A successful Rube Goldberg machine -- one that is competitive in Rube Goldberg machine contests -- combines a number of objective and subjective qualities that fulfill tasks, follow rules and impress judges. Here is a list of the qualities that scored favorably at the first Argonne Rube Goldberg Machine Contest for High Schools.
 | The machine works. When it starts, it runs all the way through to completion with no human intervention and completes the required task. |
| It has a unifying theme. Examples of good themes include the Wizard of Oz, Star Trek, food, farm equipment, gardening, outer space, and politics. (Science themes are especially impressive to judges at Argonne's contest, since they tend to have science backgrounds, but other themes have created favorable impressions, too.) The number of possible themes is limited only by your imagination. |
| No team is penalized for having electrically powered steps, but mechanical steps are more in the spirit of Rube Goldberg's machines and tend to impress judges more. |
| It has clearly visible steps. On many machines, it's hard to follow all the steps. Judges appreciate machines that are laid out so that as many of the steps as possible are clearly visible in sequence. |
| Keep the oral description of your machine simple, clear and crisp. Skits and other elaborate presentations tend to take too much time and to distract rather than entertain. |
| Don't use flammable or other dangerous chemicals. This violates the rules. When the judges sit down to determine the winners, your machine will not be considered. |
