Scholarship Merit Badge

Free Resources and Answers

Time: 2–4 weeks
Difficulty: Easy, Moderate
Setting: School, home
Best For: Scouts interested in learning, school success, goal setting
Hands-On Level: Low, Moderate
Eagle Required: No

The Scholarship merit badge helps you take your education seriously and grow as a student. As you work on this badge, you think about your goals and what you want to achieve in school. You show that learning matters to you and that you are willing to put in the effort to improve.

You will practice skills that help you succeed every day. You learn how to manage your time, stay organized, and keep yourself motivated. These habits make school easier to handle now and prepare you for the future, whether that is college or a career.

This badge also encourages you to be active in your school and community. You see how your education connects to other parts of your life. As you stay involved and focused, you build strong habits that will help you for many years.

Download the Scholarship Merit Badge Requirements

Scholarship Merit Badge Pamphlet

Scholarship Merit Badge Check Off Sheet

Checklist for All Merit Badges

Help with Answers for Scholarship Merit Badge Requirements

Find specific helps for some of the Scholarship merit badge requirements listed below. Some of these resources will just give the answers. Others will provide engaging ways for older Scouts to introduce these concepts to new Scouts.

• Requirement 1: Grades
• Requirement 2: Topics
• Requirement 3: Note
• Requirement 4: Teamwork
• Requirement 5: Report
• More Resources

Requirement 1a: B Average

What You Need To Do
Show that your grades were a B average or higher for one full term or semester. This means your overall average is 80% or higher.

Helpful Tips

• Keep a copy of your report card.
• Check each class grade and write them down.
• Ask a parent or teacher to help you find your average.
• Use a simple calculator to add and divide your grades.
• Talk to your counselor if you are not sure what counts.
• Stay organized so you can show your records easily.
• Make sure the term you choose is complete.

Resources

• How to Do Better in School (video)

Leader Tips

• Help Scouts understand how to calculate an average.
• Encourage them to bring official school records.
• Guide them to ask for help if they are unsure.
• Focus on learning, not just the number.

Requirement 1b: Grade Improvement

What You Need To Do
Show that your grades improved from one term or semester to the next. You need to compare two grading periods and show clear progress.

Helpful Tips

• Find report cards from two different terms.
• Write down the grades from each term side by side.
• Look for higher grades in most classes.
• Ask a teacher to help explain your progress.
• Be ready to explain what you did to improve.
• Keep notes about better study habits or effort.
• Show that you kept working even if progress was slow.

Resources

• How to Study (video)

Leader Tips

• Help Scouts compare grades in a simple way.
• Encourage them to talk about what changed.
• Focus on effort and growth, not perfection.
• Support Scouts who are still working to improve.

Requirement 2a: Educational Places

What You Need To Do
Make a list of educational places in your area. Visit one place and explain how you used it to learn something new.

Helpful Tips

• Start by listing places like libraries, museums, or nature centers.
• Pick a place that interests you.
• Ask a parent to help plan your visit.
• Take notes while you are there.
• Look for something new you did not know before.
• Ask staff questions if possible.
• Write a short report about what you learned.

Resources

• Why Do We Have Museums (video)

Leader Tips

• Encourage Scouts to choose a place they can access easily.
• Help them focus on what they learned, not just what they saw.
• Guide them to make simple observations.
• Ask follow-up questions during their report.

Requirement 2b: Career Interviews

What You Need To Do
Interview two professionals about their education and training. Share what you learned with your counselor.

Helpful Tips

• Choose adults with different careers.
• Get approval before setting up interviews.
• Prepare your questions ahead of time.
• Ask about school, training, and job skills.
• Take notes during each interview.
• Ask how they keep learning today.
• Practice explaining what you learned.

Resources

• How to Have a Great Coffee Chat (video)

Leader Tips

• Help Scouts find appropriate people to interview.
• Encourage clear and simple questions.
• Guide them to listen carefully and take notes.
• Focus on connecting education to careers.

Requirement 2c: Daily Planner

What You Need To Do
Show how you use a daily planner to track assignments and activities. Explain how you manage your time.

