Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?: How to Be a Contestant

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? is part trivia challenge, part nostalgia trip, and all fun — but for contestants, it’s also a rare opportunity to test their knowledge (and nerves) in front of millions. If you’ve ever shouted the correct answer from your couch or fumbled a first-grade geography question in disbelief, you might be the perfect fit for the show. Here’s how you can go from viewer to player on this unique game show.

Step 1: Know the Game Format

Before applying, it’s essential to understand how the show works. Contestants answer elementary-level questions (from grades 1 through 5) across various subjects, including math, science, social studies, grammar, and reading. They’re assisted by a rotating panel of fifth-grade students who serve as teammates — and sometimes, lifesavers.

Key game elements include:

  • Cheats: You get three “cheats” per game — Peek, Copy, and Save — that let you borrow help from the kids.
  • Money Ladder: Correct answers increase your total prize money, with the final fifth-grade question offering the top reward.
  • Dropout Clause: You can walk away at any time with your earnings — but if you answer incorrectly on your own and are out of cheats, you lose it all.

Step 2: Watch the Show

Watch recent episodes (especially the Jeff Foxworthy or John Cena versions) to get a feel for tone, pacing, and strategy. Observe how contestants interact with the fifth graders, how the host builds suspense, and how the game progresses through increasing difficulty.

Notice patterns in:

  • Which subjects tend to trip up contestants
  • How to use cheats wisely
  • How contestants recover from mistakes or stall tactics

Step 3: Look for Casting Calls

The show has had several versions: the original FOX run (2007–2009), a syndicated version (2009–2011), and a Nickelodeon reboot (2019). Casting typically occurs when a new season is planned, and announcements are made on casting websites, entertainment job boards, and sometimes through the network’s own pages.

Keep an eye on sites like:

  • Casting Crane
  • Backstage
  • official Nickelodeon or FOX casting pages
  • Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? social media accounts

If a reboot or new season is announced, casting will usually follow soon after.

Step 4: Submit an Application

When casting is open, you’ll be asked to complete an online form. Typical application questions include:

  • Basic contact information
  • Fun facts about yourself
  • Your occupation and education background
  • Why you want to be on the show
  • Whether you’re good with kids

You may also be asked to upload a short video introducing yourself, and producers love contestants who show high energy, strong personalities, and humor. The show values people who can laugh at themselves when they miss a “simple” question.

Step 5: Audition (Virtual or In-Person)

Successful applicants are invited to participate in a virtual or in-person audition. You may be asked to:

  • Answer sample questions
  • Demonstrate reactions and on-camera presence
  • Interact with a mock fifth-grade partner (played by a producer)
  • Show how you’d handle pressure

The producers want to see if you’ll make good TV — someone likable, energetic, and expressive under pressure.

Step 6: Eligibility Check and Paperwork

If you’re selected, you’ll complete detailed paperwork to confirm eligibility. Requirements may include:

  • Being at least 18 years old (or under 15 for Nickelodeon’s kids version)
  • U.S. citizenship or legal residency
  • No close affiliation with employees of the show or network
  • No appearance on a competing game show within a set time frame

You’ll also be briefed on taping logistics, dress code, and payment details.

Step 7: Brush Up on Elementary School Subjects

It’s wise to review basic U.S. history, elementary math (fractions, multiplication, geometry), grammar rules, science basics, and geography. Flashcards, mobile apps, and online quizzes can help you prepare.

Try playing along with archived episodes or mock games with friends or kids in your life. The more you refresh your memory, the better your odds of climbing the money ladder.

Summary

Becoming a contestant on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? is part quiz challenge and part character test. Producers want players who can handle pressure, laugh at their own mistakes, and connect with the young co-stars. If you’re enthusiastic, a little competitive, and willing to revisit elementary school subjects with humility and humor, you just might find yourself under the lights — surrounded by fifth graders — being cheered on by the entire classroom.