Two months before USABO: What should I study?

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The USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) will be administered from 5th to 15th of February, 2019. With only 2 months left, there many things that you can do to increase your chances of succes. USABO Exam Question Format   Teacher Resource Center (TRC) The TRC is dynamic. Once your school has completed the registration process and payment has been received, please …

How to manage your time when preparing for the biology olympiad?

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Usually, we start preparing for the biology olympiad in 11th grade. I guess it’s because thisis when we start thinking about our future. Admit it! That’s when you’re looking for any way tomake your curriculum vitae (a.k.a. résumé) and personal statement look good, as applications to universities are looming on the horizon. But hey – it’s not your fault. Why …

Recommended chapters from key biology textbooks

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Different biology textbooks can help you prepare for the biology olympiad. However, the majority of them are over 1000-page long, meaning that you need to be selective in your choice of what to read. Below you will find a list of recommend chapters from the key biology textbooks: Vander et al.: Human Physiology: The Mechanism of Body Function, Eighth Edition …

Biology Olympiad Strategies Book

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Recently, I published my very first book, How To Prepare for the Biology Olympiad And Science Competitions. Head to Amazon to purchase either a Kindle or paperback version. In this short article, I will share a small review of what you can find in the book. Science competitions test a student’s level of knowledge, power of scientific reasoning, and analytical thinking outside …

The International Brain Bee Competition 2018 Winners

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Berlin, 8 July 2018. Today, eighteen-year-old Piotr Oleksy from Crakow (Poland) has won the International Brain Bee World Competition at Europe’s biggest brain research conference in Berlin. Twenty-five young finalists in the competition, aged between 13 and 18 from 25 countries, took part. The judges were all impressed by their knowledge of the most complex organ of all living beings: the human …

How to prepare for the IBO 2018?

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The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) is a yearly Biology competition for secondary school students, who are winners of their respective National Biology Olympiad. Their skills in tackling biological problems, and dealing with biological experiments are tested. For a successful performance interest in biology, inventiveness, creativity and perseverance are necessary. IBO gathers young people from over the world in an open, …

Virtual Laboratory Exercises

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Here are some useful links to find some simulations of lab experiments. Keep in mind that in the biology olympiad, practical skills are very important so don’t ignore it! https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-biology/classroom-resources/investigative-labs-comprehensive-links?course=ap-biology https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/biology https://www.golabz.eu/ http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs_2K8/

Amino acid properties

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Amino acids and their properties are commonly tested in the biology olympiad. Thus, we have created a useful handout which will help you learn amino acids fast.  You can find the handout below: Amino acid review handout

Summer research internships

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If you are wondering how to prepare for the biology practical exam, this article is for you. No matter whether you are preparing for the USA Biology Olympiad (USABO), International Biology Olympiad (IBO), British Biology Olympiad (BBO) or any other competition, the practical part of the competition might be a killer so read on and you will find some tips …

Dilutions: Explanations and Examples of Common Methods

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There are many ways of expressing concentrations and dilution. Using C1V1 = C2V2 To make a fixed amount of a dilute solution from a stock solution, you can use the formula: C1V1 = C2V2 where: V1 = Volume of stock solution needed to make the new solution C1 = Concentration of stock solution V2 = Final volume of new solution C2 = Final concentration of new …

How to get ready for the USABO Semifinals 2018

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Congratulations to everyone who qualified for the USABO Semifinals 2018! Congratulations to all of those who did not qualify, too – you did a great job and gained a lot of experience for the following years! Keep up the good work and you will qualify next year. 😉 Many students are wondering what the best way to prepare for the …

What’s new in the USABO Semifinal 2018

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2018 USABO Semifinal Exam Dates: March 19 to 23, 2018Time: 120 minutes for the exam.Place: A classroom monitored by a licensed teacher or school representative. The exams cannot be administered by a parent or at home. Students: Students who scored in the top 10% on the Open Exam. Each Test Administrator has been notified of students’ Semifinalist status via the …

What’s new in the 2018 USABO?

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Welcome to the 2018 USABO competition! The 2018 changes reflect the continued development and recognition of USABO where students who are passionate about biology find like-minded colleagues in the USA and abroad. USABO Registration Site Registriation fee has increased from $80 to $95. Please note this and be sure to notify you Financial Officer of this increase. CEE continues to …

Recommended chapters from key textbooks for the biology olympiad

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Many students are unsure about which chapters are the most important for the biology olympiad preparation. Below we compiled a list of the most essential textbook chapters to help you efficiently prepare for the biology olympiad. Vander et al.: Human Physiology: The Mechanism of Body Function, Eighth Edition 3 Cell Structure 7 Homeostatic Mechanisms and Cellular Communication 8 Neural Control …

Study Schedule

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A useful study schedule to guide you through the books. It includes the reading guide for these books: Campbell Biology Raven’s Biology of Plants Brooker’s Gentetics Sherwood Human Physiology Biochemistry by Richard Harvey Integrated Principles of Zoology, 11th Edition, Hickman et al. Vander’s Human Biology You can download the schedule below: Biology Olympiad Study Schedule

The International Brain Bee 2017 winners

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USA Student Wins World Neuroscience Competition Future neuroscientists from 25 countries around the world met in Washington, DC this week to compete in the nineteenth World Brain Bee Championship. The Brain Bee is a neuroscience competition for young students, 13 to 19 years of age. It was hosted by the American Psychological Association. The International Brain Bee President and Founder is Dr. Norbert Myslinski …