ACF Category Guide

Last updated: June 04, 2026

How to use this guide ↑

Important

  • Reading the entirety of this page before submitting a packet is not required.
  • This is simply a reference guide, so you can just skip to the part(s) on which you need clarification.
  • Submissions that adhere to these guidelines well are significantly more likely to be used in the final set.

This page lists the guidelines for each category in the ACF packet distribution. When appropriate, these lists are provided:

  • A list of potential / suggested topics that submitted questions may cover
  • Geographical regions spanned by the category
  • Secondary sub-topics spanned by the category
  • How submissions in the category should be diverse

Important

  • The lists of potential topics, geographical regions, or sub-topics are NOT exhaustive.
  • The lists of potential topics are simply suggestions for submission writers to take into account when conceptualizing questions.

Table of Contents ↑

Literature ↑

Question Diversity

Submitted Literature questions should vary in the following attributes:

  • Time period(s)
  • Genre
    • Novels
    • Poetry
    • Drama
    • Short stories
  • Answerline class
    • Authors
    • Individual works
    • Characters
    • Common links

American Literature ↑

This category is primarily for literature by authors from the continental United States.

Sub-Topics

This category may also include:

  • Literature by Indigenous / Native American authors
  • Non-English-language literature by American authors

British Literature ↑

This category is for literature by authors from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

European Literature ↑

This category is primarily for literature by European authors (generally non-English-language):

Included Geographical Regions
  • Western, Southern, & Central Europe
  • Russia (and Soviet Union)
  • Scandinavia
  • Balkan countries
Sub-Topics

This category may also include Classical literature from Ancient Greece and Rome, pre-500 CE.

Important

  • Questions on Classical literature from Ancient Greece and Rome, pre-500 CE may be assigned to World Literature or European Literature.
  • This assignment is the decision of each set’s head editor and editing team.
  • Therefore, teams writing questions on Classical literature may contact the set’s editing team for clarification.

World Literature ↑

This category is for English-language and non-English-language literature by authors from all geographic regions not listed above.

Included Geographical Regions
  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • Central & South America
    • Caribbean
  • Africa
    • South Africa
  • Indian subcontinent
  • Middle East
    • Israel
    • Turkey
  • Central, East, & Southeast Asia
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Polynesia
  • US territories
    • Puerto Rico

Important

  • Questions on literature by authors from the highlighted regions may be assigned to World Literature or British Literature.
  • This assignment is the decision of each set’s head editor and editing team.
  • Therefore, teams writing questions on literature by authors from the highlighted regions may contact the set’s editing team for clarification.

Warning

  • Since literature by authors from the highlighted regions is mostly English-language, teams should avoid writing questions on multiple of the highlighted regions.
  • E.g., do not submit both an Australian literature tossup and a Canadian literature bonus.

Misc. Literature ↑

Potential Topics

This category includes other areas of literature, such as:

  • Non-Classical ancient literature, regardless of geographical region
  • Nonfiction
    • Literary theory and criticism
    • Essays
    • Biographies
    • Journalism
  • Literature spanning multiple geographical regions (and/or time periods) (e.g., common links)

This category also includes topics that fall under any of the above categories of Literature (American, British, European, World).

Hence, you may choose to simply write another question in any of the above categories of Literature.


History ↑

Question Diversity

Submitted History questions should vary in the following attributes:

  • Time period(s)
  • Type
    • Political
    • Social
    • Military
    • Cultural
    • Religious
    • Economic
    • Intellectual

Warning

Do not write more than half of the required amount of history questions on military history.

American History ↑

This category is primarily for the history of the United States.

Sub-Topics

This category may also include the history of:

  • Indigenous / Native American peoples of the continental United States
  • American foreign policy
  • American military activity around the world

European History ↑

This category is primarily for the history of Europe, including the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Included Geographical Regions
  • United Kingdom & Ireland
  • Western, Southern, & Central Europe
  • Russia (and Soviet Union)
  • Scandinavia
  • Balkan countries
  • Island territories of the above countries
Sub-Topics

This category may also include the history of:

  • European colonialism around the world
  • European foreign policy
  • European military activity around the world

World History ↑

This category is for the history of all geographic regions not listed above, with the exception of the highlighted geographic regions in Other History.

