National History Bowl
Team-format history matchups; sister competition to the Bee.
- Grades:
- Grades 6–12
Series pass $14.99/month for the whole family · the first round and its summary are free, no card needed
Next official date
Oct 17, 2026 – Apr 25, 2027
National History Bowl regional season opens · Oct 17, 2026
Dates and formats come from the organizer (iacompetitions.com). Prep is not affiliated with it; the contest name is used to describe what we help with.
What History Bowl covers
A buzzer-ready map of the history a National History Bowl team must own: the American story from colonies to today, and the wider world from Mesopotamia to the 20th century. Study for coverage, not just your favorite era.
Unit questions open after sign-in with a Series pass. Each child's first round is free, with its summary.
Colonial America & the Founding
Settlement, revolution, and the birth of the U.S. republic.
4 units
- Colonial America — The first European settlements and the thirteen colonies.
- Road to Revolution & Independence — Grievances, war, and the break from Britain.
- Founding a Republic — Declaration, Articles, Constitution, and the first government.
- The Early Republic — Marshall Court, Monroe Doctrine, and the young nation's course.
Expansion, Division & Reunion
Westward growth, the Civil War, and rebuilding the Union.
3 units
- Westward Expansion & Antebellum America — Louisiana Purchase to the Mexican Cession and Manifest Destiny.
- The Civil War — Secession, key battles and leaders, and emancipation.
- Reconstruction — The Reconstruction Amendments and the postwar South.
The Making of Modern America
Reform, depression, and the struggles of the American century.
4 units
- Progressive Era & the Twenties — Reform movements, suffrage, Prohibition, and the Roaring Twenties.
- Great Depression & the New Deal — The crash of 1929 and FDR's response.
- The Civil Rights Movement — Brown v. Board, King, and the fight for equality.
- The Cold War — Superpower rivalry from the Berlin Wall to Cuba.
The Ancient World
The river civilizations and the classical Mediterranean.
3 units
- Early Civilizations & the Near East — Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the first cities, laws, and empires.
- Classical Greece — City-states, democracy, and the Hellenistic age.
- Ancient Rome — Republic to empire and the world Rome built.
Medieval & Early Modern World
From the fall of Rome through the Renaissance and exploration.
3 units
- The Middle Ages — Feudalism, the Crusades, empires, and the medieval church.
- Renaissance & Reformation — Rebirth of art and learning and the splitting of the church.
- The Age of Exploration — Sea routes, circumnavigation, and European contact with the Americas.
The Modern World
Revolutions, industry, world wars, and the global 20th century.
3 units
- Revolutions & Industrialization — The French Revolution, Napoleon, and the Industrial Revolution.
- The World Wars — World War I, World War II, and the Holocaust.
- A Global Century — Decolonization, the Cold War abroad, and global change.
More topics
Further topics from the exam's official scope.
5 units
Moving up to World Bee & Bowl
- Cover at least 80% of this Level's knowledge points, with at least 50% of them mastered (confirmed by spaced review, not one good day).
- Pass 2 full-length practice exams on different papers, at least 7 days apart, within 60 days.
- Answer at a steady pace: a median of 144 seconds a question or less.
- Or, when the signs are there, take the next Level's entry check: 75% or more moves up straight away.
A sample question from History Bowl
Which Spanish artist painted Guernica in response to the 1937 bombing of a Basque town during the Spanish Civil War?
Answer: Pablo Picasso
Worked solution
- 1937 bombing of a Basque town, Spanish Civil War.
- Guernica, co-founder of Cubism → Picasso.
Read-only. Every other question opens after sign-in; each child's first round is free.
Questions families ask
- What does Prep cover for History Bee & Bowl?
- History Bee, History Bowl, World Bee & Bowl. Each Level has its own chapter map, practice rounds, sealed practice exams with every answer and worked solution at the end, and a published gate to the next Level.
- When is the next History Bee & Bowl date?
- Oct 17, 2026 – Apr 25, 2027 · National History Bowl regional season opens · Oct 17, 2026. Always check the organizer's site before registering.
- How much does it cost?
- Each child's first round and its summary are free, with no card needed. After that, a Series pass is $14.99 a month for the whole family (up to 5 people) and covers every Level of the Series, so moving up never meets a new paywall.
- Does Prep guarantee a score?
- No. Prep shows exactly what your child has mastered, what comes next and when they are ready for the next Level. Nobody can promise a contest result.