The Texas Math and Science Coaches Association or TMSCA is an organization for coaches of academic University Interscholastic League teams in Texas middle schools and high schools, specifically those that compete in mathematics- and science-related tests.
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Individual schools that are members of TMSCA can host invitational competitions using TMSCA-released tests. Many schools use this as a fundraising opportunity for their competitive math program.
TMSCA also holds two state-wide competitions for member schools each year, one at the middle school level and one at the high school level, as well as a qualification competition at the middle school level prior to the state competition. These state-wide competitions are held at the University of Texas at San Antonio campus each spring. These competitions can often serve as practice for state-wide UIL tournaments, which occur shortly after, and for middle school students is their only opportunity to compete at the state level (UIL competitions at the middle school level do not go beyond district).
For the Math and Science contests in middle school, 5 points are awarded for each correct answer and 2 points are deducted for each incorrect answer. In high school, 6 points are awarded for each correct answer and 2 points are deducted for each incorrect answer. Unanswered questions do not affect the score. Thus, competitors are penalized for guessing incorrectly.
On the Number Sense test, 5*(the last question answered) points are awarded (so a student answering 32 questions would be awarded 160 points) and 9 points are deducted for incorrect answers and problems skipped up to the last attempted question (so if the student above missed 1 and skipped 3 questions he would end with 124 points). Number sense tests are also checked for possible scratch work, which if found could result in questions being counted incorrect or tests being disqualified.
The Calculator Applications test awards 5 points for each answered question and deducts 9 points for incorrect or skipped questions, similar to Number Sense, but scratch work is allowed.
At virtually all TMSCA competitions, students are ranked against each other in their specific grade level. This ensures parity of competition, since students in higher grades generally tend to score higher than students in the lower grades. Particularly at the high school level, there is a stark contrast between freshmen with little real math and science experience and seniors, who presumably have taken or are taking advanced placement science courses and calculus.