Science Olympiad (1 Viewer)

[Trebla]

OK, I just got nominated as part of a team of 4, to participate in the International Science Olympiad in chemistry. Has anyone ever done it before? What does it involve? I have a very vague idea of what the hell it is.

 

[velox]

u mean from ur school? or u actually in the team?

 

[nit]

I think Trebla means that he's been selected to write the Chemistry National Qualifying exam in October on the basis of decent results in the RACI National Chemistry Quiz?

In any case the National Qualifying exam is abt 2 hrs I think, consisting of 15 multiple choice questions + you must do 3 out of the 4 long answer questions in the paper. The syllabus for this exam is probably available at the science olympiads website - http://www.aso.edu.au/www/index.cfm
- just search around a little bit. The questions are of year 12/first year university level, but some of the long answers can be figured out on the basis of the information you're provided with. For the multis, however, you'll have to knoiw your stuff to do well. I recommend a general chemistry textbook such as Silberberg or Zumdahl each of which is called "Chemistry" I think. An organic chemistry book is also of good use as theres generally one organic chemistry question out of the long answer questions. Mcmurry's Organic Chemistry is useful for that.

So anyway, pass that stage - ie be in the top 20 in Australia or thereabouts - and you'll be invited to attend a summer training school in Canberra generally around 8-24 jan (16 days always). During that time you stay in college with 20 other chem achievers in Australia, along with physics and biology people at ANU. You get heaps of chemistry crammed into you here - 1st/2nd year kind of stuff and 5 hour practicals.

At the conclusion of this camp, you have a 5 hr lab exam and this, in conjunction with the 2 x 3hr theory papers in March are used as a basis for selecting the team to represent Australia (consisting of 4 members) at the International Chemistry Olympiad event hosted in different countries on a yearly basis. The International competition takes place generally right about now. This year's is at Taiwan and it finishes in a few days' time. Anyway at the IChO (international chemistry olympiad), there is a 5 hr theory exam and a 5hr lab exam. Out of roughly 250 ccompetitors from 60-odd different countries, the top 25 get gold medals, then next 40 silver and the next 80 bronze, or something similar. And that selection process happens each year.

 

[Dreamerish*~]

Congratulations! Good luck.

 

[xiao1985]

not be mention the unbearable heat during jan at anu ><

and the math~~~~~~~~~ ^^

 

[Trebla]

I'm confused, why is there already a 2005 Chemistry Team?

 

[Templar]

not be mention the unbearable heat during jan at anu ><

and the math~~~~~~~~~ ^^

That's only NMSS, and the maths wasn't really hard. But on Canberra heat, yeah, they're not designed for hot summers (which they have been getting for the past 2 years at least).

I'm confused, why is there already a 2005 Chemistry Team?

Because the IChO is on already. Teams for olympiads are usually selected around March/April.

 

[Trebla]

u mean from ur school? or u actually in the team?

I got selected by my school teacher. I think I am currently coming third in Chemistry at school. I had a laugh at the person coming 4th, because everyone had a sneak peak at the list and the person below me had a comment next to it saying that his prac record was not as good as mine lol! That is sooo true, even he laughed at himself because he really was a total bludger. He only got in because of his good marks in the half yearly.

I think Trebla means that he's been selected to write the Chemistry National Qualifying exam in October on the basis of decent results in the RACI National Chemistry Quiz?

In any case the National Qualifying exam is abt 2 hrs I think, consisting of 15 multiple choice questions + you must do 3 out of the 4 long answer questions in the paper. The syllabus for this exam is probably available at the science olympiads website - http://www.aso.edu.au/www/index.cfm
- just search around a little bit. The questions are of year 12/first year university level, but some of the long answers can be figured out on the basis of the information you're provided with. For the multis, however, you'll have to knoiw your stuff to do well. I recommend a general chemistry textbook such as Silberberg or Zumdahl each of which is called "Chemistry" I think. An organic chemistry book is also of good use as theres generally one organic chemistry question out of the long answer questions. Mcmurry's Organic Chemistry is useful for that.

So anyway, pass that stage - ie be in the top 20 in Australia or thereabouts - and you'll be invited to attend a summer training school in Canberra generally around 8-24 jan (16 days always). During that time you stay in college with 20 other chem achievers in Australia, along with physics and biology people at ANU. You get heaps of chemistry crammed into you here - 1st/2nd year kind of stuff and 5 hour practicals.

At the conclusion of this camp, you have a 5 hr lab exam and this, in conjunction with the 2 x 3hr theory papers in March are used as a basis for selecting the team to represent Australia (consisting of 4 members) at the International Chemistry Olympiad event hosted in different countries on a yearly basis. The International competition takes place generally right about now. This year's is at Taiwan and it finishes in a few days' time. Anyway at the IChO (international chemistry olympiad), there is a 5 hr theory exam and a 5hr lab exam. Out of roughly 250 ccompetitors from 60-odd different countries, the top 25 get gold medals, then next 40 silver and the next 80 bronze, or something similar. And that selection process happens each year.

Thanks a lot! I did not cop that very well. I've had a look at the past papers and I probably won't make it past the National Qualifying Examinations.
I also saw something in the site about doing well in the Royal Australian Chemical Institute National Chemistry Quiz and being able to qualify. LOL! I got credit for that last year because I forgot to bring my calculator!LOL!
Do I get a certificate of participation anyway? That would probably stand out on my resume lol!
By the way, I've noticed that there's someone from James Ruse in every team....

 

[milton]

Out of roughly 250 ccompetitors from 60-odd different countries, the top 25 get gold medals, then next 40 silver and the next 80 bronze, or something similar. And that selection process happens each year.

someone correct me if i'm wrong, but i think for all the olympiads (for maths i'm certain); the top 1/12th get gold, next 1/12th get silver, next 1/12th get bronze i.e. about of all participatns 1/4 get medals

so its not really about the marks u get its more about the rankings

 

[Templar]

In maths, the rule is that no more than half the contestants can get medals. In this, no more than 1/6 can obtain gold and no more than 1/2 can obtain gold or silver.

Which is why if someone miss by one mark, they might not necessarily get a higher award by gaining an extra mark, and can stuff other people up as well.