<P> The eligible age - range for contestants was fifteen to twenty - eight years old . The initial age limit was sixteen to twenty - four in the first three seasons, but the upper limit was raised to twenty - eight in season four, and the lower limit was reduced to fifteen in season ten . The contestants had to be legal U.S. residents, could not have advanced to particular stages of the competition in previous seasons, and must not have held a current recording or talent representation contract by the semi-final stage (in previous years by the audition stage). </P> <P> Contestants went through at least three sets of cuts . The first was a brief audition with a few other contestants in front of selectors which may include one of the show's producers . Although auditions can exceed 10,000 in each city, only a few hundred of these made it past the preliminary round of auditions . Successful contestants then sang in front of producers, where more may be cut . Only then can they proceed to audition in front of the judges, which is the only audition stage shown on television . Those selected by the judges are sent to Hollywood . Between 10--60 people in each city may make it to Hollywood . </P> <P> Once in Hollywood, the contestants performed individually or in groups in a series of rounds . Until season ten, there were usually three rounds of eliminations in Hollywood . In the first round the contestants emerged in groups but performed individually . For the next round, the contestants put themselves in small groups and performed a song together . In the final round, the contestants performed solo with a song of their choice a cappella or accompanied by a band‍--‌depending on the season . In seasons two and three, contestants were also asked to write original lyrics or melody in an additional round after the first round . In season seven, the group round was eliminated and contestants may, after a first solo performance and on judges approval, skip a second solo round and move directly to the final Hollywood round . In season twelve, the executive producers split up the females and males and chose the members to form the groups in the group round . </P> <P> In seasons ten and eleven, a further round was added in Las Vegas, where the contestants performed in groups based on a theme, followed by one final solo round to determine the semi-finalists . At the end of this stage of the competition, 24 to 36 contestants were selected to move on to the semi-final stage . In season twelve the Las Vegas round became a Sudden Death round, where the judges had to choose five guys and five girls each night (four nights) to make the top twenty . In season thirteen, the Las Vegas round was eliminated and a new round called "Hollywood or Home" was added, where if the judges were uncertain about some contestants, those contestants were required to perform soon after landing in Los Angeles, and those who failed to impress were sent back home before they reached Hollywood . In season fourteen, a Showcase round was added, where the contestants performed at a LA nightclub or auditorium for the judges and a live audience, and these performances determine who makes into the Top 24 . </P>

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