ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Science => Topic started by: TheAspiringDoc on March 28, 2015, 11:02:08 am
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So I thought I'd make a study group for the 2016 (and 15) Australian Science Olympiad Exams..
Preferably (we'll see what suits everyone) we'll do it on this thread, and just do things like answering questions, sharing tips, all that kind of stuff.
In case you are wondering what it is, FAQ's, past exams and general information can all be found on this website: https://www.asi.edu.au/site/programs_aso.php
I'm hoping to qualify for the Summer School, which would be an incredible experience :)
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So I thought I'd make a study group for the 2016 (and 15) Australian Science Olympiad Exams..
Preferably (we'll see what suits everyone) we'll do it on this thread, and just do things like answering questions, sharing tips, all that kind of stuff.
In case you are wondering what it is, FAQ's, past exams and general information can all be found on this website: https://www.asi.edu.au/site/programs_aso.php
I'm hoping to qualify for the Summer School, which would be an incredible experience :)
Trying for Chem but I doubt it will happen. Only 3 months to go!
If you want some advice start preparation ASAP!
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My advice: Don't start your prep a few days before the exam like I did...
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My advice: Don't start your prep a few days before the exam like I did...
Even better: Don't walk into the exam without any prep at all (and think you can score some easy marks just from 1&2 knowledge LOL).
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So I thought I'd make a study group for the 2016 (and 15) Australian Science Olympiad Exams..
Preferably (we'll see what suits everyone) we'll do it on this thread, and just do things like answering questions, sharing tips, all that kind of stuff.
In case you are wondering what it is, FAQ's, past exams and general information can all be found on this website: https://www.asi.edu.au/site/programs_aso.php
I'm hoping to qualify for the Summer School, which would be an incredible experience :)
Hey dude, thought this might be of help to you to upgrade your knowledge to Unit 3/4 level:
http://www.vtextbook.com/?p=watch&subject=5
Also, check out http://www.chemguide.co.uk.
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Hey guys,
just wanted to clarify, are the exams usually sat by / aimed at year ten and eleven students?
Cheers :)
P.S. SO HAPPY AN IS BACK!! :):):):)
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Hey guys,
just wanted to clarify, are the exams usually sat by / aimed at year ten and eleven students?
Cheers :)
P.S. SO HAPPY AN IS BACK!! :):):):)
Well you can sit them from whatever year level to be honest however generally Year 10 and Year 11 is the right age-group to sit the exam (since you'll have some knowledge of what is on the exam) however Year 12's may sit the exam but will not be allowed to enter Summer School if they score well on the exam!
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https://www.asi.edu.au/site/olympiads_online.php
May be of interest to those sitting the Olympiad exams.
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Hey hey :)
So I'm still hoping to participate in the NQE for biology next year (ideally aiming to qualify for the summer school), and am wondering I should go about preparing?
My basic plan so far is to:
-learn and rewrite all of the glossary entries on the olympiads online website
-do all of the question sets and then pursuing further reading on any of the topics mentioned that don't make sense to me
-going through the basic syllabus on the teachers' resources page and make notes.
-do all of the past olympiad exams for bio (do they all adhere to the current syllabus?)
^^does all of this seem sufficient?
From there, I'm a little unclear as to what else I should do... Should I try to learn the VCE units 1-4 course? If yes, how thoroughly, and how?
Thank you!!
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Hey hey :)
So I'm still hoping to participate in the NQE for biology next year (ideally aiming to qualify for the summer school), and am wondering I should go about preparing?
My basic plan so far is to:
-learn and rewrite all of the glossary entries on the olympiads online website
-do all of the question sets and then pursuing further reading on any of the topics mentioned that don't make sense to me
-going through the basic syllabus on the teachers' resources page and make notes.
-do all of the past olympiad exams for bio (do they all adhere to the current syllabus?)
^^does all of this seem sufficient?
From there, I'm a little unclear as to what else I should do... Should I try to learn the VCE units 1-4 course? If yes, how thoroughly, and how?
Thank you!!
Try and get your hands on a copy of Campbells Biology University textbook, it shouldn't be too hard. Really great resource for the Olympiad stuff but tbh, it has way more information then what you will need. Btw, do you know if year 12s can participate in the NQE? Obviously they can't be accepted for the summer school but can they at least take the exam and try and get a medal?
