Microsoft Office World Championship 2015

Qualification Round

Competitors qualify to compete by entering a passing score earned on an eligible MOS exam into the Championship. Exams must be taken between the dates of 15 September 2014 – 19 April 2015 in order to qualify for the 2015 Championship.

Participating competitors may enter the Championship (Qualifying Round) in either of two ways:

1. Register Eligible Exam Immediately Prior to Testing: If the eligible Exam is taken at an ACADEMIC Certiport Authorized Testing Center, the exam delivery tool will prompt the student to register his/her score into the Championship immediately prior to taking the exam. If the candidate chooses to submit his/her score to the Championship, the results of that exam will be automatically entered into the Championship.
2. Register Eligible Exam(s) Following Testing: Students may also register any eligible Exam(s) after taking the exam(s) by logging onto their Candidate Home Page at www.certiport.com, clicking on the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship link, and following the registration instructions. Eligible Exams registered using this tool must be registered between the dates of 15 September 2014 – 19 April 2015 in order to qualify for the 2015 Championship.

Each Exam score registered for the Championship during the official date range period (the Qualification Round ends 19 April 2015) receives one entry into the Championship. Standard test-taking terms and conditions apply. There is no limit to the number of times a student may sit for any particular eligible exam as long as he/she is not in violation of the Microsoft Office Specialist exam retake policy. Students who fail to abide by the Microsoft Office Specialist exam retake policy will be immediately disqualified from the Championship. Certiport retains the right to disqualify students for appropriate cause.

During the Qualification Round, a student can participate in MULTIPLE Exam tracks. For example, they can submit an Excel 2010 and Excel 2013 Exam. However, if they are invited to compete in the India Championship event, they can only compete in the ONE Exam track they were invited to compete in.

India Championship Event

From eligible students who participated in the Qualification Round, top students from around India will be invited to compete in the India Championship event from 22 – 23 May in New Delhi, India. Certiport reserves the right to include additional criteria in shortlisting the candidates. During the India Championship event, the top student in each of the six (6) exam tracks will be named the Indian Champion for his or her category.

During the 2015 MOS India Championship event, all students will take a unique competition exam in their track.  During this exam, students will be given a printed copy of a document, spreadsheet, or presentation to recreate.  Students will be given printed instructions and guidelines and digital assets to assist in the recreation.  Students will be scored according to the accuracy of their recreation, when compared to the original.  This method is also used during the World Championship.

Certiport will award the six (6) First Place India Champions, one per track, with an invitation to compete in Certiport's 2015 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship from 9 – 12 August 2015 in Dallas, Texas, USA. Travel expenses for each India Champion will be paid by each student's respective sponsoring Certiport Authorized Partner, or the organization who invited them to the India Championship event. Travel expenses will be paid from New Delhi, India to Dallas, Texas, USA. Each India Champion will be responsible for their travel expenses getting from their home town to New Delhi, India.

India Champions must obtain a passport and travel VISA by 10 July 2015 in order to be able to travel to the USA. Receipt of the expenses–paid travel award and participation in the World Championship event is contingent on student's ability to obtain a travel VISA. If a winning student is unable to obtain a travel VISA, Certiport reserves the right to transfer the award to another competitor at their discretion. India Championship participants are advised to have a valid passport to reduce delays in VISA processing.

World Championship Event – World Champion Selection

The six (6) India Champions will be invited to compete in Certiport's 2015 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship to compete to become:

• 2015 Worldwide Champion for Microsoft Office on Word (2010 or 2013)
• 2015 Worldwide Champion for Microsoft Office on Excel (2010 or 2013)
• 2015 Worldwide Champion for Microsoft Office on PowerPoint (2010 or 2013)

All India Champions will be responsible for preparing themselves to compete on Microsoft Office software suite version 2010 OR 2013 at the 2015 World Championship Event.

No substitution/transfer/assignment of prize by any winner is permitted. Reporting and payment of all federal/state/local or other taxes are responsibility of each winner. All federal/state/local laws apply.

All materials submitted become the sole property of Certiport, Inc. and will not be returned. False and/or deceptive entries or similar acts shall render entrants ineligible to continue to participate or win the Championship.

Except where prohibited, and at the sole discretion of Certiport, student participation in the Championship constitutes entrant's consent to publication of his/her name, Exam score(s), and city/state/country location on the Championship website and other Championship publicity without limitation or compensation. Potential winners may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Release of Liability/Prize Acceptance Form within 10 days of attempted notification. Noncompliance may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Acceptance of any prize constitutes permission for Certiport, Inc. and/or their agencies to use winner's name/likeness/visage, Exam score(s), and city/state/country location for purposes of advertising and promotion without further compensation, unless, but only to the extent, prohibited by law.

Regional/Country Champions must be available to travel to and attend the 2015 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship on 9 – 12 August 2015 in Dallas, Texas, USA. All travelers must execute a Release of Liability prior to ticketing and must possess required travel documents (e.g. valid photo I.D., passport, visa, etc.) prior to trip.

Certiport, Inc. is not responsible for incomplete/lost/late/damaged/illegible/misdirected entries or incomplete telephone calls, faulty transmissions, recordings, malfunctions, for technical/hardware/software failures, lost/unavailable network connections, delivery failure or delay, or failed/incomplete/garbled/delayed/faulty computer transmission. Certiport, Inc. reserves the right to cancel/modify the Championship or disqualify entrant if fraud/misconduct/technical failures destroy the integrity of Championship as determined solely by Certiport, Inc. Any attempt by an individual to deliberately damage the website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Championship is a violation of criminal/civil laws and should such attempt be made, Certiport, Inc. reserves the right to seek damages from any such individual to the fullest extent of the law.

Winners agree to hold Certiport, Inc., and its respective directors/officers/employees/assigns/agents/independent contractors/affiliates/subsidiaries, harmless against any and all claims/liability/demands/actions or causes of action/costs/expenses/attorneys' fees arising out of participation in the Championship and/or acceptance and use of prize. Winners assume all liability for any injury/damage/loss caused/claimed to be caused, by participation in or acceptance and use of prize. Certiport, Inc. is not responsible for any typographical or other error in printing of offer/administration of Championship/announcement of prizes or for liability for damage to any computer system resulting from participation in accessing or downloading information in connection with this Championship.