IAPLC 2014 New Judging Criteria (Non Official)

Since ADA have not publish the new criteria in English, I asked Karen Randall via facebook if she can share the new criteria.

Below are the new criteria:
50 points: recreation of a natural habitat for fish
10 points: long term maintenance of layout work
10 points: creator's technical skill
10 points: originality and impression of layout work
10 points: presentation of natural atmosphere in layout work
10 points: overall composition and planting balance

Edit 26 August 2014:
The official grading criteria is out http://en.iaplc.com/about/grading.html

Cut and Paste below:

The New IAPLC Judging Criteria effective from IAPLC2014

The IAPLC Steering Committee reviewed the judging criteria and revised them effective from IAPLC2014, which is considered to be a good timing since the contest received a record number of entries. We did so also for the reason of returning to the basics to rethink how planted aquarium should be.

For the parameters in the judging criteria, a focus is placed on “recreation of fish habitat” which is deeply associated with the origin of planted aquarium.

These new judging criteria do not limit the scope of layout expression of contestants. Their objective is to clearly define an essential feature of planted aquarium; recreating within a tank an environment conducive to fish survival.

Total Score (100 points)
* Each work is scored on “Recreation of natural habitat for fish” (50 points) and 5 other components (10 points each, total of 50 points).

① Recreation of natural habitat for fish (Maximum 50 points)
・Evaluation of layout work as healthy fish habitat
・Expression of underwater environment in layout work
・General condition of fish and aquatic plants in layout work
・Evaluation of layout work if corresponding type, size, physiology and ecology of fish

② Long-term maintenance of layout work (Maximum 10 points)
・Chance of maintaining the aquascape for a long period of time
・Screening of whether or not the expression shown in the layout photo is a temporary one which was produced only for photographing.

③ Creator’s technical skills (Maximum 10 points)
・Evaluation of comprehensive techniques in creating and maintaining layout work

④ Originality and impression of layout work (Maximum 10 points)
・Evaluation of creator’s originality and creativity
・Perfection and attractiveness of layout work

⑤ Presentation of natural atmosphere in layout work (Maximum 10 points)
・Expression of layout work concerning natural ecosystem
・Presentation of a sense of time’s passage
・Evaluation of creator’s interpretation of nature

⑥ Overall composition and planting balance (Maximum 10 points)
・Completeness of layout composition
・Evaluation of the balance of planting


[Disqualified Works]
- Same work as past years
Based on the contest rules and regulations, “It shall be unpublished work, created by the applicant him/herself, and photographed within a year”.

-Duplicate application
Based on the contest rules and regulations, “Only one work can be submitted by one person”.
As it was found to be duplicated, IAPLC steering committee contacted the applicant to confirm just one entry of work.

- Same work registered under several different applicant names (e.g. same photo, or same layout photographed from different angles)
Based on the contest rules and regulations, “It shall be unpublished work created by the applicant him/herself”. IAPLC steering committee contacted the applicant to confirm just one entry of work.

- Entry works which are hard to identify as planted aquarium.
Based on the contest rules and regulations, “A work which could hurt the dignity of this contest may be disqualified”.