Helpful Tips

• Choose a planner that works for you.
• Write down all assignments and due dates.
• Include activities like sports and Scouts.
• Check your planner every day.
• Mark tasks when you complete them.
• Plan ahead for busy days.
• Explain how you decide what to do first.

Resources

• How to Use Your Planner: Time-Management Tricks for Better Grades (video)
• My Daily Planner (video)

Leader Tips

• Encourage regular use of the planner.
• Help Scouts keep entries simple and clear.
• Ask how they set priorities.
• Support good habits over time.

Requirement 2d: Research Methods

What You Need To Do
Discuss the pros and cons of different research methods. Include the library, books, and the Internet.

Helpful Tips

• Think about when you used each method.
• List one good and one bad point for each.
• Use examples from school assignments.
• Ask a librarian for advice if needed.
• Check if online sources are reliable.
• Compare how fast each method is.
• Explain which method you prefer and why.

Resources

• The Internet vs the Library (video)
• How to Use AI in School Without Cheating (Video)

Leader Tips

• Guide Scouts to think about real examples.
• Encourage simple comparisons.
• Ask how they check for reliable sources.
• Keep the discussion practical and clear.

Requirement 3: School Note

What You Need To Do
Get a note from your principal or another approved school official. The note must say your behavior, leadership, and service have been satisfactory over the past year.

Helpful Tips

• Ask your principal or counselor in person if possible.
• Explain that this is for a merit badge requirement.
• Give them time to write the note.
• Offer to provide a short summary of your activities.
• Make sure the note includes behavior, leadership, and service.
• Check that it covers the past year.
• Keep the note in a safe place for your counselor.

Leader Tips

• Help Scouts know who can write the note.
• Encourage them to ask politely and clearly.
• Remind them to allow enough time.
• Focus on helping them reflect on their growth.

Requirement 4a: Extracurricular Activity

What You Need To Do
Show that you took part in a school extracurricular activity. Talk with your counselor about what you learned and why teamwork matters.

Helpful Tips

• Choose an activity like sports, band, or a club.
• Be ready to explain what you did in the activity.
• Think about how the group worked together.
• Give examples of teamwork you saw or practiced.
• Explain one skill you learned from the activity.
• Talk about how you helped the group.
• Be honest about what went well and what was hard.

Resources

• What Extracurriculars Should You Do? (video)

Leader Tips

• Help Scouts connect their activity to teamwork.
• Ask for simple, clear examples.
• Encourage reflection on both success and challenges.
• Keep the focus on learning, not performance.

Requirement 4b: Team Project

What You Need To Do
Discuss a school project where you worked as part of a team. Explain your contributions and how the team worked together.

Helpful Tips

• Pick a project you worked on with classmates.
• Describe the goal of the project.
• List the tasks you completed.
• Explain how you helped others on the team.
• Share one idea you contributed.
• Talk about how the team solved problems.
• Explain what you learned about working with others.

Resources

• How to Be a Great Team Player (video)
• How to Be a Team Player To Succeed (video)

Leader Tips

• Guide Scouts to describe their role clearly.
• Encourage them to focus on their contributions.
• Ask how the team handled challenges.
• Support simple and honest reflection.

Requirement 5a: Value Of Education

What You Need To Do
Write a report of 250 to 300 words about how your education will help you in the future. Include how you will continue learning after school.

Helpful Tips

• Start with a simple introduction about why school matters.
• Include basic skills like reading, writing, and math.
• Mention one or two subjects you enjoy.
• Explain how school helps you prepare for the future.
• Write about skills like time management and teamwork.
• Give examples of how you will keep learning later.
• End with a short conclusion that ties your ideas together.

Resources

• Personal Narrative (video)

Leader Tips

• Encourage clear and simple writing.
• Help Scouts stay within the word range.
• Ask them to give real examples.
• Focus on reflection, not perfect grammar.

Requirement 5b: Career Goals

What You Need To Do
Write a report of 250 to 300 words about two careers that interest you. Explain how school and good study habits will help you reach those goals.

Helpful Tips

• Choose two careers you want to learn about.
• Describe what each job involves.
• List classes that relate to each career.
• Explain how doing well in school helps you prepare.
• Include skills you need for each job.
• Think about training or education after high school.
• Finish with how you plan to work toward these goals.

