How DECA role plays are scored.
In 28 DECA events you take an exam, then act out a business situation for a judge who plays an executive. The judge fills in one form. Here is that form, what each level is worth, and how the role play counts against your exam.
The formThe four levelsPrinciples of Business AdministrationIndividual SeriesPersonal Financial LiteracyTeam Decision Making
The form
The judge scores you out of 100 points. Every form has the same rows for your solution and your career skills:
| Row | Points |
|---|---|
| Solution | |
| Unique | 8 |
| Practical | 8 |
| Effective | 8 |
| Career Competencies | |
| Critical Thinking | 6 |
| Communication | 6 |
| Decision Making | 6 |
The rest is the performance indicators printed on your card and the judge's overall impression, and those change with the kind of event:
| Events | Performance indicators | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| Principles of Business Administration | 48 points4 on the card, 12 each | 10 |
| Individual Series | 50 points5 on the card, 10 each | 8 |
| Personal Financial Literacy | 51 points3 on the card, 17 each | 7 |
| Team Decision Making | 50 points5 on the card, 10 each | 8 |
The indicators are 48 to 51 of the 100 points, about half the form. Cover every indicator on your card, by name, before the time runs out.
The four levels
Each row is scored at one of four levels, and each level is a range of points. The bigger the row, the wider each range.
| Row out of | Novice | Developing | Proficient | Exemplary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17Personal Financial Literacy indicators | 0-5 | 6-11 | 12-16 | 17 |
| 12Principles indicators | 0-3 | 4-7 | 8-11 | 12 |
| 10Principles overall, Series indicators and Team Decision Making indicators | 0-3 | 4-6 | 7-9 | 10 |
| 8Series overall, Team Decision Making overall and Solution rows | 0-2 | 3-5 | 6-7 | 8 |
| 7Personal Financial Literacy overall | 0-2 | 3-4 | 5-6 | 7 |
| 6Career Competencies rows | 0-1 | 2-3 | 4-5 | 6 |
Principles of Business Administration
One role play with 10 minutes of prep and up to 10 minutes with the judge; finalists do a second role play.
The role play evaluation is out of 100 points and is weighted twice the value of the exam score, and your exam score carries forward into the final round.
Events: Principles of Business Management and Administration (PBM), Principles of Entrepreneurship (PEN), Principles of Finance (PFN), Principles of Hospitality and Tourism (PHT), Principles of Marketing (PMK)
Individual Series
Two role plays, each with 10 minutes of prep and up to 10 minutes with the judge; finalists do a third role play.
Each role play evaluation is out of 100 points. In the preliminary round the exam and each of the two role plays are worth one third of the total. In the final round the role play is weighted twice the exam score, and the exam score carries forward.
Events: Accounting Applications Series (ACT), Apparel and Accessories Marketing Series (AAM), Automotive Services Marketing Series (ASM), Business Finance Series (BFS), Business Services Marketing Series (BSM), Entrepreneurship Series (ENT), Food Marketing Series (FMS), Hotel and Lodging Management Series (HLM), Human Resources Management Series (HRM), Marketing Communications Series (MCS), Quick Serve Restaurant Management Series (QSRM), Restaurant and Food Service Management Series (RFSM), Retail Merchandising Series (RMS), Sports and Entertainment Marketing Series (SEM)
Personal Financial Literacy
One role play with 10 minutes of prep and up to 10 minutes with the judge; finalists do a second role play.
The role play evaluation is out of 100 points and is weighted twice the exam score; the exam score carries forward into the finals.
Team Decision Making
One case study with 30 minutes of prep and a 15-minute presentation; finalists do a second case study.
The presentation evaluation is out of 100 points and is weighted twice the averaged exam score; the exam score carries forward into the final round.
Both partners must speak.
Events: Business Law and Ethics Team Decision Making (BLTDM), Buying and Merchandising Team Decision Making (BTDM), Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making (ETDM), Financial Services Team Decision Making (FTDM), Hospitality Services Team Decision Making (HTDM), Marketing Management Team Decision Making (MTDM), Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team Decision Making (STDM), Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making (TTDM)
What you can bring
A four-function calculator. No printed references and no visual aids, in any of these events.
From DECA's 2026-27 competitive event guidelines and evaluation forms. Each event's own page has its exam, its instructional areas and a practice judge.
Next: What is on each DECA exam. Or see every guide.