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Try and get your hands on a copy of Campbells Biology University textbook, it shouldn't be too hard. Really great resource for the Olympiad stuff but tbh, it has way more information then what you will need. Btw, do you know if year 12s can participate in the NQE? Obviously they can't be accepted for the summer school but can they at least take the exam and try and get a medal?
Nah, it's just for year 11s and below. You could always ask for a spare copy of the exam (can't submit it though).
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I thought year 12's could just they can't go to the summer school..?
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I thought year 12's could just they can't go to the summer school..?
yeah I was confused because I have heard of some year 12s taking the test, but I wasn't sure. They can still get a medal right?
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Hey hey :)
So I'm still hoping to participate in the NQE for biology next year (ideally aiming to qualify for the summer school), and am wondering I should go about preparing?
My basic plan so far is to:
-learn and rewrite all of the glossary entries on the olympiads online website
-do all of the question sets and then pursuing further reading on any of the topics mentioned that don't make sense to me
-going through the basic syllabus on the teachers' resources page and make notes.
-do all of the past olympiad exams for bio (do they all adhere to the current syllabus?)
^^does all of this seem sufficient?
From there, I'm a little unclear as to what else I should do... Should I try to learn the VCE units 1-4 course? If yes, how thoroughly, and how?
Thank you!!
Anyone? ???
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Anyone? ???
90% of the students who take it don't prepare so you are already miles ahead of them, I looked at the NQE syllabus and I reckon a lot of it overlaps with VCE.
In terms of preparation, I was unable to sit the exam because my teacher screwed up and signed up the wrong student when I applied :(. But what I did was
- I would go through the Olympiad syllabus and read up on the topics in depth using campbells biology textbook.
- I would make notes based of this and also do a bit of further reading with Biowiki or Khan academy or in general, any bio websites I could find
- Then I would regularly read up on scientific news to do with the medical field or the biochemical field just to expose myself to more advanced stuff
- This took ages but I had covered the course in around - 2-3 months and I would spend from 1-3 hour a week to 10-15 hours in a week!
- I did end up running out of time for practice exams, but I did a few and realized half the stuff i learned wasn't on the exam.
So at this point I realized they are not testing "how much you know" but "how you use what you know", in that case I switched up my strategy to applying the larger concepts in biology and taking a focus away from knowing all the tiny details. This exam is testing application and understanding.
So i recommend
- looking up case studies that demonstrate the concept you are learning
- surrounding yourself in biology in general and getting a feel for how it works
- I never did this but perhaps teaching others what you have learned as this requires a very strong conceptual understanding
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Roughly what mark would be needed to secure a position in the summer school for biology?
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Btw, do you know if year 12s can participate in the NQE? Obviously they can't be accepted for the summer school but can they at least take the exam and try and get a medal?
Can confirm, you can take the exam as a Year 12 and still be awarded a certificate and medal if you perform well enough
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Roughly what mark would be needed to secure a position in the summer school for biology?
I know some people get 40% in chem and get in! But as for bio, i assume it is higher. I did the test and it came of as easier so maybe but yeah just aim for the highest you can.
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Roughly what mark would be needed to secure a position in the summer school for biology?
What does summer school do?
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What does summer school do?
All the gold medallists receive an invitation into summer school, where they select the Australian representative team from the short-listed candidates.
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For biol, should I do past VCE papers, and should I focus on the tougher ones like Kilbaha? (and what others?) :D
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For biol, should I do past VCE papers, and should I focus on the tougher ones like Kilbaha? (and what others?) :D
Do the Olympiad papers then maybe try your hand at the actual world Olympiad papers themselves for the Bio Olympiad, tbh I don't know how similar they will be but worth a try.
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Going to try for Physics this year!
Can anyone explain, how I can apply for this?
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Going to try for Physics this year!
Can anyone explain, how I can apply for this?
Usually through the school, if your school doesn't annually hold it, then ask your head of science to enroll you individually.
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Anyone here sure as to roughly when the olympiad results arrive at our schools?
And if anyone were to qualify for the school, about when are they told?
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Anyone here sure as to roughly when the olympiad results arrive at our schools?
And if anyone were to qualify for the school, about when are they told?
They are supposed to arrive some time during October and I suppose the same is for being notified whether you got into the summer school or not. Btw I'm assuming you did the Chem exam, I did, how did you find this years exam?
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Yup calls for summer school go out during September hols, and other results sometime during Oct/Nov (depending on how organised your school is :P)