Warning

Do not write both World History questions on the history of the same continent or region.

Other History ↑

This category is primarily for the following topics:

  • Ancient history
    • Classical history of Ancient Greece and Rome, pre-500 CE
  • Archaeology

This category also includes the history of the following geographic regions:

Included Geographical Regions
  • Canada
  • Australia
  • New Zealand

Misc. History ↑

This category includes topics that fall under any of the above categories of History (American, European, World, Other).

Hence, you may choose to simply write another question in any of the above categories of History.

This category may also include questions spanning the history of multiple geographical regions and/or time periods (e.g., common links).


Science ↑

Biology ↑

Potential Topics
  • Anatomy & physiology
  • Genetics
  • Ecology & evolutionary biology
  • Microbiology
  • Cell & molecular biology
  • Developmental biology
  • Botany
  • Zoology
  • Bioinformatics
  • Biomedical research
  • Bioengineering

Chemistry ↑

Potential Topics
  • Organic & inorganic chemistry
  • Analytical chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Physical chemistry
  • Chemical engineering
  • Laboratory techniques

Physics ↑

Potential Topics
  • Classical mechanics
    • Statics
    • Dynamics
    • Continuum mechanics (Solids, fluids, and plasmas)
    • Statistical mechanics
  • Thermodynamics
  • Electromagnetism
  • Relativity
  • Particle physics / high energy physics
  • Condensed matter physics
  • Quantum mechanics
  • Atomic physics
  • Molecular physics
  • Optics
  • Acoustics

Other Science ↑

This category is for science topics in disciplines other than Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

Potential Topics
  • Mathematics
  • Computer science
  • Astronomy
  • Earth science
  • Engineering

Warning

  • Submitted Other Science questions must be materially different from its Biology, Chemistry, and Physics questions.
  • E.g., do not submit both a Physics tossup on cosmology and an Other Science tossup on astronomy.
  • Submitted Other Science questions that are on Biology, Chemistry, or Physics answerlines and solely written using clues from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics topics may be rejected.

Warning

  • Submitted Other Science questions must be on two different topics from the above list.
  • E.g., writing a Math tossup and an Astronomy bonus is acceptable, but writing both a tossup and bonus on Astronomy is unacceptable.

Misc. Science ↑

Potential Topics
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Data analysis
  • Cybersecurity
  • Communication
  • Robotics
  • Manufacturing
  • Energy
  • Infrastructure
  • Science history
  • Questions spanning multiple areas of science and technology (e.g., common links)

This category also includes topics that fall under any of the above categories of Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Other Science).

Hence, you may choose to simply write another question in any of the above categories of Science.

Warning

If you choose to write another Other Science question, it must be on a different topic than the primary Other Science questions.


Fine Arts ↑

Note

  • Other question producers usually separate arts into the categories "Visual Fine Arts" (“VFA”) and "Auditory Fine Arts" (“AFA”).
  • ACF uses the categories “Painting & Sculpture” and “Classical Music,” which are roughly synonymous with the common definitions of VFA and AFA, but not identical.

Painting & Sculpture ↑

This category is primarily for painting and sculpture from around the world.

Sub-Topics

This category may also include:

  • Art history
  • Art criticism

Warning

  • At least one of the submitted Painting & Sculpture questions must be on painting.
  • Do not submit 2 questions on sculpture or 2 questions on alternate topics.

Classical Music ↑

This category is primarily for classical music and opera of the Western world.

Sub-Topics

This category may also include:

  • Classical music from non-Western regions (e.g., Latin America, China, Japan) written in the Western classical tradition
  • Classical music traditions of non-Western regions (e.g., India, China, Japan)
  • Music theory
  • Musicology

Warning

  • At least one of the submitted Classical Music questions must be on classical music of the Western world.
  • Do not submit 2 questions on alternate topics.

Other Fine Arts ↑

This category is primarily for arts topics in disciplines other than Painting & Sculpture or Classical Music.

