<p>I hope everyone does well on the open for the next two weeks=D</p>
<p>Well, I just took the test today. I really do not like my biology teacher because she made me take it on the second day that it was available. On a scale of 1-10, I think the hardness level, as compared to another USABO open exam, was about 6 or 7.</p>
<p>I would like other people’s opinions also. So after you have taken the open exam, post how hard you think it was. Also, if anybody wants to message me and discuss the test, I would be happy because there were a few questions I wasn’t sure about.</p>
<p>Advice for studying?
I took AP Biology last year and scored well on the AP and SAT Subject tests, but haven’t seen much biology since then.
I read the shorter version of Campbell’s Biology cover to cover, but when I looked at the few sample problems available on the website, there was definitely new vocabulary that kept me from getting answers I knew right.
Any advice on how to cram the things I need to know? I’m testing next week.</p>
<p>Also, are there full practice tests available online? I really would like to see what the questions are like, practice the timing, etc. (How do you all pace yourselves?)</p>
<p>Mainly, I’m taking the test for an excuse to review my old biology book. But I would love to pass on to the next level…</p>
<p>Emblem101- Are those comparisons (hardness 6 to 7) to the 2004 or 2006 open? Or like the 2010 open?
And also, you shouldn’t discuss with anyone until after the deadline, to be safe.</p>
<p>I would say that it is on par with the 2010 open, just my opinion. Also, I wouldn’t discuss the exam with anybody unless they verified that they actually took it.</p>
<p>Are some of the Open questions obscure?</p>
<p>The Open’s that hard…? o.O</p>
<p>So what do you think the cuttoff will be this year? And do you have any advice on what (general ideas, don’t be specific) to study for?</p>
<p>It wasn’t as bad as I expected.</p>
<p>Dang, if the open was as hard as last year, that would suck… guess I will just have to see for myself.</p>
<p>leatherlibrarian did you already take the open exam?</p>
<p>I think the cutoff will be about 24-27.</p>
<p>Emblem and leatherlibrarian: in general, would you say the open was just as obscure as last year? Or more well-rounded?</p>
<p>I didn’t take it last year, so I can’t compare. In light of what I’d heard, though, I would say it was more well rounded. More logic based, even, I would say. But again, I don’t have anything recent to compare it to. </p>
<p>@emblem 24-27? Is that typical of previous years?</p>
<p>Were there any questions with 2 answers?</p>
<p>I dont remember the exact number but there were some questions with multiple answers.</p>
<p>Can all the answers be found in the Campbell’s? Or are there a lot of “random” questions (like the 2009 physiology questions)?</p>
<p>billin: I heard somewhere they won’t ask obscure questions like that again. But then again, at least most of them can be reached through logic</p>
<p>Are you allowed to use a calculator (4 function) for the Hardy Weinberg problems?</p>
<p>There was nothing that would require a calculator.</p>
<p>And someone said there were multiple answers to some questions. Are we penalized for each choice we get wrong?</p>
<p>Correct me if I am wrong, but I’m pretty sure that there is no penalty regardless… its not like the SAT’s. You either get it right, and one point, or you don’t and you don’t get any points.</p>