Resources for Competitors

Follow the Rules
  1. Know the rules for your events like the back of your hand and make sure you follow them! There is nothing more frustrating than getting tiered or disqualified for not following the rules. Ask your coach for the rules for your events.
  2. Frequently read through the National Rules Clarifications posted for your events. NSO Rules Clarifications
  3. Frequently read through the Florida Rules Clarifications posted for your events. FSO Rules Clarifications
  4. Frequently read through the National Event FAQ’s posted for your events. Division B | Division C

  5. Understand the NSO policies regarding events and competition. Policies

You can sign up to get National Rules updates, courtesy of Southern California. Google Group Rules Updates

Resources for Events

Science Olympiad Student Center

  1. The Wiki has information on every event and is a great place to get started. Wiki

  2. The Forums are a place for competitors, coaches, and organizers to discuss events and get help. Forums

  3. The Image Gallery contains images of past devices that can help you get a better idea of what to build. Image Gallery

  4. The Test Exchange contains tests from other tournaments that can help you practice for competition. Test Exchange

National Science Olympiad

  1. Recommended resources from NSO to help you prepare in your events for competition. Division B | Division C

  2. Understand and practice using the NSO scoresheets and team checklists. These will be used to score teams at competition!  Scoresheets

 Study Event Resources:

  1. The Test Exchange contains tests from other tournaments that can help you practice for competition. Test Exchange

  2. OpenStax is a free resource that provides high quality textbooks for a wide range of subjects including but not limited to anatomy and physiology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, microbiology, and physics. OpenStax Textbooks

  3. Ilectureonline has over 6,000 videos made by Michel Van Biezen teaching specific topics in astronomy, chemistry, math, mechanical and electrical engineering, and physics. ilectureonline 

  4. Wolfram Alpha is an answer search engine that offers specific responses to data inputs for various scientific disciplines. This is a great resource for practicing math and computational problems. Wolfram Alpha  

  5. Golden Gate Science Olympiad Resource Center: GGSO has pages fora few events that providing introductory information and tips on how to study for events based on the opinions and experiences of their Execuitve Board, many of whom are national medalists. GGSO Resource Center

Build Event Resources:

  1. The Image Gallery contains images of past devices that can help you get a better idea of what to build. Image Gallery

  2. YouTube contains instructional and demonstrative videos for each build event. Youtube

  3. The Scratch website offers free tutorials and practice for Game On. Scratch

Lab Event Resources:

  1. This Online Breadboard Simulator will allow you to virtually practice using a breadboard for Circuit Lab. Online Breadboard Simulator

  2. SOINC: This is the official Science Olympiad page for Circuit Lab. They list links to educational resources as well as the Lab score sheet.

    Tournament Day

    Sample/Model List of Materials to Bring Day of Competition
    ♦ Copy of the Rules – Especially for build events
    ♦ Writing utensils (pens and pencils)
    ♦ Calculators (see the official rules for permissible types of calculators)
    ♦ Allowed event resources (see official rules manual for event specific information)
    ♦ Protective eyewear
                ♦ Category B (impact)
                ♦ Category C (chemical): ♦ Chem Lab, Forensics, Experimental Design
    ♦ Lab coats or Aprons: Chem Lab and Forensics
    ♦ Glue/parts for repairing damaged build events and other tools, batteries
    ♦ Remind students to bring binders, cheat sheets, builds, backup builds, extra parts, laptop, chargers
    ♦ Food for lunch
    ♦ Snacks

    Explore Campus:  If your team arrives early or before competition day, take the opportunity to walk around campus and identify where each of your events will take place. This will help ease the stress of getting to your events on competition day and will ensure you arrive to your event before each time block starts. Attached is a map of campus including event locations.

    Impound:  If you have an event with impound, try to get there soon after the impound period begins if you have an event during the first time block. This will ensure you don’t miss your event in the case that impound runs late. If you have multiple devices that need to be impounded for different events, have your partners help out with impound. Any one of the 15 members of your team may impound a device, but they must be able to answer any questions regarding the construction and operation of your device if prompted by the Event Supervisor.

    Disagree with an Event Supervisor:  If you disagree with the way an Event Supervisor is enforcing the rules, these are the appropriate steps you should take IN THIS ORDER.

    1. Ask the Event Supervisor to point to the location of the disagreement in the rules, FAQ, or Rules Clarification.
    2. Politely ask the Event Supervisor if they can explain their interpretation of the rules.
    3. Explain your interpretation of the rules and ask what the Event Supervisor thinks of it.
    4. If a consensus cannot be reached, notify the Event Supervisor you would like to file an Arbitration.
    5. Leave your device at the event site with the Event Supervisor, leave the competition area to get an arbitration form from your coach, and fill it out and bring it to headquarters. The arbitration form can be found here: Arbitration Form
    6. The arbitration committee will review your arbitration and notify your coach on a decision when one has been reached.
    After the Tournament

    Scores: Team rankings and raw scores will be made available on the Florida Science Olympiad website as well as on our website under Resources>Archive>Past Tests and Scores soon after the end of the awards ceremony.

    Tests and Answer Keys: Blank copies of the tests, answer sheets, answer keys, and image sheets for all the events will be made available on our website under Resources>Archive>Past Tests and Scores as well as on the Scioly.org forums.

    Inquiries: If you have any questions regarding the scores or tests, please email ufscioly@gmail.com and we will either directly answer your questions or direct your email to the appropriate Event Supervisor.

    Feedback: We appreciate feedback from our competitors, coaches, parents, and volunteers alike. Please submit your feedback through our feedback form. Feedback Form