<p>alright, part A is like the open (but easier imo). Part B will present a situation and give you questions about it (like experimental data, etc.). Part C is not open ended at all.</p>
<p>in which sections would you lose pts if you put incorrect answers?</p>
<p>just took it. -_-'</p>
<p>hey violinplayer, I’m near Solon too! Beechwood HS. How did you do on the open?</p>
<p>Just took the Semis. It seemed easier than last year’s. I didn’t feel like I got owned on any large block of questions, but I know that I got some wrong in between.</p>
<p>Oh my gosh, I put multiple answers for many of the problems (like 10). Well there go my chances :P. Anyways, good luck everyone! It is not really too hard, just questions interspersed that are really hard.</p>
<p>what has been the cutoff in the past? like what’s the right:wrong ratio? like 10:1?</p>
<p>^ for semis to finals</p>
<p>Just took it… <em>sigh</em> my last ever usabo semi. Here are my thoughts:
- Def. easier than the open, very few ridiculously obscure questions
- A fairly well balanced exam, as opposed to last yewrs semis which were hardcore evolution</p>
<p>^ do you know the “cut-off” for the finals? we pretty much have to get everything right right?</p>
<p>I failed and lost the game. Anyone want to compare with me? I’ll pm you my address.</p>
<p>^ don’t worry… we should be happy we already made semis… :)</p>
<p>Took it 3 days ago. God part C was tricky</p>
<p>Part C was ridiculously icky, but didn’t seem to count for as many points as I thought it would.</p>
<p>My brain wasn’t working that day; I’m sure I failed Part A. But Part B went well.</p>
<p>everyone has taken the test by now, is that correct?
are part c points doubled, or something?
It was worth so little!</p>
<p>alright, the testing period is over now so we can discuss. What did you guys put for part C, 2nd and 3rd questions? I said the first chemical was point 4, as it inhibited chlorophyll. The second was acidic, and increased the proton gradient so 3. Of course, that doesn’t make sense to me, but I didn’t know what else to say.</p>
<p>i looked it up: in zooxanthellae, nh4cl facilitates natural toxin P’s inhibition of photosynthesis.
so that would be 4, i believe.</p>
<p>what was the name of the other chemical?</p>
<p>DCMU is a herbidice that specifically inhibits photosynthesis. So that would be 4. Someone told me NH4Cl was 3, but I’m not too sure why.</p>
<p>aw man, then i totally bombed part c.
i wasn’t sure how many letters i was supposed to put in each box for #1.
does anyone know?</p>
<p>I F-ed up the photosynthesis Q in Part C (I guessed the exact opposite of what was the correct amswer… it was logical but WRONG!) The 1st Q in Part C was finals fodder. I forgot a couple terms but otherwise did ok.</p>
<p>MC was in my opinion, pretty easy for USABO. I think they got alarmed after the rly low scores on the open. Or its their new strategy to make the open harder than the semi ~</p>
<p>@ Potent: The cutoff varies from year to year but I’m guessing ~ 90-100/150.</p>
<p>They may not even announce it. They didn’t let finalists last year know our scores</p>