What is it?
Readers Cup is organised by the Qld Branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia. It is a state wide competition for young readers. Teams of four to five students together read a set of books, and then compete with other teams to answer quiz questions from the books. Winners from regional competitions then compete in a state final.
How did it begin?
The competition was introduced in 2004 to celebrate 50 years of CBCA in Queensland. It catered for Years 6-8 as a single competition then later split into two sections of 6/7 and 8/9. As Year 7 transitioned into high school in 2015 the competition changed to 5/6 and 7/8. In 2017 a Year 9-10 competition was added in Wide Bay Region and from 2020 there is a state final held in all three sections.
Why do it?
Readers Cup competitions challenge students to read widely, work collaboratively in a team and continue developing a love of reading. It allows readers to compete at a regional and state level similar to sporting competitions and to meet other students with an equal passion for books.
Who can take part?
There are three categories catering for students in Year 5/6 and Year 7/8 for most regions and Year 9/10 for some regions. Most regions will accept only one team per school or public library per category. Check the Regional Information for details of your region or email your regional coordinator. A team of up to 5 readers may be registered per school/public library. Some regions allow more than one team to enter. For details check Regional Information.
What does it look like?
We are frequently asked what a competition looks like, so in 2016 we created a film that will give people who have never participated, an idea of how it works. It can also be viewed by teams to show them how other teams prepare
What does it cost?
The registration fee is $50 per team (CBCA Qld Branch financial members receive a discount). A part of the fee will be used to run regional finals and part for the state final. If regions need to raise funds to attend the state finals, it is suggested that they start fundraising as soon as possible. Approach your local community groups for sponsorship even if you don’t know which team will be representing your region. If you are from regional Queensland then you may need to budget for 2 nights accommodation and transport for four team members plus a supervisor. CBCA normally offers a subsidy to the teams that require travel costs and accommodation.