A stock market competition is one of the most engaging ways to use the Simulator. Every student starts with the same portfolio balance, trades over a set window, and the highest portfolio value at the end wins. Here's how to set one up cleanly.
Step 1: Set an Equal Starting Balance
In your class's Stock Simulator Settings, set the Initial Trading Balance everyone will start with. The recommended amount is $100,000. Set this before anyone begins trading — once students start placing trades, the starting balance is locked and can't be changed.
Step 2: Define the Competition Window with Trading Dates
Use Trading Dates to set the start and end of your competition. Students can only execute trades between these dates, which keeps everyone on the same clock and prevents late entrants from trading after the finish line. A one-to-two week window works well for most classes.
Step 3: Optionally Restrict the Time of Day
If you want trading to happen only during class, add a Trading Window (for example, 11:00 AM–2:00 PM EST). Outside that window, orders wait as Active until trading reopens. Leave this off if you want students managing positions on their own time.
Step 4: Track Standings on the Leaderboard
As the competition runs, the Stock Market Simulator Leaderboard ranks students by portfolio value in real time. Project it in class to build excitement, and use the Portfolio Performance graph to review who took big swings versus steady gains.
Tips for a Fair, Educational Competition
Debrief the winners and the biggest losses — the goal is learning about risk, not just picking a champion.
Encourage diversification rules (e.g., "no more than 30% in one stock") to discourage all-or-nothing gambling.
Pair the competition with a written reflection where students justify their trades.
Related articles:
Stock Market Simulator 101
Buying & Selling: How Orders Work in the Stock Market Simulator
9.4 Stock Market Simulator Leaderboard