1. Introduction to the BPA Business Competition
The BPA Business All-Round Challenge holds official accreditation from the U.S. Department of Education (USED) and the Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO); furthermore, it is endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and stands as a leading global academic competition in business studies for secondary school students.
In China, BPA has been active for less than three years. Consequently, for domestic high school students, it remains a relatively unfamiliar competition. However, this also implies that the current probability of winning in BPA is significantly higher than that of participating in competitions such as FBLA or WGHS. According to statistical data, the current success rate in the preliminary rounds of BPA China reaches as high as 60%, while the advancement rate to the global finals exceeds 25%.
The SKT-CBPA Future Business Leaders Workshop (SKT-China Business Professional Alliance)—formerly known as SKT-BPA—has now been upgraded into a more influential and comprehensive practical study program focused on all-around business proficiency.
2. Schedule
The CBPA competition consists of three stages: the Preliminary Round, the Regional Round (China), and the Global Round. The detailed schedule for each stage is as follows:
▶ CBPA Registration Period: July 25 – December 14, 2025
▶ Preliminary Round:
1. Practical Track: Video submissions due by 2:00 PM on December 20.
2. Academic Track: Examination held on December 27.
* Within each region, the top 20% of teams in each track will automatically advance to the "CBPA 2026 Regional Round (China)."
* For teams that do not automatically advance, the top 20% of teams nationwide (based on overall rankings) will qualify to advance to the "CBPA 2026 Regional Round (China)."
▶ Regional Round (China):
Dates: February 27 – March 1, 2026
Location: Changsha
2026 Season Schedule
▶ Global Station:
Nashville, USA: May 6–10, 2026
Asia: August 2026
3. Competition Process
4. CBPA Business Competition Categories
Participation is open to individuals or teams. Teams may be formed across different schools, grade levels, and regions, but not across different competition categories.
[Academic-Based Division]
Applicable Grades: 9–12
Participation Format: Individual
Target Audience: Students with a nascent interest in business who wish to acquire foundational business knowledge in a systematic manner, bridge the gap to university-level coursework, gain authoritative academic recognition, and—through exploration of various specialized business fields—identify their future academic and professional career paths at an early stage.
The Academic-Based Division features objective-style assessments based on two distinct tracks; students may select either of the following options:
① Marketing
Assessment of fundamental marketing knowledge.
Content covers: Brand Marketing, Advertising Media, E-commerce, etc.
② Business Management
Exploration and study of the operational dynamics of the business world.
Content covers: Human Resource Management, Corporate Financial Management, etc.
【Project-Based Division (Subjective)】
Division Overview: The Project-Based Division centers on a team-based business pitch assessment. Team members collaborate by assuming various business roles to analyze the thematic case study of the CBPA season. Their objective is to develop a comprehensive business proposal, ultimately presenting their research findings and analysis through a formal presentation.
Eligible Grades: Grades 6–12
ML: Grades 6–9 / S: Grades 9–12
Team Formation: Team participation (3–4 members per team)
*Note: The task difficulty in the ML Division is lower than that in the S Division.
Target Audience: Students with a strong interest in business studies who excel at teamwork, are eager to gain hands-on business experience, are open to exploring diverse life paths, and prioritize the development of fundamental, interdisciplinary competencies.
| Group | grade | Participation Methods | Assessment Content |
| Project-Based Division |
ML：G6-9 |
Team (3–4 people) |
We select business themes that closely align with current trends and resonate with students' daily lives. Official case studies—tailored to the annual theme—are released, requiring teams to formulate comprehensive business plans based on the provided content. The case-based framework incorporates practical tasks designed to immerse students in the authentic business world, offering a highly realistic simulation of real-world commercial environments. (Case studies to be released.) *Note: The difficulty level of tasks for the IMI category is lower than that for the S category. |
|
S：G9-12 |
|||
| Academic-Based Division |
G9-12 |
personal |
Choose one track: Marketing or Business Management. 【Marketing】 Assessment of fundamental marketing knowledge. Topics covered include: Brand Marketing, Advertising Media, E-commerce, etc. 【Business Management】 Exploration and study of the operating principles of the business world. Topics covered include: Human Resource Management, Corporate Financial Management, etc. |
5. CBPA Scoring Rules
[Objective Individual] Category
I. The Objective Individual category is divided into two assessment tracks: [Objective Individual – Marketing] and [Objective Individual – Business Management].
