Which of the test events is relatively easier?

[sbar114]

I know the title sounds bad, but hear me out. My school's SO is pretty good and requires us to rank events, and we'll be assigned four each. This is my first year doing Science Olympiad and I'm a sophomore. My top choices so far would probably be Designer Genes, Disease Detectives, and Forensics, which are all pretty competitive at my school. I'm also kind of busy besides Science Olympiad, so I'd like some of my events to be relatively easier. (Obviously, if I need to do something for the benefit of the team, I'll do it.) So, which of the test events aren't as hard/competitive?

[Efesa]

I know the title sounds bad, but hear me out. My school's SO is pretty good and requires us to rank events, and we'll be assigned four each. This is my first year doing Science Olympiad and I'm a sophomore. My top choices so far would probably be Designer Genes, Disease Detectives, and Forensics, which are all pretty competitive at my school. I'm also kind of busy besides Science Olympiad, so I'd like some of my events to be relatively easier. (Obviously, if I need to do something for the benefit of the team, I'll do it.) So, which of the test events aren't as hard/competitive?

For Division B: Road Scholar, Meteorology (I guess)

[sbar114]

For Division B: Road Scholar, Meteorology (I guess)

I'm actually Division C, but thanks anyway!

[sbar114]

It is sort of difficult to say, to be honest. If I had to guess, I would say earth science events, because earth science isn't a topic typically taught at school, whereas biology, chemistry, and physics almost always are, so being an upperclassmen who has taken several AP science class and stuff doesn't offer as significant of an initial advantage.

[sbar114]

thanks! I'll check put those events

[sneepity]

The easiest/most difficult event is more a function of what you like/dislike (although there are some notorious events).
Some general statements about event preparation:
- Inquiry events are very low-study, but require a lot of practice (with your team, if applicable (please don't meet with your team if it'll be risky)) for best results.
- Physics events generally require less studying (this is all over the place, but generally) than the rest of the test events, but they require lots of application and some practice, so mastering what you study is really helpful.
- Chem events I can't speak for as well, but I think they are kind of similar to physics events in that they require less studying, and more application and practice.
- Earth Sci events are kind of in the middle. You want to master some stuff so that you can apply it and work with it, but you will also probably see random stuff that you want to account for too.
- Bio events and fossils are (I would say) a lot heavier on the studying piece. You will see a lot of "What is" or "Identify" on them, but you are less likely to actually really need to intensely apply the knowledge like in physics or chem events.
- Engineering/Tech Events are what you put into them, I think. I'm not super certain on these.

Disclaimer: I am making broad statements about groups of very different events. This may not reflect what you see or are given in a particular event. Additionally, these statements are based on my own experience and impressions, and may not be an accurate representation of the event.

[Efesa]

The easiest/most difficult event is more a function of what you like/dislike (although there are some notorious events).
Some general statements about event preparation:
- Inquiry events are very low-study, but require a lot of practice (with your team, if applicable (please don't meet with your team if it'll be risky)) for best results.
- Physics events generally require less studying (this is all over the place, but generally) than the rest of the test events, but they require lots of application and some practice, so mastering what you study is really helpful.
- Chem events I can't speak for as well, but I think they are kind of similar to physics events in that they require less studying, and more application and practice.
- Earth Sci events are kind of in the middle. You want to master some stuff so that you can apply it and work with it, but you will also probably see random stuff that you want to account for too.
- Bio events and fossils are (I would say) a lot heavier on the studying piece. You will see a lot of "What is" or "Identify" on them, but you are less likely to actually really need to intensely apply the knowledge like in physics or chem events.
- Engineering/Tech Events are what you put into them, I think. I'm not super certain on these.

Disclaimer: I am making broad statements about groups of very different events. This may not reflect what you see or are given in a particular event. Additionally, these statements are based on my own experience and impressions, and may not be an accurate representation of the event.

Fossils seems more like a bio event than an earth event. Why do they put Fossils as earth anyway?

[sneepity]

I suggest doing events that need notes more than memorization- something like road scholar, reach for the stars, and water quality would be good choices. Builds are different- you would have to invest a lot of time in testing and building- I would say atleast 50-60 hours per event per season. But i personally think that if you sincerely love the event, you'll enjoy putting time and effort into it. So I honestly suggest you take a look into all of the events and do a bit of research, because to do well in SO, you'll have to be very interested in the topic! I hope I helped, and good luck with your events :D.

[EwwPhysics]

The easiest/most difficult event is more a function of what you like/dislike (although there are some notorious events).
Some general statements about event preparation:
- Inquiry events are very low-study, but require a lot of practice (with your team, if applicable (please don't meet with your team if it'll be risky)) for best results.
- Physics events generally require less studying (this is all over the place, but generally) than the rest of the test events, but they require lots of application and some practice, so mastering what you study is really helpful.
- Chem events I can't speak for as well, but I think they are kind of similar to physics events in that they require less studying, and more application and practice.
- Earth Sci events are kind of in the middle. You want to master some stuff so that you can apply it and work with it, but you will also probably see random stuff that you want to account for too.
- Bio events and fossils are (I would say) a lot heavier on the studying piece. You will see a lot of "What is" or "Identify" on them, but you are less likely to actually really need to intensely apply the knowledge like in physics or chem events.
- Engineering/Tech Events are what you put into them, I think. I'm not super certain on these.

Disclaimer: I am making broad statements about groups of very different events. This may not reflect what you see or are given in a particular event. Additionally, these statements are based on my own experience and impressions, and may not be an accurate representation of the event.

Fossils seems more like a bio event than an earth event. Why do they put Fossils as earth anyway?

It’s in rotation with rocks&minerals which is definitely earth science. I agree that it seems more like a bio event, but a lot of people seem to disagree with me so idk. Also, they don’t want to seem too biased against earth science
Also keep in mind that ID events are sort of their own thing, not really conforming too much to any category.

[pb5754]

The easiest/most difficult event is more a function of what you like/dislike (although there are some notorious events).
Some general statements about event preparation:
- Inquiry events are very low-study, but require a lot of practice (with your team, if applicable (please don't meet with your team if it'll be risky)) for best results.
- Physics events generally require less studying (this is all over the place, but generally) than the rest of the test events, but they require lots of application and some practice, so mastering what you study is really helpful.
- Chem events I can't speak for as well, but I think they are kind of similar to physics events in that they require less studying, and more application and practice.
- Earth Sci events are kind of in the middle. You want to master some stuff so that you can apply it and work with it, but you will also probably see random stuff that you want to account for too.
- Bio events and fossils are (I would say) a lot heavier on the studying piece. You will see a lot of "What is" or "Identify" on them, but you are less likely to actually really need to intensely apply the knowledge like in physics or chem events.
- Engineering/Tech Events are what you put into them, I think. I'm not super certain on these.

Disclaimer: I am making broad statements about groups of very different events. This may not reflect what you see or are given in a particular event. Additionally, these statements are based on my own experience and impressions, and may not be an accurate representation of the event.

Fossils seems more like a bio event than an earth event. Why do they put Fossils as earth anyway?

It’s in rotation with rocks&minerals which is definitely earth science. I agree that it seems more like a bio event, but a lot of people seem to disagree with me so idk. Also, they don’t want to seem too biased against earth science
Also keep in mind that ID events are sort of their own thing, not really conforming too much to any category.

Tbh there are a lot of events that are better suited to other categories (e.g., Protein Modeling, PPP, Detector Building). Events in different categories are picked by different committees, I believe, which leads to these things. If the biology events committee wanted to run an event on fossils, they totally could, but they don’t and the earth science committee does.