Five categories. Seventy
events. One pyramid.
From 50-minute objective tests to multi-month team projects — every FBLA competitor enters one of five distinct event tracks, each with its own format, rubric, and skill focus, then advances chapter, state, and national tiers in pursuit of NLC recognition.
Five categories organize FBLA’s 70+ competitive events
Each category has a distinct format, judging structure, and skill focus. Pick the category that matches how you want to compete — written exam, project portfolio, live presentation, team performance, or chapter-level recognition — then browse the full event list within that category.
Objective Tests
The largest category. Timed multiple-choice exams covering core business knowledge — accounting, marketing, law, IT, finance, and more.
Production / Project
Pre-submitted work judged by a panel of business professionals. Includes written reports, websites, videos, or apps.
Presentation
Live 5–7 minute presentations to judges, plus 3 minutes of Q&A. Topics may be pre-announced or assigned on site.
Team Performance
Multi-member team competitions combining preparation, written work, and live presentation. Some include on-site objective tests too.
Chapter Events
Recognition for outstanding chapter operations rather than individual student performance — year-round contributions.
Four formats determine how every FBLA event is scored
Within the five categories, four distinct judging formats apply: a timed objective exam, a pre-submitted project, a live presentation, or a team performance. Knowing your format determines how you prepare — flashcards versus deck reviews versus mock judging.
Objective Test
Timed multiple-choice exam covering one business subject. The standard format: 50 minutes, 100 questions, +1 point per correct answer, no penalty for wrong answers. Tie-breakers use designated final questions.
Production
Pre-submitted work judged by a panel before the conference. Typically a written report (specified page count) plus a website, video, or app component. Live presentation may also be required at the conference.
Presentation
Live presentation to a panel of judges, typically 5–7 minutes plus 3 minutes of Q&A. Topics may be pre-announced or assigned on site. Some events provide minutes of prep time before delivery.
Team Performance
Multi-member teams of 2–4 students combine preparation, written submission, and live presentation. Some team events also include an on-site objective-test component evaluated alongside the presentation.
The full 70+ event list, organized by category
All FBLA-US competitive events for the 2025–2026 program year, drawn from the official FBLA Competitive Events Guidelines. Use the quick-jump nav below to scan to your category. Each event’s specific rubric and exact format is published annually on fbla.org and connect.fbla.org.
Objective Tests
- Accounting I
- Accounting II
- Business Calculations
- Business Communication
- Business Law
- Computer Applications
- Computer Problem Solving
- Cyber Security
- Economics
- Health Care Administration
- Hospitality & Event Management
- Insurance & Risk Management
- Introduction to Business
- Introduction to Information Technology
- Journalism
- Marketing
- Networking Infrastructures
- Organizational Leadership
- Personal Finance
- Securities & Investments
- Sports & Entertainment Management
- Word Processing
Production / Project Events
- Business Plan
- Coding & Programming
- Computer Game & Simulation Programming
- Digital Video Production
- Mobile Application Development
- Public Service Announcement
- Social Media Strategies
- Visual Design
- Website Design
Presentation Events
- Business Ethics
- Future Business Executive
- Future Business Leader
- Impromptu Speaking
- Introduction to Business Presentation
- Job Interview
- Public Speaking
- Sales Presentation
- Speech Writing
Team Performance Events
- American Enterprise Project
- Banking & Financial Systems
- Broadcast Journalism
- Business Ethics (team)
- Business Management
- Community Service Project
- Entrepreneurship
- Global Business
- Hospitality & Event Management (team)
- International Business (team)
- Management Decision Making
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing (team)
- Parliamentary Procedure
- Sports & Entertainment Management (team)
Chapter Events
- Largest Local Chapter Membership
- Largest Local Percentage Increase
- Membership Mania
- Outstanding Local Chapter Annual Business Report
- Outstanding Local Chapter Yearbook
Match the event to your career interest or coursework
The strongest rubric advantage comes from genuine subject-matter familiarity. If you’ve taken AP Microeconomics, the Economics objective test maps directly to your coursework. If you’re already running a side hustle, Business Plan or Entrepreneurship lets you turn lived experience into a graded submission. Match before you commit.
Pick the format that matches how you study best
If you flashcard your way through AP exams, an objective test rewards that exact muscle. If you build websites in your spare time, Website Design turns existing skill into a portfolio submission. If public speaking energizes you, Public Speaking or Sales Presentation rewards that ability. Don’t pick a format you’re trying to avoid.
Match the time commitment to your real availability
Objective tests demand 20–40 hours of focused study spread over Oct–Feb. Production events (Business Plan, Mobile App) can require 80–150+ hours across the same window. Team events add coordination overhead. Before signing up, budget the hours honestly against your other AP / SAT commitments.
Stay within the national 2–3 event cap
National rules typically limit students to 2–3 individual events plus team events at the same conference, with scheduling conflicts further constraining choices. Plan a primary event (highest investment) and a secondary event in a different format, so your prep cycles don’t collide in the final two weeks before state.
Read the rubric before you commit, not after
Every FBLA event’s exact rubric is published in the annual Competitive Events Guidelines on fbla.org. Judges score against the published criteria, not against subjective preferences. Reading the rubric carefully before you commit prevents the most common mistake: preparing for an event you misunderstood.
