what makes your idea stand out. Make sure it feels unique and original and tell us where your inspiration came from.
Quality of digital and/or data skills used and evidence of intention to further develop these skills as a result of participating in the TeenTech Awards
You should show how digital and/or data skills are an important part of your project. Explain the skills you used, what you learned during the process, and how you plan to develop these skills further after taking part in the TeenTech Awards.
Choice of Media and presentation of results/ideas
You should choose the best way to showcase your idea, whether that’s a presentation, animation, game, short film or something else and explain why it was the right choice. Your work should be clearly structured, easy to follow and visually engaging. You should also show that you have answered all the key questions you set at the beginning of your project.
Analysis and Insight
You should explain which tools you used and what digital or data skills you learned. Show that you can pull out useful insights from your work to help answer your problem statement.
Understanding of potential market
You should identify who your audience or market would be, who would use your idea, and who would benefit most. Explain how you explored people’s needs, whether you found any competitors and how you made your idea accessible. If you focused on a niche market, explain why.
Use of Industry Experts
You should show how you used advice from industry experts or other helpful people, such as teachers, mentors, family or friends. Explain who you spoke to, what you asked and how their feedback helped you improve your idea. If you plan to continue working with them, mention that too.
Skills and Thoroughness
You should show that your project is well executed, with strong effort, good technical quality and careful development of your idea.
Planning and Project Management
You should show how well you planned your project and managed the creative process, especially when using digital and/or data tools. If you worked in a team, explain how you chose roles and worked together effectively.
Learning
You should show how the project has changed your thinking, what you’ve learned about creativity, and how it has inspired you to explore new opportunities in this field.
Best Use of AI
How well has AI been used in the Project?
You should show that you’ve used AI in a thoughtful and appropriate way, making it clear where and how it appears in your work and how it enhanced your project.
Willingness to learn and develop understanding of AI to enhance their work
You should show that you’ve learned new skills and that using AI has improved your project. You should also show that you’ve thought carefully about the results AI gives you, including checking, editing or reworking text or images when needed.
Development of AI knowledge and ethical considerations
You should show what you’ve learned about AI during your TeenTech journey and think about any ethical issues linked to the AI you’ve used. You should also show the skills you’ve gained and how you might use them in the future.
Analysis and Insight
You should explain which AI tools you used, what skills you learned and provide clear evidence of how you applied these skills in your project.
Presentation of results
You should present your work in a clear, well-structured way. Your points should be easy to understand and any visual aids should help explain your idea effectively.
Planning and project management
You should show how well you planned and managed your project. If you worked in a team, you should explain how you chose roles and how you worked together to make the project successful.
Published Judging Criteria – Research Categories Years 12-13
Best Research
Quality of Research Skills and Methodology
You should show that you carried out your research thoroughly, used a clear research method and credited all your sources properly.
Clarity of Research and Presentation
You should describe your project clearly, explain its purpose and show that you understand the industry or area your idea fits into.
Originality of Idea
You should demonstrate creative thinking and make your idea stand out. Your research focus should feel original or unique and you can show how your work builds on existing knowledge or suggests new directions.
Quality of Planning and Project Management
You should show that you planned your project well and managed the process effectively from start to finish, whether working alone or in a team.
Understanding of Potential Market
You should identify who would use your idea, who would benefit most and whether your market is niche or mass. You should show that you understand customer needs, explain how your innovation could make a difference and identify any competing alternatives and why your approach is needed.
Industry Influence
You should show how you used advice from industry experts or other helpful people, explain how their feedback improved your idea and mention any plans for future collaboration.
Understanding of Engineering, Scientific and Technological Principles
You should demonstrate a solid understanding of the STEAM principles that relate to your project.
Use of Data
You should show that you used data effectively to support, strengthen or inspire your work.
Evaluation of Project and Next Steps
You should explain what you learned, what you might do differently next time, how your thinking has changed and how the project has inspired you in STEAM.