<p>So how is it compared, to say, this one:</p>
<p>Oh cool you go to Duke, I know this girl who's really smart doing Bio over there. Anyways...</p>
<p>This must be Molecular Biology test right? Amazing, a know quite a few on there actually :) Reading Lodish and Alberts and do some research as well ( #3 refers to Ribonuclease mechanism yay! ..lol)</p>
<p>But that is way beyond the scope of USABO. USABO is more about memorizing insignificant details. This test in trying to assess your understanding of the fundamental of molecular biology whereas the USABO is so much more annoying and less thinking more recall. But cool test :)</p>
<p>Yeah Alberts is a beast (well not really, it's just I have to read a chapter per lecture, and 3 of my Bio classes use that book), and yeah this is a Mol Bio test. </p>
<p>Do you have any practice USABO exams? I"m just curious to see how it compares (from my perspective). Btw, I thought there was a free response section too that required in-depth analysis and critical thinking..or is that just for IBO?</p>
<p>but as I looked over this it looks ridiculously easy. This is probably open-exam caliber</p>
<p>I'll see if I can find Semifinalist test...I know there is one out there...</p>
<p>find anything?</p>
<p>yeah that qualifier test was rediculously easy.</p>
<p>
No, much of it is just critical thinking. A lot of answers to biology questions in the USABO test can be reached logically.</p>
<p> [quote=optic foramina] I thought there was a free response section too that required in-depth analysis and critical thinking
Indeed, in the test for semifinalists.</p>
<p>I agree with the test being mostly critical thinking, but if you have already learned the facts and memorized them, your life will be a lot easier. Of course, you can reach most things logically, but that's because most things in Biology tend to make sense, haha.</p>
<p>I agree with you kryptonsa that USABO does involve a lot of critical thinking, as does biology in general. I did not mean to say that if you simply memorize Campbell you will be set. I was just speaking comparatively to the other test.</p>
<p>And I also agree with everything insta111 said as well. Have you taken it before?</p>
<p>Meh, anybody know if it is possible to take the open exam at another school?</p>
<p>No, my learning of Bio came way too late for the Open last year. I didn't even know this competition existed till last summer, haha.</p>
<p>I have, however, studied the Campbell book from cover to cover for Science Bowl, which paid off. This seems the next logical step.</p>
<p>Yes it is possible....seeing as I'm going to lol.</p>
<p>Are you guys reading any other books besides Campbells?</p>
<p>Molecular Biology of the Cell and a botany textbook. I find Campbell's somewhat lacking in those topics.</p>
<p>Yeah which Botany book? I'm Using "Green Plants: their Origin and Diversity"</p>
<p>I'm using the one written by Raven. Biology of Plants.</p>
<p>As partial as I am toward Lodish's book, the content is almost entirely beyond the scope of the USABO.</p>
<p>Campbell Biology 8th edition - official textbook of the USABO. :p</p>
<p>I'm doing it this year, again. I did pretty well last year (41 on open, 63 on semi). </p>
<p>I wanna make finals this year :D</p>
<p>wow..41 thats amazing. Did you make finals last year?</p>
<p>
How did that happen (i.e., being ~40 points short of making the finals but only ~2 points short of the highest scorer on preliminaries)?</p>
<p>I was wondering the exact same thing....</p>