<p>so since some schools are taking the test later than the established deadline, will the release date still be march 3?</p>
<p>The CEE website isn’t saying anything about taking the test later.</p>
<p>They also say the release date is closer to 3/15.</p>
<p>I think that estimate for the cutoff is WAY too conservative. Like, I would bet that I got a 35 on this test (though not a very large amount), and I’m willing to bet more that the cutoff will be closer to 35 than 28.</p>
<p>@Insorak</p>
<p>Granted the test was easier than say 2006, but could it be that you went to nationals and are therefore more comfortable with the material? Or are you quite certain that the cutoff should be above 30?</p>
<p>Compared to last year, the test was disproportionately easy. I guessed on 20 fewer questions than I did last year, and I can honestly say that I’ve done maybe 10 hours of studying since Nationals. True, I <em>have</em> taken a biochem class since then, but that was helpful on literally one problem.</p>
<p>My guess for cutoff is firmly at about 30, likely more.</p>
<p>hmm last year seemed pretty insane to me. cutoff was 20 right?</p>
<p>I mean ive made semis twice, but even I know the test is easy if I can understand most of the questions…</p>
<p>the open this year was much more straightforward than the open last year.
i would agree with insorak about the cut-off being around 30; mid 20’s at the very least.</p>
<p>from the website: </p>
<p>Mar 4th
Semi-finalists posted to website (top 10% or 500 students)</p>
<p>that was way too easy- im actually sort of worried. i agree w/ the cutoff-at-30 prediction.</p>
<p>btw im said ibo silver medalist, Insorak.</p>
<p>took it today…easier than expected, but i know i missed quite a few from not careful reading.
Cutoff probably 26-30.</p>
<p>Oh hai there bluemoney. 
Do you know who I am? :P</p>
<p>3/15 was definitely <em>something</em>. I’m too lazy to check what it is.</p>
<p>I am taking it tomorrow! Good luck to everyone!</p>
<p>I noticed 2 or 3 repeated questions on this year’s test. Kinda surprised me. I wish my teacher had allowed us to keep the tests, but we couldn’t…I’m guessing I got in the range of 30-33. I knew what 95% of the test was talking about, but I had to guess on a good number of things. One genetics problem, without revealing any details, was simply insane. I basically sat there saying “wat?” for a few minutes.
Also, a good 10% of questions seemed disarmingly easy; they were basically spitting out of facts. But then a good 70% were hard but doable if you knew Bio well, and then the other 10% were really hard. Some problems were super-specific, and some were just so confusingly worded (anyone who took the test probably thinks one of the genetic ones was super confusing) that I spent some time unraveling the question. First time taking it, and I’m already a junior, so I hope I can move on to the net round.</p>
<p>Anyways, anyone have tips for the next round?</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard knowing Campbells’ really well and then reading over Raven’s Biology of Plant and Molecular Biology of the Cell are the best ways of preparing.</p>
<p>What about practice tests?
Anyone know of any tests similar to the Semi-Final Exam?
I know there are one or two floating around the web somewhere, but I want lots of practice…</p>
<p>This is my first year doing the USABO. So I have a quick question. How hard is the semifinal exam as compared to the open exam and also what is the average cutoff on the semifinal exam to get to finals.</p>
<p>I don’t remember any particularly odd genetics problems…? I liked the wording of the test actually, for the most part.</p>
<p>Always take practice tests… They’re godsend if you can find them.</p>
<p>Took the Biology Olympiad open exam for the first time today. I could’ve done better and I forgot to bring a calculator…
But I hope I made the cutoff! That would be sweet!</p>
<p>I have a collection of two hundred VERY hard bio problems that are now unavailable on the web. When I say VERY hard, I mean that I can get maybe a 150/200 if I cheat a bit. They’re quite difficult, and excellent practice covering all topics. If anyone finds past semifinal exams, I’d be willing to trade, 100 per semi.</p>
<p>I don’t remember any odd genetics problems either. All of them seemed relatively straightforward, though I was surprised that there wasn’t a pedigree.</p>
<p>There is no “average” cutoff. It varies from year to year based on the people that take it. And semis is generally at quite a higher level than Open.</p>
<p>hey, this is sort of a shameless question directed to all the past usabo finalists on the thread (iloveyellow, bluemonkey, messiah, insorak, phospho, kryptsona). if any of you are seniors/are in college right now, do you think make finals helped your apps. i mean someone told me that usabo isn’t very well known so ad coms don’t really care too much about it. any of you at/or get into HYP MSC, early or whatnot? :)</p>
<p>Just took the open today. The test was much easier than last year’s. I’m pretty sure that I got in the 30’s despite not looking at Campbell once since last year. Oh well, it’s senior year so making semi would just be a nice feeling.</p>
<p>I took the USABO test - it was definitely a LOT easier than before, and seemed to not require much indepth conceptual understanding as just plain facts.</p>
<p>I was not sure of about 8-10 questions, and was probably 95% sure on the rest. </p>
<p>I have compiled a list of questions AND answers that I believe to do right save 5 questions.</p>
<p>Anyways, I believe I got about 40, and predict the cutoff to be 31-33.</p>
<p>I felt it’s much easier than the 2004 and 2006… I’m pretty sure I made above 25 and up to 35 depending on the questions that eliminated the choices. I hope the cutoff stays around 29-31</p>