Beyond Answers - International Student Thinking Championship
Think Beyond. Solve for a Better World.
It closes on 28 Oct 2026, 17:00 GST.
About this event
What if the real skill is not just knowing the answer, but knowing how to think through the problem?
Beyond Answers is the first edition of the international championship by Gyanis for school students from India, Malaysia, and the UAE. Teams of three students and one teacher mentor from the same school choose a real problem from their school or community and connect it to one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through a fully online experience, students examine evidence, consider different perspectives, weigh trade-offs, and develop practical solutions.
The championship has three stages. In THINK, teams present their chosen problem and supporting evidence through a 90-second video. In SOLVE, they turn their thinking into a one-page solution plan. In LEAD, teams meet judges live online through a Semifinal and Grand Final, where they present their work, respond to new cases, and adapt their thinking. The experience is designed to develop critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, problem-solving, teamwork, empathy, decision-making, and adaptability, while mentors provide guidance and support and the work remains student-led.
No coding, expensive models, or purchases are required. What matters is the quality of the reasoning, the practicality of the solution, and how thoughtfully students respond to challenges.
The essentials
- Team size
- 3 students
- Teachers per team
- 1
- Age
- 13 to 18 years
- School
- All members from one school
- Results
- 1 Dec 2026
- Stages
- 4 stages
Who can enter
Check these against your register before you start. The rules are applied by the organisers when the team is submitted, so a team that does not meet them cannot be entered.
- Date of birth
- Born between 8 Oct 2007 and 7 Oct 2013, both days included.
- Age
- 13 to 18 years old.
- Class
- Class 8 to Class 12.
- Students per team
- Exactly 3.
- Teachers per team
- Exactly 1, who enters the team and looks after it.
- School
- Every member of a team must be from the same school.
- One team each
- A student may be on only one active team in this event.
- Team make up
- A team must include students of more than one gender. A single gender school can ask for an exception, and will be asked to confirm it.
Where this event runs
Teams can enter from UAE, India and Malaysia. You choose the country your team is entering in when you register, and that choice sets the entry fee.
Ages are measured on 7 Oct 2026, the same date for every country.
How the event runs
- STAGE 1
THINK
In this stage, teams will identify a real-world problem connected to a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), use evidence to explore the issue, consider possible responses, and explain the direction they would investigate first. Each team will present its thinking through a 90-second video, with all three students contributing.
1. Choose one real problem from the challenge menu, or use your own equivalent problem, and select one primary SDG that clearly connects to it. You may use up to two supporting SDGs if you can explain the connection. Keep the problem specific and manageable. 2. Submit one video of up to 90 seconds in MP4 or MOV format, with a maximum file size of 100 MB. All three students must contribute. 3. In the video, explain the problem and who is affected, the evidence you used and what it does not tell you, two possible responses, the response you would investigate first and why, who might lose out or be excluded, the relevant trade-off, and what you would check or find out next. 4. Keep the video simple. Production quality will earn no points. Focus on clearly presenting your team’s thinking, reasoning, and decision-making. 5. AI tools may be used. If you use an AI tool, disclose which tool you used, what you used it for, and what your team checked or verified. Do not use invented citations or results. Your team’s reasoning and decisions should remain student-owned. 6. If your team cannot use the standard video format because of an accessibility need, use the approved access alternative. Captions should be included where possible. 7. Before submitting, make sure your video meets the 90-second limit, is 100 MB or less, uses MP4 or MOV, includes all three students, identifies the primary SDG, covers the required points, and includes the required AI or assistance disclosure where applicable.
- Video up to 1 minute 30 seconds long.
- File up to 100 MB.
- Accepted formats: MP4, MOV.
- 48 hours to raise a question about the result.
Entries close 4 Nov 2026, 17:00 GST.
AI tools may be used, and where they were used has to be declared.
- STAGE 2
SOLVE
In this stage, teams will turn their THINK idea into an evidence-backed solution they could actually test. Teams will develop their THINK idea into a one-page written solution canvas. They will define the problem and the people affected, support their thinking with evidence, propose a solution and an alternative, show how the solution would work, and identify its feasibility and one test they could carry out.
1. Fill in the canvas online. Keep your response to 500 words and one page. 2. Complete all six sections in order: Problem and People, Evidence, Proposed Solution, Sketch / How It Works, Feasibility and One Test, and Sources, Roles and AI Disclosure. 3. Back your claims with evidence and list every source you use. 4. In the last section, state what each team member contributed. 5. Save your drafts as you go. Only the version submitted before the deadline will be reviewed. 6. An accessible form is available if your team cannot use the standard canvas.
- Written entry up to 500 words in total.
- Up to 1 page.
- 6 parts to fill in: Problem & People, Evidence, Solution & Alternative, Sketch / How it works, Feasibility and One Test, Sources, Roles and AI disclosure.
- 48 hours to raise a question about the result.
Entries close 13 Nov 2026, 17:00 GST.
