CREST Awards Explained: A Complete Guide for UK Students

Slug: crest-awards-explained
Subtitle: What CREST Awards are, how they work, and whether they are worth doing for secondary school students in the UK.

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What Are CREST Awards?

The CREST Awards are a UK-based STEM programme that recognises students for completing independent science, technology, engineering, or maths (STEM) projects.

They are organised by the British Science Association and are widely used in UK schools.

Unlike many competitions, CREST is:

• project-based
• flexible in format
• focused on investigation and problem solving

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How CREST Awards Work

CREST is not a single competition. It is a framework of awards based on project work.

Students complete a STEM project and receive an award based on:

• level of difficulty
• time spent
• depth of investigation

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CREST Award Levels

There are four main levels:

Bronze

• typically around 10 hours of work
• suitable for early secondary school students
• often completed in small groups

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Silver

• around 30 hours
• requires more independent work
• involves planning and evaluation

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Gold

• around 70+ hours
• in-depth independent research project
• usually completed individually

👉 Gold is the most advanced and is often compared to extended project work.

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Discovery

• shorter, introductory level
• often completed in classrooms or workshops

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What Do Students Actually Do?

CREST projects can vary widely.

Examples include:

• designing an experiment
• investigating a scientific question
• building a prototype
• analysing data
• solving a real-world problem

There is no fixed topic list — students choose their own project.

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Assessment and Certification

Projects are assessed based on:

• planning and research
• problem-solving approach
• evaluation of results
• communication of findings

Students receive:

• a certificate
• official recognition from the British Science Association

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Is CREST a Competition?

Not in the traditional sense.

CREST is:

• not ranked
• not exam-based
• not limited to top scorers

👉 It is a participation-based award system, not a selective competition.

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Why Schools Use CREST

CREST is widely used because it:

• fits into school STEM programmes
• encourages independent learning
• supports project-based education
• is flexible across age groups

Many schools integrate CREST into:

• science clubs
• classroom projects
• enrichment activities

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Is CREST Useful for University Applications?

CREST is not a requirement for university applications.

However, it can be useful in specific ways.

It shows:

• independent research ability
• interest in STEM subjects
• ability to complete long-term projects

Especially relevant for:

• science
• engineering
• medicine-related interests

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How CREST Compares to Competitions

Feature	CREST Awards	Olympiad Competitions
Format	Project-based	Exam-based
Entry	Through school/project	Through school or centre
Selection	Open participation	Selective
Focus	Research & investigation	Problem solving

👉 CREST focuses on doing and exploring, not just solving problems.

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Who Should Do CREST?

CREST is most suitable for students who:

• enjoy hands-on science
• like project-based learning
• want to explore ideas in depth
• prefer research over exams

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Key Takeaways

• CREST Awards are project-based STEM awards, not traditional competitions
• Students complete independent projects to earn certification
• There are multiple levels from beginner to advanced
• CREST supports research, investigation, and real-world problem solving

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Explore More STEM Competitions

To explore STEM competitions and programmes across the UK and Ireland:

👉 https://competemap.com