2012 USABO Thread

<p>Hey Nightshade Queen.
I left out that I made USABO semis in 9th grade. I didn’t think open was crazy difficult but I felt that the semi-final exam was extremely hard with only Honors Biology knowledge last year. I definitely will try out again this year but it seems unlikely that I can make USABO finals in 10th grade. I definitely will try out again this year to get the format of the test and understand the difficulty. Taking the actual exam will be good practice. I just wondered if I put in an hour every day until the junior year USABO test, would I stand a good chance of making finals come junior year? Do you recommend any other books to prep from for finals?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>Hey all,</p>

<p>I´ve been out traveling in computer-deprived countries for the past two weeks, so it´s nice to be back.</p>

<p>And biofreak21, making semis in 9th grade isn´t bad at all. I don´t think USABO nationals has had a freshman in several years, so you´re doing very well if you´re already making semis by that time. It´s pretty normal to think that semis is crazy difficult in 9th grade. A lot can change in a year, so I´d say go with NSQ´s advice and study in sophomore year with the aim of going for Nationals. I never thought I´d make it in 10th grade, but here I am.</p>

<p>And in my opinion, if you can stick to a schedule of doing an hour a day of studying, each day every day, you´re already probably more disciplined than a lot of finalists. I can study for hours at a time but I basically do it only when I feel like it. I´m probably biased on this, but I feel that a gut feeling is better for understanding how much you need to know than any strict schedule.</p>

<p>And if you´re really looking for books to go over, NSQ has already given an exhaustive list of everything you´ve ever dreamed of needing ealier in this thread. Happy hunting.</p>

<p>Hello. I’m new to this site, and I’m planning on taking the olympiad this year. Does anyone have practice problems or old tests that they don’t mind sharing?</p>

<p>Hi everyone. Can anyone email me all of the old USABO open exams with answers as well as a Campbell’s testbank? I can only find a few of the opens online. PM me please and thanks for your help!</p>

<p>^I’d love that as well, but I know it’s a long shot.</p>

<p>Apparently, the old open exams are posted in the teacher’s section of the USABO webpage.</p>

<p>Do I have to ask my teacher to view those open exams, or is there a way to access the exams myself? Because I won’t be able to contact my teacher until school begins, which starts in a month, and I’m hoping to do practice tests right now. Also, can anyone please email me at least a Campbell’s test bank, please? I really want more practice questions to practice for the exam! Thanks everyone!</p>

<p>PM me please if you are willing to give either USABO open exams or a Campbell’s test bank. Thanks again!</p>

<p>Hello, I would also like some released exams. I only have the 2004, 2006, and 2009 (w/o answer key) open exams. Would anyone please send me some other open exams and/or some semifinal exams? PM me. Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>how many hours a day do finalists usually study and for how many months/years?</p>

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>Also, this is my first time taking the USABO and I just want to make semis for this year. I heard that to pass the open and make semis, all you have to do is be really familiar with just Campbells. Is this true? I’m using the 9th edition right now, and have been studying all summer. Also, is there any way to access any good practice questions for passing the open exam? Thanks everyone!</p>

<p>Making semis is very easy. If you read Campbells you should be very set.</p>

<p>What’s the best study method once you’ve made it to semis? Just read Campbell and Raven over and over again? Is it better to work on labs than to rote memorize info for semis?</p>

<p>^It’s not like semis has a practical portion, so if you just want to study for semis, then yes, keep reading Campbell + Raven.</p>

<p>K thx for the advice. But does anyone have any practice problems to do for opens. Like a Campbell’s test bank or past opens that they would be willing to email me? Please share and thanks in advance! Just PM me!!!</p>

<p>By the way, which Ravens book are we talking about? And for Campbell, the 9th edition AP version is okay right? Thanks guys!</p>

<p>Raven’s = Raven’s Plant Biology, unless otherwise noted.</p>

<p>Also, in case anyone is too lazy to read past entries in this thread, IBO has uploaded the great majority of its theoretical exams onto the website ([Exams</a>; International Biology Olympiad](<a href=“http://www.ibo-info.org/exams]Exams”>http://www.ibo-info.org/exams)). And if you want opens, go look on the internet. 2004 and 2006 are both readily available. That’s 2 opens = 100 questions = enough to keep you decently occupied for a while.</p>

<p>For a book list, I’m just going to refer you to my post [url="&lt;a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12987863-post118.html"]#118[/url"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12987863-post118.html"]#118[/url</a>] on this thread, which I believe is a comprehensive overview of some potential books to read, and in which order. (Oldguy is right about Raven’s = Raven’s Plant Bio, unless stated otherwise.)</p>

<p>Haven’t vetted the 9th edition Campbell, but it should be fine. Stay away from the 9th edition Raven’s Bio. It apparently has mistakes.</p>

<p>As for old exams: I never used them.</p>

<p>will knowing everything in raven and campbell give you a good chance at making finals? Also, do we need to memorize EVERY single picture? There’s a picture on evolutionary trend for horses, and there’s like 20ish names for all the different evolution. There’s also this timelines for hominin species. Do we need to memorize all the different names and the years? I know most of the posts here say that you need EVERYTHING, but are these really necessary? Also, I was wondering about pictures that show where things are located, like the picture showing all the organelles of a cell. Do we need to know what they look like and where they are located?</p>

<p>no obviously not…use common sense when judging what u need…</p>