AI tools may be used, and where they were used has to be declared.
An accessible alternative is available for this stage.
- STAGE 3
LEAD -Semifinal
This stage will be conducted live, where teams present their SOLVE project and then tackle a new common case. Teams will present before judges in parallel rooms.
1. The team will have 30 minutes to prepare before its slot. The common case will be revealed at the start of preparation. 2. The team will have 12 minutes for the session: 3 minutes to present the SOLVE project, 3 minutes to respond to the new common case, 4 minutes for judges’ questions plus a standardised change to the case, and 2 minutes for transition and scoring. 3. AI tools and internet use are not allowed during preparation or the pitch. 4. Every team member should speak. Judges will not see the team’s earlier-round scores. 5. The team should arrive or log in at least 15 minutes before its room’s start time.
- 10 teams in a room.
- 30 minutes to prepare beforehand.
- 12 minutes in the session.
- 48 hours to raise a question about the result.
AI tools may not be used in this stage.
- STAGE 4
LEAD — Grand final
This stage will be conducted live, where the top teams respond to a final challenge on one stage before the full judging panel.
1. The team will have 30 minutes to prepare once the final challenge is revealed. 2. The team will have 12 minutes for the session: 4 minutes for the team response, 6 minutes for judges’ questions and a common surprise, and 2 minutes for scoring and transition. 3. AI tools and internet use are not allowed during preparation or the pitch. 4. Every team member should take part. Judges will not see the team’s scores from earlier stages. 5. Results will be announced at the close of the final.
- 1 team in a room.
- 30 minutes to prepare beforehand.
- 12 minutes in the session.
- 48 hours to raise a question about the result.
AI tools may not be used in this stage.
Key dates
- Registration
- 7 Oct 2026, 17:00 to 28 Oct 2026, 17:00
- THINK: entries
- 7 Oct 2026, 17:00 to 4 Nov 2026, 17:00
- SOLVE: entries
- 5 Nov 2026, 17:00 to 13 Nov 2026, 17:00
- Results
- 1 Dec 2026, 17:00
All times are in the event's own timezone, Asia/Dubai (GST).
Accessibility
An accessible alternative is published for 1 of the 4 stages: SOLVE. A student who cannot take part in the usual way can complete the stage another way, without it counting against them.
If a student needs an arrangement that is not listed here, ask the organisers before you register rather than after.
What teams receive
Student Participation
For taking part.
Finalist
For finishing in the top 25.
Winner
For finishing in the top 3.
Teacher Mentor
For taking part.
School Participation / Recognition
For taking part.
How registering works
Create the team
Name it, choose the country it is entering in, and add the students and yourself. The organisers check it against the rules straight away and tell you at once if something does not fit.
Ask the guardians
Each student's parent or guardian is emailed a link of their own. They do not need an account, and they answer for their own child only. You can see who has answered and send the email again.
Pay the entry fee
One fee covers the whole team. It can only be paid once every guardian has answered, and nothing is charged before you choose to pay.
The team is registered
A team is registered the moment the fee is paid, and not before. You will see it on the team's own page.
Before you start
Registering takes a few minutes if you have these to hand. You can come back to a team you have started, so nothing is lost if you stop.
- A Gyanis account of your own. The teacher who registers the team is the person who looks after it, and it is the same account you use everywhere else on Gyanis.
- The full name and date of birth of each of the 3 students.
- An email address for each student's parent or guardian. Each of them is sent a link of their own and gives permission themselves, and no team can be entered until every one of them has answered.
- The country the team is entering in. That choice sets the entry fee, so it is asked plainly rather than assumed from where you are reading this.
Frequently asked questions
What is Beyond Answers?
Beyond Answers is an international student thinking championship designed to help students explore real-world problems and develop practical solutions. Students work in teams to identify a school or community challenge, connect it to one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), examine evidence, compare possible solutions, and explain and defend their thinking. The championship focuses on critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, problem-solving, teamwork, and student-owned ideas.
Who can participate?
Students between 13 and 18 years of age can participate in Beyond Answers. Students participate as part of a school team consisting of three students and one teacher mentor. All three students must represent the same school.
How many students are there in each team?
Each team must have three students and one teacher mentor. The three students must belong to the same school and participate together throughout the championship. Students cannot form a team with students from different schools
Is a teacher mentor required?
Yes. Every team must have one teacher mentor from the same school. The mentor helps the team with communication, coordination, access, deadlines, and other organisational requirements. However, the ideas, reasoning, responses, and work submitted by the team must be the students' own. The mentor cannot write the students' responses or complete the work on their behalf.
Which countries can participate?
Beyond Answers is an international championship with participation from India, Malaysia, and the UAE. Teams must follow the eligibility and registration requirements applicable to their country.
Is Beyond Answers conducted online?
Yes. Beyond Answers is conducted 100% online. Team registration and submissions are completed online, and the LEAD stage is conducted through live online sessions. Students do not need to travel to a physical venue to participate.
