Competition

Students ages 7–18 compete for over $100,000 in prize money in a heart-grabbing competition. Contestants compete in Scripture knowledge and memorization as they “know God’s word and make Him known”.

Summer study participants in the Primary, Junior, and Senior divisions are eligible to take the National Bible Bee Competition Qualifying Test. The online test can be taken at home or within a host group setting. The highest-scoring participants will be invited to compete in the National Bible Bee Competition (NBBC).

The 2023 National Bible Bee Competition will be held at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ridgecrest, NC. 

New to National Bible Bee? Learn more about Summer Study.

1500 attend from
across the country

360 contestants
ages 7–18

500 – 1000 verses
memorized by each

$100,000 in prize
money awarded

Rounds

The top 120 participants in each age division will be invited to the National Bible Bee Competition. The competition consists of three rounds: preliminary, semi-final, and final.

Age Divisions

  • Primary: 7 – 10 years
  • Junior: 11 – 14 years
  • Senior: 15 – 18 years

Competition rounds and attendance are subject to change due to extenuating circumstances and may vary from year to year.

Division is determined by the age the participant will be on November 13 of the current competition year.

Important Dates

Summer Study: June 5 – Aug. 10

National Bible Bee Competition: November 12-16, 2023

2023 Participants

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Preliminary Round

Contestants complete a multiple-choice test and scored Scripture recitations. The culmination of both the test and recitation scores determines who progresses to the next round.

Semi-Final Round

The top 15 contestants of each age division progress to the semi-final round, which includes Scripture recitations and an intense sudden-elimination segment.

Final Round

The top 5 contestants of each age division progress to the final round, which includes Scripture recitations and an exciting game-show style buzzer segment.

Preliminary Round

Contestants complete a multiple-choice test and scored Scripture recitations. The culmination of both the test and recitation scores determines who progresses to the next round.

Semi-Final Round

The top 15 contestants of each age division progress to the semi-final round, which includes Scripture recitations and an intense sudden-elimination segment.

Final Round

The top 5 contestants of each age division progress to the final round, which includes Scripture recitations and an exciting game-show style buzzer segment.

Awards

All attending participants will receive a qualifier medal to celebrate their accomplishments of memorizing Scripture and proclaiming God’s word. In addition, these awards may be given:

 

  • Perfect Recitation Award
    Participants with a perfect Scripture recitation during the preliminary round will receive a special medal.
  • Semi-Finalist Award
    The top 15 in each age division receive prize money based on competition placement and age division.
  • Finalist Award
    In addition to prize money, the top 5 in each age division receive trophies to honor their accomplishment.
It’s more than a competition.

What an exciting experience it is to “know God’s word and make Him known” during the National Bible Bee Competition! But the competiton is so much more than awards as families gather to enjoy fellowship, hear truth proclaimed, and celebrate the Scripture they have hidden in their hearts.

Past Competitions

Explore winners, themes, and contestants from past competitions through the event gallery or stream National Bible Bee Competition 2018 or National Bible Bee Game Show.

The National Bible Bee showed me through so many seasons of studying and memorizing His word that the Bible is all about Christ.

Hannah Davidsmeier

NBBC Finalist

I’ve never won a trophy. I’ve only competed on stage once (and that was over very quickly). But I’ve gained a prize much more valuable—knowledge of and love for God’s Word. Scripture is now my greatest delight.

Anna Moss

NBBC Contestant

Not only does the Summer Study encourage me in my personal Bible study, but it also strengthens my family as we study God’s Word together.

Havilah Kirsch

National Bible Bee Gameshow Contestant

Well, many other competitions are just memorization. You memorize this Scripture, but you don’t necessarily understand it. It’s like, the Bible is like a box of tools….But if you don’t know how to use them, they’re more or less worthless. So the National Bible Bee teaches you the context, their use, their significance, so you not only have the tool box, but you have the manual, and you can use the tools, which, of course, is much better than just having them.

Seth Ross

NBBC Finalist

Out of the hundreds of National Bible Bee participants that I’ve met, every one of them has agreed that the National Bible Bee has really helped them deepen their relationship with Christ and know Him more. It’s impossible to spend all those hours in Scripture and not come away changed!

Febah Matthew

National Bible Bee Gameshow Finalist