II. The assessment method for the Preliminary Round of the Objective Individual category consists of an online objective test. The allotted time for the exam is 60 minutes, comprising a total of 80 multiple-choice questions. Each correct answer is awarded 5 points; incorrect answers or unanswered questions receive neither points nor deductions. The maximum total score is 400 points.
III. Participating students are required to complete the 80 questions individually within the designated time frame; their final score will be recorded as their official result.
IV. The Organizing Committee will schedule two separate assessment sessions; participating students may select one of these sessions to attend based on their own personal schedules.
[Subjective Team] Category
I. The Subjective Team category will directly adopt the five major subject themes from the Global Round as the assessment topics for the National Preliminary Round. Each team must select one of these themes to participate.
II. Students participating in the Subjective Team category must submit a thematic presentation video—based on the selected theme and specific requirements—prior to the video submission deadline.
[Business+] Category
I. (For students interested in Information Technology or Art & Design) Detailed information regarding the Global Station subject tracks will be provided directly. Based on the specific requirements of each subject, participants may choose to compete either individually or as a team (comprising 3–4 members). Students wishing to participate in the "Business+" track must submit a formal application for the Global Station Summit subjects prior to the designated deadline; this application must include relevant academic transcripts, details of extracurricular activities, records of awards and challenges, a portfolio of creative works, and other pertinent materials.
II. Students participating in the "Business+" track are required to submit their applications by the specified deadline for the "Business+" subject track. Admissions will be processed on a rolling basis—accepted applicants will be confirmed as their applications are reviewed—and will continue until all available spots are filled (allocated on a first-come, first-served basis).
6. CBPA Advancement Rules
① Direct Advancement
Based on the overall score rankings within each region, the top 20% of individuals or teams in each category will directly advance to the CBPA China Station Study Phase. The actual number of advancing individuals/teams will be determined based on the actual number of participants/teams in that specific year.
② Second-Round Advancement
For individuals or teams that did not qualify for direct advancement, a nationwide overall score ranking will be conducted; the top 20% of these teams will then advance to the China Station. The number of individuals/teams advancing in this second round shall not exceed the number of individuals/teams that qualified through direct advancement.
7. CBPA Award Categories
▶ Official Certificate of Participation
Every student participating in the CBPA through SKT will receive an official CBPA Certificate of Participation; students demonstrating outstanding performance may receive a CBPA Certificate of Honor for Academic Excellence in Business.
▶ National Overall Awards
Scores from all divisions across the Chinese preliminary stations will be ranked. Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards will be allocated based on the proportional distribution of participating students, and corresponding award certificates will be issued.
▶ Regional Excellence Awards
Excluding those who have already received National Overall Awards, teams from the Chinese preliminary stations will be ranked by division and region. Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards will be allocated based on the proportional distribution of participating teams, and corresponding award certificates will be issued.
CBPA Assessment Content
Inspection Scope for the China Station
Junior High School Division (Grades 7–9)
Participation Format: Individual or Team (3 members)
Assessment Method: Objective-based Test
Evaluated Competencies: Focuses on a rapid overview of fundamental business knowledge, economics, and finance, as well as familiarity with business frameworks. Content covers relevant topics such as introductory economics, basic business law, introductory management, introductory finance, and introductory marketing. The objective-based test will encompass the aforementioned areas, providing a comprehensive assessment.