Resources

• Informative Writing (video)

Leader Tips

• Help Scouts pick realistic career ideas.
• Encourage them to connect school subjects to careers.
• Guide them to give specific examples.
• Keep the focus on planning and effort.

More Merit Badge Resources

The Scholarship merit badge helps Scouts understand the value of good study habits and steady effort in school. It fits well in the merit badge program because it teaches goal setting, responsibility, and personal growth. Scouts look at their grades, plan improvements, and learn how to balance school with other activities. This adds an academic focus to the wide range of merit badges.

This badge also connects to others that support learning and organization. A Scout who enjoys Scholarship might also try Personal Management, Reading, or Family Life. These badges help Scouts build skills that support success at home and in school. The variety lets them explore many interests.

Learn More about Scouts BSA

The Scholarship merit badge supports the larger Scouts BSA program by teaching discipline, planning, and clear thinking. Scouts learn how to manage time and stay on track. These habits strengthen leadership and personal development.

It also supports citizenship. Scouts see how education shapes their future and helps them serve others. They learn that steady effort benefits their troop, school, and community.

What is the Scholarship merit badge?

The Scholarship merit badge is an award you earn by focusing on your schoolwork, learning how education connects to your future, and improving skills like organization, teamwork, and research.

What do I need to do to earn the Scholarship merit badge?

You will complete several activities related to your education. These include showing good grades or improvement, visiting an educational place, interviewing professionals, using a daily planner, discussing teamwork, and writing a report about education or careers. Specific requirements give you choices, so you can focus on what fits your interests and strengths.

Do I need to have perfect grades to earn the Scholarship merit badge?

No, you don’t need perfect grades. You can either show that your grades are a B average (80%) or higher for one term, or you can show improvement in your grades compared to a previous term. This requirement focuses on effort and progress.

What kinds of educational places can I visit for the Scholarship merit badge?

You can visit places like libraries, museums, nature centers, historical sites, or community centers. The goal is to learn something new outside of school and share what you discovered with your counselor.

What should I ask when interviewing professionals for the Scholarship merit badge?

Ask about their education, training, and how it prepared them for their career. Find out how they continue to educate themselves to stay successful. This will help you understand how learning connects to real-life jobs.

Why do I need to use a daily planner for the Scholarship merit badge?

Using a daily planner shows how you organize assignments and activities. It helps you manage your time and develop good habits that are useful in school, Scouts, and life.

How do I write a report for the Scholarship merit badge?

Choose the topic—either the value of education or two careers that interest you. Keep your report between 250 and 300 words. Explain how education helps you now and in the future, or how classes and skills connect to the careers you’ve chosen.

Why do I need a note from my school principal or parent?

The note shows that your behavior, leadership, and service have been satisfactory during the past year. It’s a way to demonstrate that you are responsible and set a good example.

Can I work on the Scholarship merit badge if I’m homeschooled?

Yes, if you are homeschooled, your parent or guardian can provide the note about your behavior and help with activities like visiting educational places or using a daily planner.

How does the Scholarship merit badge help me in the future?

This merit badge helps you develop habits like staying organized, setting goals, and working hard. It also shows how education connects to your future success in school, college, and careers. These are skills you’ll use for the rest of your life.

The Scholarship merit badge helps Scouts understand the value of education. It shows how school connects to real life and helps you prepare for the future. This badge is about more than just getting good grades—it’s about building skills like organization, teamwork, and goal setting.

To earn the Scholarship merit badge, you’ll complete activities that highlight your academic efforts. You might demonstrate good grades, track your assignments with a planner, or discuss how you’ve improved your schoolwork. You’ll also explore how learning happens outside of school by visiting educational places or interviewing professionals. These experiences show how education can open doors in many areas of life.

Another part of the Scholarship merit badge involves reflecting on teamwork and leadership. You might share your role in a school project or extracurricular activity and discuss how you contributed to the team’s success. This helps you see how cooperation and responsibility are important, both in school and beyond.

Finally, you’ll write about your education or explore careers that interest you. These tasks encourage you to think about how the skills and habits you develop now will help you achieve your goals. The Scholarship merit badge helps you take a closer look at your learning and inspires you to keep growing.