# Jeopardy Try-Out--How Do I Prepare? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 3, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715 "2005-06-03T14:05:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/1 "2005-06-03T14:05:50Z")
Last night, I got a phone call to schedule my try-out for _Jeopardy!_ I naturally called everyone I knew immediately after getting off the phone. But now I’m wondering … what do I do? How do I get ready for this? Mom suggested a nightly Trivial Pursuit game with my friends–but none of them will play with me anymore. ☹ I know we’ve got a couple former contestants around here ( **5-Time-Champ** , I’m looking at you 🙂 ), so how do I get ready, other than hoping that the categories are _Star Wars_, Comic Books, 80’s Movies, and Serial Killers? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/2 "2005-06-03T14:13:40Z")
I doubt there’s any way to specifically study. You might have to go in cold. Watch Jeopardy and get a feel for the questions. Notice how some of them have a giveaway - a little phrase in addition to the main question that gives a clue to the answer. Get a feel for these. The test does not require phrasing in the form of a question. The questions will be tough - 1600-2000 dollar level ones from the game. If you pass this, you will have to play a mock game for screeners. This is the real test. Dress nicely, as if you’d be on TV, and act like someone people want to see in their family room. Good luck. Mr. Moto (2nd place contestant in 2000) ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/3 "2005-06-03T14:31:05Z")
My brother **jackelope** did the jeopardy tryout thing, I’ll point him to the thread in case he has any advice. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/4 "2005-06-03T14:39:46Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > Watch Jeopardy and get a feel for the questions. Notice how some of them have a giveaway - a little phrase in addition to the main question that gives a clue to the answer. Get a feel for these. Got that down. 🙂 > [@](#): > > The test does not require phrasing in the form of a question. The questions will be tough - 1600-2000 dollar level ones from the game. That’s good to know, thanks. > [@](#): > > If you pass this, you will have to play a mock game for screeners. This is the real test. Dress nicely, as if you’d be on TV, and act like someone people want to see in their family room. That’s what the “here’s what you do” e-mail they sent me says. I think people like having me in their living room, so I think I can handle that. Thanks a lot! ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/5 "2005-06-03T14:44:07Z")
I passed the tryouts and was called to go on the show, but I had to go on a business trip that week. :mad: The tried-and-true “jackelope method” involves going out and getting superlatively drunk the night before. YMMV. Seriously, you can’t study for it; you might go brush up on the 19th-century presidents or browse an opera-themed Web site or something, but that’s about it. As they told us at the tryouts, “Doing well on the show is entirely a matter of luck; it’s all about getting categories that you happen to be good at.” ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/6 "2005-06-03T14:46:18Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > I passed the tryouts and was called to go on the show, but I had to go on a business trip that week. :mad: The tried-and-true “jackelope method” involves going out and getting superlatively drunk the night before. YMMV. I’m going in at 9 on a Monday morning, and my old college roommate is scheduled to visit the weekend prior. I think I’ll have that method down, too! ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/7 "2005-06-03T14:53:59Z")
It must be game show season, 'cause **HeyHomie** is asking a similar question about ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire.’ My prep involved re-reading E.D. Hirsch’s _The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy_. That’s the big “test” prep I did, as I agree with **jackelope** - if you don’t know it now chances are slim that you will know it well enough to recall with the studio lights, etc. bearing down on you… I’m actually about to start a thread, on **HeyHomie’s** suggestion - “Ask the Game Show Winner!” ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/8 "2005-06-03T15:13:26Z")
I would memorize the state capitals. This seems to come up in a lot of questions. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/9 "2005-06-03T15:23:19Z")
Wow, congrats on getting the tryout! You lucky so-and-so. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/10 "2005-06-03T15:57:59Z")
I’d probably skim through a current Farmer’s Alamanac. They always seem to contain a ton of trivial info on a lot of topics. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/11 "2005-06-03T16:00:56Z")
