Binders

Binders are a key tool for several study and lab events of Science Olympiad. Competitors generally hole-punch or sheet protect fact sheets or notes in the binder.

Rules

The following rules generally apply for events that allow the use of binders.

• All material must be secured in the binder by attaching them to the binder's rings (by hole-punching the sheets or using sheet protectors).
• Sheet protectors, lamination, tabs and labels are allowed.
• Event supervisors may shake or open the binder to inspect it, with any fallen-out material not allowed to be used during the event.
• The binder may not be used to hide a device (phones are usually taken away).
• Most events limit the number of binders per team to one, but some (i.e., Astronomy) allow one binder per competitor.
• Competitors are allowed to remove material from the binder during the event unless it is run as stations.
• Competitors cannot look into other teams' binders.

Preparation Tips

• Don't wait until the last minute to print out notes! Students should start adding notes to their binder a long time from their test. This not only makes it more manageable but also makes it less likely to not have notes during a competition because of a printer breaking last minute or a library being closed.
• Generate the material online (i.e., by typing), rather than predominantly hand-writing the material. Tip: If students have time, they should attempt to write their notes by hand. Writing by hand enhances memory and comprehension. This will really help students do better on tests.
• Choose whether to use sheet protectors for or hole-punch the material.
  • Possible aspects to consider include cost (both financially and time-wise), convenience and personal preference or comfort.
• Create a Table of Contents to help with organization.
• Use tabs, labels or dividers to mark important sections, thus making them easier to locate and access.
• Copy any ripped pages in case of the circumstance that they might fall out.
  • Ripped pages that fall when shaken cannot be used; competitors who use pages that have fallen out of the binder risk disqualification.
• (If space is a limiting factor) Use double-sided material as opposed to single-sided.
• (For events with a limit to the binder's size) Ensure that the binder fits the binder size requirement for the event.
• More pages doesn't mean higher rankings; binder events tend to prioritize speed as well as content-based questions. Thus, it's important to know things and where things are located.
• (For Identification events only) Include color-images of the specimens.

Events that Allow a Binder

Up to 2"

Entomology B/C

No size limit

Astronomy C

Circuit Lab B/C

Dynamic Planet B/C

Rocks and Minerals B/C

Remote Sensing B/C

Meteorology B

Machines B/C

2025 Binder Events Up to 2" Entomology No size limit Astronomy (Div C event) Dynamic Planet Fossils Geologic Mapping Meteorology (Div B event) Optics Wind Power

2024 Binder Events Up to 2" Detector Building (Div C event) Forestry No size limit Astronomy (Div C event) Dynamic Planet Fossils Geologic Mapping (Div C event) Meterology (Div B event) Optics Wind Power Home Horticulture (trial) Solar Power (trial)

2023 Binder Events Division B Crave the Wave Dynamic Planet Forestry (up to two-inch) Meteorology Rocks and Minerals (up to two-inch) Sounds of Music Division C Astronomy Detector Building (up to two-inch) Dynamic Planet Environmental Chemistry Forestry (up to two-inch) It's About Time Remote Sensing Rocks and Minerals (up to two-inch) WiFi Lab

2022 Binder Events Division B Crave the Wave Dynamic Planet Ornithology (up to two-inch) Rocks and Minerals (up to two-inch) Sounds of Music Division C Astronomy Detector Building (up to two-inch) Dynamic Planet Environmental Chemistry It's About Time Ornithology (up to two-inch) Rocks and Minerals (up to two-inch) Geologic Mapping WiFi Lab

2021 Binder Events Division B Circuit Lab Density Lab Dynamic Planet Fossils (up to two-inch) Machines Ornithology (up to two-inch) Division C Astronomy Circuit Lab Detector Building (up to two-inch) Dynamic Planet Fossils (up to two-inch) Geologic Mapping Machines Ornithology (up to two-inch) Sounds of Music

2020 Binder Events Division B Circuit Lab Density Lab Dynamic Planet Fossils (up to two-inch) Machines Ornithology (up to two-inch) Division C Astronomy Circuit Lab Detector Building (up to two-inch) Dynamic Planet Fossils (up to two-inch) Geologic Mapping Machines Ornithology (up to two-inch) Sounds of Music

2019 Binder Events Division B Circuit Lab Density Lab Fossils (up to three-inch) Herpetology (up to two-inch) Road Scholar Thermodynamics Division C Astronomy Circuit Lab Fossils (up to three-inch) Geologic Mapping Herpetology (up to two-inch) Sounds of Music Thermodynamics

2018 Binder Events B Division Herpetology (unless bringing a commercially-produced field guide) Hovercraft Optics Road Scholar Rocks and Minerals Thermodynamics C Division Astronomy Herpetology (unless bringing a commercially-produced field guide) Hovercraft Optics Rocks and Minerals Thermodynamics

2017 Binder Events B Division Hovercraft Invasive Species Optics Road Scholar Rocks and Minerals Wind Power C Division Astronomy Hovercraft Invasive Species Optics Rocks and Minerals Wind Power

See Also

Note Sheets

Field Guides

Calculators