High School Division (Grades 10–12)
Participation Format: Individual
Assessment Method: Objective-based Test
Skills Assessed:
The objective-based assessment will be conducted across two major tracks; students may select *either* of the following subject tracks:
1. Marketing: Focuses on fundamental marketing principles, covering topics such as brand marketing, market segmentation, advertising media, e-commerce, and more.
2. Business Management: Covers topics including multinational business operations, human resource management, corporate financial management, management decision optimization, and more.
Participation Format: Teams (3 members)
Assessment Method: Subjective Evaluation (Submission of a Presentation Video)
Skills Assessed:
Five specific subject tracks from the Global Competition are offered as assessment themes for the Regional Qualifiers. Students may select any one of the following subjects:
1. Small Business Management
2. Economics Research
3. Presentation Management
4. Global Marketing
5. Financial Analysis
Students will demonstrate their information exchange and presentation skills—while simultaneously showcasing their comprehensive business knowledge—by presenting creative business proposals, formulating global marketing plans, developing business consulting solutions, devising financial strategies, or compiling economics research reports.
Participation Format: Individual or Team (3 members)
Assessment Method: "Business Plus" Application
Evaluated Competencies: Proficiency in business-related digital design (photography, animation, game design, web design, video editing, new media operations, etc.) or information technology (computer programming, etc.)—benchmarked against professional industry certifications such as the Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA). Students apply for corresponding subjects at the Global Station by submitting academic transcripts (in fields such as art or computer science), records of extracurricular activities, awards and certificates, and a portfolio of their work.
2026 CBPA China Leg Exclusive New Segment:
【Civic Hackathon】
For the 2026 China Leg, CBPA will collaborate with the host city to proudly launch an exclusive "City-Specific" segment: the 【Civic Hackathon】.
The local government—joined by influential local enterprises and cutting-edge tech firms acting as "Project Sponsors"—will invite young CBPA participants to formulate proposals addressing urban economic policies and corporate development challenges, thereby becoming "City Partners."
👉 Rapid Problem Deconstruction:
During this time-constrained challenge, "City Partners" are tasked with quickly structuring their approach, formulating hypotheses, identifying key pain points, and distilling their core insights—whether as a team or as individuals.
👉 Rapid Solution Prototyping:
"City Partners" are required to design strategic frameworks, validate their underlying logic, and swiftly devise actionable roadmaps that are feasible for implementation. The process culminates in the production of a digital creative proposal (formatted as a poster).
👉 Expert Mentorship & Critique:
Mentors will provide guidance throughout the entire process, offering timely methodological pointers to help transform raw ideas into concrete, implementable solutions.
👉 Urban Proposal Submission:
Ultimately, participants will deliver a proposal of true "City Advisor" caliber.
Exclusive Honors Channel:
Global War Assessment Criteria
Junior High Division (Grades 7–9)
Participation Format: Individual
Subject Area: Digital Design
Global Track Subject: Graphic Design Promotion
Participation Format: Individual
Subject Area: General Business
Global Track Subjects: Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship Exploration, Extemporaneous Speech, Presentation Management
Participation Format: Team (3 members)
Subject Area: General Business, Digital Design
Global Track Subjects: Prepared Speech, Introduction to Video Production
High School Division (Grades 10–12)
Participation Format: Individual
Subject Area: Information Technology
Global Track Subjects: Java Programming, SQL Database Fundamentals, Python Programming
Participation Format: Individual
Subject Area: Digital Design
Global Track Subjects: Graphic Design Promotion
Participation Format: Individual
Subject Area: General Business
Global Track Subjects: Fundamental Accounting, Banking & Finance, Human Resource Management, Entrepreneurship
Participation Format: Team
Subject Area: Digital Design
Global Track Subjects: Video Production, Computer Animation, Graphic Design Promotion
Participation Format: Team (3 Members)
Subject Area: General Business
Global Track Subjects: Financial Analyst, Economic Research, Small Business Management, Global Marketing