Here’s a piece of advice I wish someone had given me – prepare your little stories in advance. Y’know how at the commercial break Alex comes and chats with the contestants, who always have something interesting to say? Well, they ask you to provide the germ of those stories at the try-outs. (IIRC it’s while they’re grading the tests.) There’s a little one-page form with your name and stuff and space for 2-3 sentences about 5 stories each. I hadn’t really thought about it beforehand and managed to get down only 1 or 2 stories. Even though I passed the quiz and I think I’m reaosonably charming, I didn’t get a call. I think it’s not unlikely that my inability to come up with anything interesting about myself was partly to blame. So think about your 5 stories in advance. Then all you have to worry about is passing the test. Also, learn to write fast. The test goes really quick. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/12 "2005-06-03T17:59:25Z")
**Cliffy** , when they called me to be on the show, I asked about the “stories,” and the guy said that when you go to LA you fill all that stuff out again. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/13 "2005-06-03T18:38:39Z")
I wish I could have asked the contestant coordinators what it was about me that made them think I should be on the show. Aside from answering enough of the test questions correctly, I guess just be personable and not too enthusiastic (you’re not trying out for “The Price is Right” 🙂 ). Unfortunately, there’s no way to really practice buzzer technique at home, which is one thing they might be watching for at the audition, but they’re really nice, patient people, so have fun! And good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/14 "2005-06-03T18:41:48Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > I guess just be personable and not too enthusiastic (you’re not trying out for “The Price is Right” 🙂 ). My friends and family have all been informed that should I make it onto the show, they are to _kill me_ if they see me clap for myself. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/15 "2005-06-03T18:57:03Z")
Memorize the list of American presidents, years they were in office, and as many of their VPs as possible. Many times, history questions that look hard can be easily figured out if you know the “presidential matrix,” because they either give a presidential clue or the question seems to be very difficult turns out to actually be about the person who was president at the time. Likewise, memorize world captials, state captials, and capitals of Canadian providences, the kings of England (and, to a lesser extent France), and as many popes as you can cram in your head. A working knowledge of world geography (knowing what continent each country is on, the names of oceans, seas, major straits and bays, large rivers, deserts, etc.) will also get you a few of questions per game. Just watching the show a lot will help you get a sense for what kind of questions they ask and the structure of the clues. ---
**Author:** ![Zahava424](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/76d3ee/32.png) [@Zahava424](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zahava424)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/16 "2005-06-03T19:28:57Z")
Does anyone know how they select who gets a call? As a lark, I filled out the website’s form to be on the Teen edition, but I assumed the drawing was fairly random from there, or passibly based on the demographics they wasnted on the show. Obviously, from tryouts on, it would no longer be random, but it there some special way to ensure you’ll get a call? ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/17 "2005-06-03T21:32:38Z")
I think you should read every single post on this board. There are several million, so you better get started. Well, I suppose you could stick to GQ, GD, and Cafe Society, which would reduce your load to, uh, a couple million posts. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/18 "2005-06-03T22:24:55Z")
I’ve passed the written test twice, but have not yet gotten “the call”. Shakespeare, the presidents, states and capitals. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Treviathan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@Treviathan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treviathan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/19 "2005-06-03T22:40:57Z")
Good luck! I wrote (and passed) the test a few weeks ago when they were doing tryouts in Toronto. Not only did I go out and get drunk the night before the test (what are they thinking, holding it on a Saturday morning?) but **then** caught a bus at 3:30 AM from London, Ontario. So I was (a) hungover, (b) half-asleep, and (c) ultranervous. And somehow I was one of the seven who made it through. I’ll echo all of the sentiments about knowing presidents, first ladies, capitals, bodies of water, etc. It might also help to peruse a list of past Oscar winners (and, to a lesser extent, Grammy winners). The best part is that, no matter how poorly you do, you still get to take home the little Jeopardy! clickpen that you wrote the test with. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715/20 "2005-06-04T00:11:15Z")
Former _Jeopardy!_ champion here. Study the U.S. presidents, the table of elements, the state capitals, world capitals, news events of last year. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-try-out-how-do-i-prepare/306715.md?page=2)