Potential Topics
  • Visual
    • Architecture
    • Photography
    • Video art
    • Installation art
    • Fashion
    • Design
    • Decorative arts
    • Book arts
    • Performance art
  • Auditory
    • Musical theatre
    • Dance
    • Jazz
    • Non-classical world music
    • Folk / traditional music
  • Questions spanning multiple visual or auditory topics

Warning

Warning

  • The submitted Other Fine Arts questions must vary across visual and auditory topics.
  • Do not submit 2 questions on solely visual topics or 2 questions on solely auditory topics.


Religion & Mythology ↑

Warning

  • The submitted Religion & Mythology questions must include at least 1 question and no more than 2 questions on a non-Western topic.
  • Do not submit more than 2 questions on non-Western topics.

Religion ↑

Potential Topics
  • Religious practices
    • Worship
    • Rituals
    • Festivals
  • Religious texts
  • Religious jurisprudence
  • Religious history
  • Theology
  • Comparative religion

Warning

Do not write 2 questions on the same religion.

Mythology ↑

Potential Topics
  • Mythological narratives and texts
    • Epic poems
    • Mythological plays
      • Questions about mythological plays should be submitted as Literature if the questions discuss their literary value or literary techniques rather than the myths presented in the plays.
    • Creation myths
    • Folk tales
    • Fables
    • Oral traditions
    • Mythological anthologies or compendiums
  • Mythological figures
    • Deities
    • Heroes
    • Mortals
    • Animals
    • Legendary creatures
  • Cryptids

Warning

Do not write 2 questions on the same mythological system.


Social Science & Philosophy ↑

Social Science ↑

Potential Topics
  • Economics
  • Psychology
  • Linguistics
  • Anthropology
  • Sociology
  • Political science
  • Law
    • Questions on individual Supreme Court cases are better suited for History.
  • Social criticism
  • Gender studies
  • Finance
  • Geography (as an academic discipline)
  • Criminology
  • Management

Warning

  • Submitted Social Science questions must be on two different fields of study.
  • Make sure that the clues are primarily drawn from the academic literature in these fields.

Philosophy ↑

Potential Topics
  • Aesthetics
  • Epistemology
  • Ethics
  • Logic
  • Metaphysics
  • Political philosophy
  • Philosophy of religion
  • Philosophy of language
  • Philosophy of mind
  • Philosophy of science
Question Diversity

Submitted Philosophy questions should vary across movements and time periods in philosophical history, including but not limited to:

  • Greco-Roman philosophy
  • Medieval philosophy
  • Early Modern philosophy
  • 19th-century philosophical movements (German idealism, pragmatism, etc.)
  • “Analytic” tradition
  • “Continental” tradition
  • Non-Western philosophical traditions (Indian, Chinese, Islamic, African, etc.)

Warning

Submitted Philosophy questions must be on two different movements / time periods in philosophical history.


Other ↑

For Fall and Winter: Submissions must include exactly 1 question in each of Geography, Current Events, Other Academic, and Popular Culture.

For Regionals and Nationals: Submissions must include at least 1 question in each of Geography, Current Events, and Other Academic.

Geography ↑

Potential Topics
  • Physical geography
  • Cultural geography
  • Political geography

Current Events ↑

This category is for events that took place in recent history before the date on which the set is first played and would likely be considered important or having staying power several years afterwards.

Note

The definition of “recent history” is set at the editing team’s discretion. Hence, it may range as far back as 10 or 20 years.

Other Academic ↑

Potential Topics

This category may include other areas of academic study, including:

  • Miscellaneous thought
  • General knowledge
  • History of science
  • Interdisciplinary common links on academic subjects

This category also includes topics that fall under any of the above categories.

Hence, you may choose to simply write another question in any of the above categories.

Warning

Submissions for Regionals and Nationals must not include popular culture topics in Other Academic questions, since those sets do not include popular culture.

Potential Topics
  • Popular music
  • Sports
  • Film
  • Television
  • Online media
    • Podcasts
  • Popular literature
    • Comic books
  • Video games
  • Online culture

Warning

Submissions for Regionals and Nationals must not include any questions on popular culture.