Choose a CREST Award level
The first thing you need to do, when starting your CREST Award, is choose an award level. There are six CREST award levels: Star, Superstar, Discovery, Bronze, Silver and Gold.
The amount and complexity of the work needed to gain an award increases at each level. When choosing an award level, you should consider the age and ability of your students, and the time they have available to do their CREST Award.
Choose a project idea
Students need to pick a single project or series of challenges that will allow them to meet the criteria for their selected award level. These projects can be around any STEM topic or theme.
Star and Superstar: Students are required to complete eight activities to achieve a Star or Superstar Award. You can browse our collection of challenges in our
online resource library. Alternatively, you can use your own activities towards the Awards as long as they
meet the criteria.
Not sure whether your project meets the requirements for CREST? See FAQ 9.
Challenge ideas: Brilliant bubbles, Plant detectives, Slippery slidey shoes, tea bag troubles, Bumblebee mystery, disappearing dinosaurs, fascinating fingerprints and many more.
Discovery – Gold: When choosing a project idea, it is important that the project sets out to answer a question or solver a problem with an element of investigation and exploration. Students can choose any
type of project at any of the Award levels – it is the amount of time and complexity of the work undertaken that increases between Award levels.
Project title ideas: Can soggy crisps be made crispy again?, Can hamsters be trained to use a potty? Can you taste the taste of skittles when blindfolded? Can a potato tell the time? And many more.
There are plenty of fun, engaging and rewarding project ideas for all Award levels to choose from on
our online resource library, as well as useful support resources for students and teachers. Alternatively, you can choose your own project idea or activity towards a CREST award.
CREST projects generally fall under one of the following four project types: practical investigation, design & make, research and communication projects. They should also give students to opportunity to demonstrate all the
CREST criteria for their award level.
Not sure whether your project meets the requirements for CREST? See FAQ 9.
Sign up to the CREST awards online
Star and SuperStar: Once you have created your account, you will be able to create a project entry, add students, record your challenges and pay your entry fees. Please note that certificate delivery takes 2-4 weeks after receipt of payment for the UK. Delivery times for international orders may take longer.
Discovery and Bronze: Once you have created an account, you will be able to create projects, decide if you want personalised or un-personalised certificates, add student details, upload a sample of students’ work, record your assessment and pay the entry fees. Please note that certificate delivery takes 2-4 weeks after receipt of payment for the UK. Delivery times for international orders may take longer.
Silver and Gold: Once you have created an account, you will be able to create projects, add students, upload their work and pay the entry fees. Students’ projects are assessed by trained assessors with relevant STEM experience. Please note that projects will not be assigned to assessors until payment has been received and the assessment of CREST Silver/ Gold assessment takes on average 2-4 weeks. After the results are available, certificate delivery for successful applicants will take approximately 2-4 weeks. Delivery times for international orders may take longer.