What are the different stages of Beyond Answers?
Beyond Answers has three stages: THINK, SOLVE, and LEAD. THINK focuses on understanding a real-world problem and presenting the team's reasoning through a short video. SOLVE focuses on developing and explaining a practical solution through a one-page submission. LEAD is the live stage, where teams discuss their ideas, respond to questions, work with a common case, and demonstrate how they think and adapt.
What happens in the THINK stage?
In THINK, teams submit a 90-second video in which all three students contribute. The team introduces the problem, explains who is affected, presents relevant evidence, considers different possible responses, identifies a trade-off or limitation, and raises an important next question. The focus is on the quality of the team's thinking rather than professional video production
What happens in the SOLVE stage?
In SOLVE, teams develop their selected idea in a one-page submission with a maximum of 500 words. Teams explain the problem and the people affected, present evidence, describe their solution and an alternative, explain how the solution would work, consider feasibility and testing, and provide their sources and details of student ownership.
What happens in the LEAD stage?
LEAD is the live online stage of the championship. Selected teams take part in live judging, where they discuss their work, respond to questions, and demonstrate how they think through new information and adapt their ideas. The stage includes the semifinal and Grand Final, with the final rankings determining the top three winning teams.
Can a team choose any Sustainable Development Goal?
Yes. Teams can work with any of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The chosen SDG should have a meaningful connection to the problem being addressed. Teams should be able to explain how their problem relates to the SDG and how their proposed solution could create a measurable improvement.
Can we choose a problem from our own school or community?
Yes. Teams are encouraged to explore a specific and meaningful problem affecting their school or community. The team should clearly explain who is affected, what the evidence shows, what different approaches are possible, and why the team believes its chosen approach could help.
Can a team work on more than one SDG?
Teams should identify one primary SDG that directly connects to their problem. Supporting SDGs may also be included when there is a clear and meaningful connection. Simply mentioning additional SDGs without explaining their relevance will not strengthen the submission.
Do we need to build a working prototype or app?
No. A working prototype, app, or expensive physical model is not required. Teams are assessed on the quality of their reasoning, solution, feasibility, testing, and usefulness rather than the amount of money or resources they can access. Coding, purchases, donations, or public deployment are not compulsory.
Can students use AI tools?
AI tools may be used during THINK and SOLVE where appropriate, but teams must disclose the tool used, its purpose, and what the students independently verified. Students must not submit invented citations, data, results, or information generated without verification. The reasoning and final work must remain student-owned. AI tools and outside coaching are not permitted during the LEAD stage.
How will teams be judged?
Teams are judged on the quality of their reasoning, solution, feasibility, adaptation, teamwork, and clarity. Judges look at how well students understand the problem, use evidence, compare alternatives, explain their decisions, consider limitations, and respond to new information
Can students from different schools form one team?
No. All three students in a team must represent the same school. Students from different schools cannot combine to create a single team.
What certificates will participants receive?
All registered students will receive a Student Participation Certificate. The top 25 teams that reach the Grand Final will receive a Finalist Certificate, while the top three ranked teams will receive a Winner Certificate. Teacher mentors will receive a Teacher Mentor Certificate, and participating schools will receive a School Participation/Recognition Certificate.
Do we need to spend money to create a strong solution?
No. Students are not expected to have expensive resources or advanced technology. The championship focuses on the quality and usefulness of the team's thinking and solution rather than the size or cost of a prototype.
What makes a strong Beyond Answers team?
A strong team identifies a specific and meaningful problem, understands who is affected, uses relevant evidence, considers different possible responses, recognises limitations and trade-offs, and develops a practical solution. Strong teams are also able to explain why they made their decisions, test their assumptions, respond to questions, and adapt their thinking when new information is introduced.
What makes Beyond Answers different from a regular competition?
Beyond Answers is not simply about finding the correct answer. Students are expected to question, investigate, compare, solve, explain, defend, and adapt. The championship gives students an opportunity to demonstrate how they think when faced with real-world problems rather than simply presenting a prepared answer.
What should students focus on while preparing?
Students should focus on understanding their chosen problem deeply, identifying the people affected, finding reliable evidence, comparing possible solutions, understanding limitations, and developing a practical response. They should be able to explain their decisions in their own words and work together as a team.
What are the deadlines and submission requirements?
All deadlines and instructions for THINK, SOLVE, and LEAD must be strictly followed. Teams must submit their work within the specified time frame and in the required format, including all applicable time limits, word limits, submission requirements, student participation requirements, evidence and source requirements, and AI or adult-assistance disclosures. No extension will be provided for missed deadlines, and no submissions will be accepted after the deadline. Participants should carefully read and follow all stage-specific instructions, as failure to comply with the requirements may affect the acceptance or evaluation of the submission.
YOUR TEAM.
YOUR NEXT BIG QUESTION.
You can start now and finish later. Nothing is charged until every guardian has given permission and you choose to pay.
Register a team