Quizzing in Australia​

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Quizzing Australia is a not-for-profit organisation formed in 2011 for "serious" quizzers seeking an alternative to pub trivia-style events.  We are the peak quizzing organisation in Australia and a member of the International Quizzing Association. Our key goals are:

1. To promote quizzing throughout Australia

2. To foster quizzing as a competitive activity

3. To hold annual national and state quiz championships

4. To facilitate Australians' participation in the World Quiz Championships, Quiz Olympiad and Asia-Pacific Quiz Championships

5. To foster links with other quizzing associations

6. To encourage lifelong learning

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What is competitive quizzing?

Competitive or serious quizzing is the next level above pub trivia, and turns the knowledge of random facts and lateral thinking into an intellectual pursuit. The quizzes are typically (though not always) pen-and-paper tests and completed individually, under exam-like conditions. The questions often include clues to help you get to the answer, a bit like a cryptic crossword. The path to a correct answer is in working through the question writer’s hints and connecting them to your knowledge base. 

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All levels of quizzers are welcome to participate, from newbies to experienced brain-boxes. You certainly don’t need to be an expert, and often our newer quizzers know things our regular participants do not!

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What community participates in these events?

You'll meet people who love knowledge for its own sake and learning new things, especially in other people's niche special interest areas.  It's a very supportive community where newcomers are most welcome.  While scores and placing are certainly important, at the end of the day you are really only competing with yourself and, more importantly, having fun! 

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How does it work?

We have a range of events and formats available. Most of the quizzes are conducted in person, but there are also some online formats. Past papers are also available for purchase from our online store https://quizzing-australia.dpdcart.com/. Prices start from AU $2.50.

 

In-person monthly quizzes

 

This is the place to start if you are looking for a greater challenge than pub trivia can provide. Squizzed and Hot 100 are individual, short-answer, pen and paper quizzes facilitated by local organisers in most state capitals. These are separate quizzes but work the same way and are generally held on different days or weeks. Please contact us if you’d like to join the mailing list for your State. The first step is to tell your organiser you’ll be attending so they can print a quiz paper for you!

The Hot 100 is run by the International Quizzing Association and has 100 general knowledge questions to be answered in 45 minutes.  It has a different writer each month, so can vary greatly in terms of difficulty and topics covered.

Squizzed is run by Croatian Chaser Dean Kotiga and has 101 general knowledge questions to be answered in 55 minutes.
 

Details vary depending on location, but essentially you will be in a quiet place like a library so you can concentrate. You will be given your quiz paper, the timer will start, you answer the questions to the best of your ability without any assistance and at the end of the time, you swap papers with the other participants for marking. Papers are swapped back and marks are checked whilst discussion happens with fellow quizzers over how well or badly you did, and specifics over individual questions. The facilitator records your score and uploads them into the relevant global ranking system.

In-person major events

These are larger events such as the World Quiz Championships, National Quiz Day, and Australian State Championships. They last for either a half or full day, and involve multiple sections or quizzes with breaks in between. As they attract more attendees, function rooms or community halls are usually booked for these events.

 
They work the same way as the monthly in-person quizzes but the optional post-event discussions happen at a nearby restaurant or pub. 

Some of the events such as the State Championships have Pairs or Teams quizzes which involve answering the written questions in groups of two or three. National Quiz Day includes different formats of quiz such as an icebreaker, specialist genre quizzes, and a quickfire multiple choice quiz.

Online events 

These are played using video-conferencing software and run for specific seasons over a few months of the year. 
Quiz Nations Global commences each January and attracts teams from all over the world. It is an online turn-based team competition with both individual and team components. Matches are played as two teams of four and involve selecting a specialist topic from a list and verbally answering two questions on that topic. Teammates can “save” an incorrect answer, or it passes to the opposing team for a steal. Once each player has had their individual questions there are two rounds of team answering where conferring is allowed. Quizzing Australia is able to place individuals into teams where required.

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How much does it cost? 

Squizzed and Hot 100 are $5 per quiz, but free for your first time.  Charges vary for other QA events but are always affordable. Some events include a catering fee.  Details are published as registrations open, typically one month before the event itself. 

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Quiz fees can also be prepaid through an annual Quizzing Australia membership available at the following levels.

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• GOLD - all QA state and national quizzes,  the IQA WQC, 12 x Hot 100 and 12 x Squizzed ($200)

• SILVER - 12 x Hot 100 and 12 x Squizzed ($100)

• BRONZE - 12 x Hot 100 or 12 x Squizzed ($50) 

 

Memberships commence each January and are valid for one calendar year. They are available to Australian citizens / residents only.​

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How do I get involved? 

 

Contact us by email (info@quizzingaustralia.org) or via our Facebook or Instagram accounts, and we’ll help you get started on your quizzing journey.

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What are the questions like? How difficult are they? 

The range varies but they will generally be more difficult than your average pub trivia night and as any quizzer will tell you - everything is easy when you know the answer! 

Competitive quizzing also includes more ‘high culture’ topics such as mythology, fine arts, world history and geography than you would typically find at a pub quiz, but there is still plenty of sport, film and music trivia. 

Here are some examples of previous questions and an explanation of their construction. Full papers can be purchased from our webstore at https://quizzing-australia.dpdcart.com/.

Question 1: Irukandji, found in the northern waters of Australia, are a venomous species of what marine creature? 

Explanation: You might know straight-up that Irukandji is commonly known as the Box Jellyfish. Or you could work out that marine = sea so we’re looking for something in the sea that is venomous. We can exclude crocs and sharks as they probably don’t have venom. Jellyfish have stinging tentacles – maybe it’s that? 

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This question is from the Science and Nature specialist quiz at the 2024 National Quiz Day.

Question 2: Following a breakout 2024 performance, who is surely the best-known Australian with a PhD in cultural studies from Macquarie University? 

Explanation: “Breakout” is a carefully chosen adjective as the answer is Raygun (Rachael Gunn), Australia’s well-known representative in breaking (breakdancing) at the Paris Olympic Games. It was also well publicised that her PhD thesis was on breaking culture. While the question doesn’t mention the Olympics specifically, astute quizzers will be aware that summer Olympics take place in years divisible by four, such as 2024. 

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This question is from the 2024 Australian Pairs Quiz.

Question 3: Also the name of a card game, which region of Yukon in northwestern Canada was the site of a mass gold-rush migration in the 1890’s? 

Explanation: If you don’t know the answer, you might start listing card games and make a guess at which one sounds like a region in North-West Canada. Or if you know your history, you might start naming gold rushes. You could also make a guess at the one region of the Yukon you know and hope that it’s also a card game and maybe there was a gold rush there. The answer is Klondike and it may be that you’ve now acquired some new knowledge, or you might suddenly remember that you have in fact seen that word before, possibly having played the card game on a PC. 

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This question is from the 2023 NSW Championships Pairs Quiz.