Once submissions are in, you decide which ones move forward. This guide shows you how to qualify or disqualify submissions, one at a time or in bulk, and how to choose whether participants are told.
I. Make informed decisions
Before you change a submission's status, take a look at the data you have:
Evaluation scores: switch the Submissions view to Round Scores to see averages and rankings. See Reviewing Round Scores and Evaluations.
Public votes: check the round's Voting results, if voting is on.
Quiz or AI Screening results: use the quiz score (see Enabling Initial Filtration) or the AI Screening view.
Program health: the program's Analytics page flags qualification decisions that are still pending.
When to disqualify
Disqualify a submission when it doesn't fit the program or falls below your quality bar. Disqualified entries can't be assigned to evaluators, which keeps judging focused.
II. How to qualify or disqualify
Several submissions at once
Open the program and select the round.
Go to the Submissions tab.
If you need to, filter the list. For example, use + More filters, or Advanced to filter by form answers.
Tick the submissions.
Click the Qualify icon in the toolbar (or ⋯ More options → Qualify). For Disqualify or Pending, open ⋯ More options.
One submission
Open the ⋮ Actions menu at the end of the submission's row and choose the new status.
Change your mind
Choose Pending to send a submission back to undecided, or switch it to the other status.
III. Status labels
Qualified: meets your standards and can move to the next round.
Disqualified: won't continue in the program.
Pending: no final decision yet.
IV. Will participants be told?
Only if you choose. Two settings control this:
Round Messages tab → Qualified Notice / Disqualified Notice → Auto Send. When it's on, participants get an email as soon as their status changes. You can also Preview and Resend each message here.
Round Settings → Evaluation Settings → Reveal the submission status to participants. When it's on, participants see their status in their portal. For a single submission, use ⋮ Actions → Show Qualification Status.
Evaluators' comments have their own setting: Reveal evaluators feedback to participants in Evaluation Settings, or Show Evaluator Feedback / Hide Evaluator Feedback for each submission.
Tip: to decide quietly and announce later, keep both settings off while you make your decisions. Then turn them on, or send a bulk message.
Shortlist and message a group
In the Submissions tab, select the submissions and click Qualify.
Filter the list to show only qualified submissions (and a track, if you need to).
Select all and click the Send Message (envelope) icon.
Write your email. Use short codes to personalise it.
V. Automatic qualification
To qualify submissions automatically, see Qualification Settings in Configuring Submission and Evaluation Rounds Settings. AI Screening can also help you sort submissions against a threshold. See Screening Submissions with AI.
What's next?
With your submissions sorted, see how the program looks to your evaluators in Judges' Point of View.