USABO 2021

Hi all,

CEE has uploaded the guidelines for semis here: https://www.usabo-trc.org/sites/default/files/allfiles/The%20Semifinal%20Exam%20Instructions%20Web.pdf/.

The Semifinal Exam will be in three parts. The exam time periods will be in two stages.
Stage 1 (2-hour timer)
During this stage, all questions will be visible. Answer ALL questions during this time.
• Click your answers to the multiple choice and multi-true false questions.
• Write each short answer response on a separate piece of paper.
Stage 2 (30-minute timer)
• Scan all short answer questions.
• Upload all short answer questions as described in the exam.
You cannot navigate back and forth between the two stages. Once you are finished with Stage 1 and go to Stage 2, you cannot return to Stage 1.
• Part 1 consists of Multiple Choice with 1 correct response. Point Value: 1 point each.
• Part 2 consists of multiple choice with more than one response correct. Point Value: 2 points each.
• Part 3 Point Value: Varies and is indicated with each question.
o Multiple True/False Choice
o Short Answer. * NEW ANDEXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Short Answer
responses will need to be scanned and uploaded to the AoPS platform.
 It is strongly recommended that you practice scanning as described below before the contest to avoid issues on contest day.
 This will require students to have plain paper for problem responses. One piece of paper for each problem response. It is suggested to have 10 pages of plain paper.
 Students will need to have a scanning device. It may be a scanner or cell phone with scanning app.
 Recommended cellphone scanning applications:
 On Android devices, the Google Drive App has a scanning feature.-
 On iOS devices, the Notes App has a scanning feature.
 Other apps that can be downloaded on iOS and Android devices
are “Tiny Scanner” or "Cam Scanner.
 Each problem response should be scanned and labeled with the following convention:
AoPS ID#, USABO ID#, Semifinal Exam, Problem Number
This convention will be located at the bottom of the Response Box for each problem.
 Double check that your submissions are all properly labeled, scan them, and produce a single PDF file for each problem.
 Compress the PDF to ensure the file is at most 10MB; larger files could cause technical issues.
 Upload each PDF using one of the following methods:
 Directly on the device used to scan the problem answer.

 Send the PDF to your computer from your scanning device via AirDrop, Bluetooth, or another method to upload the PDF file from your computer.
 Each file to be uploaded separately. One answer/ problem /problem answer box.
 Time allowance of 30 minutes for scanning and uploading will be after the exam has ended.

Hello! We are pleased to announce that Thomas Jefferson High School For Science And Technology will be hosting the TJ Biology Bowl this year. This is a team-based (teams of 1-3), annual biology competition. This competition will be conducted in two phases. The first being an open round (anyone can sign up) with a 100 question, multiple choice, short answer; assessment. The second round will contain the top 8 highest-scoring teams from the written test. The difficulty level of the TJ Biology Bowl will range from AP biology to the Biology Olympiad’s Open exam.

To sign up, contact TJ Biology Bowl #6368 on discord. Alternatively, you can also email tjbiologybowl@gmail.com.

Does anyone know the score cutoff to be a finalist this year, and where the semifinal exam histogram is?

I don’t know what the cutoff is. If I remember correctly, you said you were in the top 150 last year. Did they inform you the same day along with the score or did you get a separate email later?

I got a separate email later on.

It’s probably like that then…