Competing at the Texas Science and Engineering Fair (TXSEF)

The Texas Science and Engineering Fair (TXSEF) brings together middle and high school students from across Texas to showcase their scientific and engineering research. Hosted by Texas A&M University, it's the statewide fair that celebrates student creativity and problem-solving, and a direct path toward the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). This guide covers how to qualify, what the fair requires, and how to build a project that advances.

How TXSEF Works

TXSEF is a state-level fair, so you don't enter it directly, you qualify by competing at one of the regional fairs held across Texas, most during January and February. Win or place high enough at your regional fair, and you earn your spot at the state competition, where you'll present your project through a display board and an oral presentation to judges who evaluate your research, methodology, and conclusions.

The fair spans a wide range of categories across the life, physical, earth, and behavioral sciences, along with engineering, biochemistry, microbiology, and more, so nearly any scientific interest has a home. Because category choice determines who judges your work, it's worth choosing carefully.

Texas's Regional Science Fairs

Find your regional fair by county, then aim to advance to the state TXSEF.

Qualifying and Registering

The path runs slightly differently for middle and high school students, but the core sequence is the same.

Start at your regional fair

Whether you enter as an individual or a team, you present your project to expert judges at one of Texas's regional fairs. Advancing from there is what qualifies you for the state fair.

Get SRC approval

Before you can register for TXSEF, your project must be approved by the Scientific Review Committee (SRC). You'll complete and upload the required abstract and paperwork through the fair's registration system, then monitor your account regularly for messages from the SRC.

If corrections are requested, make them promptly and resubmit. Approval is required before you can move ahead. Note that projects involving human subjects, vertebrate animals, or hazardous materials need SRC review before you begin experimenting, so plan for that early.

Register as a finalist

Once approved, every finalist officially registers through the fair's platform and pays the participation fee. Finalists are required to create a virtual display board and a project overview video within the registration system. High school finalists must also bring a physical display board for in-person judging, which goes through a Display & Safety inspection, so review the current board rules and guidelines carefully before you build it.

Because these platforms and forms are updated regularly, always confirm the current registration steps and requirements on the official TXSEF site.

Building a Standout Science Fair Project

A strong TXSEF project combines well-executed research with an effective presentation. A few principles that make the difference:

Start early. Give yourself ample time for experimentation and refinement, rushed projects show.

Be original and relevant. Choose a topic that genuinely sparks your curiosity and hasn't been done to death, then ground it in a real scientific or engineering challenge, renewable energy, water purification, disease detection, whatever connects your work to something tangible and impactful. Browsing recent TXSEF winners can spark ideas, but carve your own path. If you're still shaping your question, our guide to crafting the perfect science fair question walks through how to find and sharpen it.

Keep it feasible. Make sure your project is achievable with the time and resources you have, an ambitious idea that ends in an incomplete experiment won't serve you.

Follow the method rigorously. Use the scientific method for science projects (question, research, hypothesis, experiment, analyze, conclude) or the engineering design process for engineering projects (define the problem, research and design, prototype, test and evaluate, communicate).

Nail the presentation. Design a clear, engaging display with high-quality visuals and a logical flow, then rehearse until you can explain your work confidently and field the judges' questions with ease, and let your genuine enthusiasm show, since passion is contagious.

Preparing for the judges' questions is key, and our guide to the science fair Q&A with judges covers exactly how, while our guide to building a standout science fair poster helps with the board itself.

Finding a mentor who's competed before can accelerate all of this, our guide on how to get advice from a science fair winner explains how to find one.

Beyond TXSEF: Advancing to ISEF

The top projects at TXSEF earn the chance to advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world's largest pre-college science competition. To be eligible for ISEF, you'll need to be in grades 9–12 (and under age 20 by the competition), win at this ISEF-affiliated fair, and ensure your project follows ISEF's rules and is presented in English. Our step-by-step guide to qualifying for ISEF maps out the full path.

From Regional Fair to ISEF, With Expert Support

Competing at TXSEF and advancing to ISEF takes a strong, original project, rigorous research, and a confident presentation. That's exactly what ScienceFair helps you build. Every coach on our team is a past science fair winner, and alongside our Ivy League research mentors, they'll help you refine your idea, strengthen your research, and prepare for the judges' Q&A.

Ready to make your run at TXSEF? Schedule a call with our academic advisor.