Roughly 1 in 100 chapter competitors reaches NLC
FBLA uses a tiered qualification system. Students compete at each level to advance; only top placers move on to the next tier. The full pipeline runs from fall chapter qualifiers through spring state conferences to the summer National Leadership Conference.
Chapter Qualifier
Compete inside your school chapter against fellow members. Top placers in each event move on to the state conference. Format and scoring mirror the national event rules.
~100% start hereState Conference
State-level competition each spring (State Leadership Conference). Top 3–5 in each event qualify for NLC. State conferences also feature workshops, networking, and officer elections.
~10% advanceNational Leadership Conference
National finals each summer (2026: San Antonio, TX). National Top 10 named per event; first place crowned at the closing ceremony. The single highest tier of competitive recognition in FBLA.
~1% reach NLCSix of the most-entered events, briefly explained
A short brief on six of the events students ask about most often — drawn from each major category. For the full rubric of any event, consult the annual FBLA Competitive Events Guidelines on connect.fbla.org.
Business Plan
The flagship production event. Students develop a complete business plan for a real or hypothetical venture — market research, financial projections, marketing strategy — then defend it before judges. Premier showcase of integrated business thinking.
Accounting II
Advanced accounting concepts — managerial accounting, financial statement analysis, depreciation methods, partnership and corporate accounting. The natural next step after Accounting I, popular with students taking AP / college accounting coursework.
Public Speaking
Live presentation on a business-related topic, often pre-announced. Judged on content accuracy, organization, delivery, and Q&A composure. The classic FBLA event for students who want speech experience for college applications.
Entrepreneurship
Team event combining an on-site case study with a live presentation. Teams analyze a real-world entrepreneurial scenario, develop a recommendation, and present to judges within strict time limits. Strong fit for teams that prep together.
Cyber Security
Information security, threat modeling, encryption basics, network defense, regulatory frameworks. Increasingly popular with computer-science students wanting a business-track credential alongside USACO or CTF participation.
Website Design
Team or individual event. Students build a fully functioning website to a specified annual prompt (e.g., “small business for a real client”), then present design and technical decisions to judges. Rewards both code craft and design taste.
China regional format · 2016–2024
The China regional track used a format distinct from the official FBLA-US standard. The China regional preliminary was a 60-minute online test with 80 multiple-choice questions and a 400-point maximum, organized into Marketing or Business Management tracks.
The China regional format (60 min / 80 questions / 400 points) differed substantially from the official FBLA-US standard (50 min / 100 questions / 100 points). Past Chinese placements remain valid as historical extracurricular credentials. Students interested in continued FBLA engagement should consult our International Students guide.
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60Test Length60 minutes online
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80Questions80 multiple-choice items
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400Maximum Score+5 pts per correct answer
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2Tracks OfferedMarketing / Business Management
01 How long is an FBLA objective test? +
Standard FBLA-US objective tests are 50 minutes long with 100 multiple-choice questions. Scoring is +1 point per correct answer with no penalty for incorrect or unanswered questions, for a maximum of 100 points. Some events use a slightly different time / question count; the specific format for each event is published in the annual Competitive Events Guidelines.
02 Can I compete in multiple events at the same conference? +
Yes, with limits. Typically students may enter up to 2–3 individual events plus team events, subject to scheduling constraints (events held at the same time obviously conflict). Each state and the NLC publish event schedules so students can plan their entries. National rules limit certain elite events to one entry per student.
03 How do team events work? +
Team events involve 2–4 students per team (specific count varies by event). The team typically prepares pre-submitted work (written report or business plan) and delivers a live presentation at the conference. Some team events also include an on-site objective test component. Team members must all be FBLA members in good standing at the same chapter.
04 What is the dress code at FBLA events? +
FBLA enforces a strict business professional dress code at all conferences and competitive events. For all-gender presentation events: business suit (dark color preferred), dress shirt, tie or business blouse, dress shoes, and a name badge. Violations of dress code can result in disqualification at some state and national events. The full dress code policy is published in the annual Competitive Events Guidelines.
05 Can I find past FBLA test questions to practice with? +
FBLA does not publish full past tests publicly. Sample questions, study guides, and event-specific practice materials are available through fbla.org and connect.fbla.org. Many state associations also publish past state-level competitive event materials. For more comprehensive prep, see our Past Papers & Prep Resources guide.
06 What if I miss the chapter qualifier — can I still compete at state? +
Generally no. Most state associations require students to place at the chapter level before advancing to state. However, some states allow direct state-level entry for chapters with fewer than 5 members in the event. Check your state association’s rules. The chapter–state–national pyramid is the standard FBLA progression model.
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Editorial standards
& about this guide
Competitive event formats and rubrics described on this page are cross-checked against the official FBLA Competitive Events Guidelines published annually on fbla.org and connect.fbla.org. The 50-minute / 100-question / 100-point standard format applies to most objective tests; some events use slight variations (60-min onsite tests at NLC for certain events). Always consult the current-year FBLA Competitive Events Guidelines for the most accurate event-specific format.
The China regional format (60-min / 80-question / 400-point) information is preserved as historical record from the 2016–2024 program track operated by FBLA China and FBLA SKT in mainland China. This is an independent FBLA Business Competition guide maintained by Hanlin Education’s international competition team — not affiliated with FBLA-PBL, Inc. Always consult fbla.org for current-year event rules.