Hey everyone. I’m studying for the Open Exam this summer and this is going to be my first year participating in the competition. I have a Campbell Biology Eleventh Edition Textbook that I am using to study, but I read online that the Eleventh Edition is not as good as the Ninth or Tenth Editions. Is this true? Also, is there anything else that I can study to prepare for the Open and Semifinal Exams? Thanks.
Hahahaha I made Semis last year and I should probably actually study for this year… yikes.
I’m an incoming freshmen and I’m fairly interested in USABO, I do have the 11th edition of Campbell, and I’d want to hear the answer to @Muscleman001 's question as well. Next year I most likely won’t make semis, but studying and practicing (imo) for the open exam would be pretty beneficial for future years, especially if I get some lab practice in there.
I also have Albert’s 6th ed “Molecular Biology of the Cell” and a multitude of different anatomy and phys textbooks. I’ll be taking an introductory bio course over the summer, so I’m hoping to get study campbell alongside from that curriculum.
@raventhemage That sounds pretty good. How are you going to go through the book? I’m planning on reading the entire thing without taking notes.
I honestly have no idea, the thought of studying/memorizing all of it seems daunting to me…
@raventhemage Dang. You’re going to be WAYYYYY more prepared than I was.
There are a ton of resources on the website that are pretty good. I think you have to be registered to access them, though 
My advice is to at least read everything once. Watch videos. Focus on everything (lol), even stuff you think you know well. Maybe learn the amino acids and their side chains.
@raventhemage Same here.
@awesomepolyglot Thanks for the advice! I checked out their site and they have some pretty useful links.
I’m starting the Biology Olympiad Club at my school next year and I was wondering what we would do during meetings. How do you guys study in other USABO clubs?
Which Book are the 2017 Finalists holding in the USABO website group photo?
the book has a picture of green frog on cover
@meiying I have no idea, but it’s probably some sort of booklet made just for the nationals finalists (a certificate, maybe? or perhaps an additional textbook)
@meiying It looks similar to the Second Edition Biology for the IB Diploma textbook by C.J. Clegg (at least the frog looks like it’s the same).
thanks @raventhemage @MuscleMan001
Guys I got rekt by this year’s open, I need advice to so I can make it to semi’s
@PercyFowl I think if you read Campbell again a few times and maybe Raven’s, you could make it to semis pretty easily. I’m pretty inexperienced, but I hope this helps.
Yea - how long do you guys spend per chapter?
This is my first time reading Campbell’s, so I’m spending a day (or two) per chapter. Once I’ve read it entirely, I’ll reread about 2 chapters a day. I’m hoping it’ll be easier to read the second or third time.
Unless you’re very good at reading college-level science textbooks or have the majority of the day to study, it will not be easy to get through the book that fast.
I have the entire summer to myself. I was too dumb to do any signing up for volunteering camps, etc. The only other things I’m doing is self studying for the AMC and for the SAT.
@meiying That is a blank notebook. Sorry for the disappointment XD