Handbooks & Manuals for Academic Contests
CONTEST HANDBOOKS & MANUALS
(Revisions happening now til August 2026. Check back for final postings.)
The UIL publishes manuals and handbooks as free downloads to provide guidelines for each UIL academic contest. Handbooks are intended for contestants, coaches and contest directors. All participants should be familiar with the contents. Most are updated every year or substantially revised every few years as needed.
General Academics
Accounting Handbook 2025-26
Current Issues & Events Handbook 2025-26
Literary Criticism Handbook 2024-25
Ready Writing Handbook 2025-26
Social Studies Handbook 2025-26
Spelling & Vocabulary Handbook 2025-26
STEM
Calculator Applications Handbook 2025-26
Computer Science Handbook 2025-26
Mathematics Handbook 2025-26
Number Sense Handbook 2025-26
Science Handbook 2025-26
Theatre & Film
Handbook for One-Act Play 26th Edition
Film Participant Guide 2024-2025
Theatrical Design for Middle School Pilot 24-25
Young Filmmakers Guide 2019-20, addendum coming soon
4th ed. Handbook for A+ OAP Junior High Contests
Journalism
Speech & Debate
2025-2026 New Speech Coach Guide
2024-2025 Congress Handbook
2024-2025 CX Debate Handbook
2024-2025 Informative & Persuasive Speaking Handbook
2024-2025 Lincoln-Douglas Debate Handbook
2024-2025 Prose & Poetry Handbook
Manuals for High School
Academic Coordinator's Manual 2025-2026
2024-25 District Academic Meet Director's Manual_revJan2025
2024-2025 Regional Academic Meet Director's Manual Revised April 23 2025
District Entries in Team Events - Six Entry Option Clarification Updated 9/2023
Calculator Applications Contest Manual
Calculator Applications Manual for Numerical Problems
Calculator Applications Manual for Stated & Geometry Problems
High School Academics
If you are your campus high school academic coordinator and have not yet registered, please do so here. This is an annual submission.
A+ Academics
If you are your campus coordinator in grades 2-8 and have not yet registered, please do so here. This is an annual submission.
The A+ Handbook may be downloaded here.