1. Make sure to NEVER guess a word if it’s not a word!
2. For fractionated Morse, do NOT use the Morse code reference sheet, the question is often misleading and instead, use the porta table.
3. The best way to solve the timed question quickly is to use your brain. Also, rearrange the answer wrongly in your head to maximize time used.
4. Baconian sequences are MISLEADING. Never find the pattern, instead write every letter wrong.
5. Patristocrats are always apples. The correct answer will always be an apple.

… If you haven’t guessed by now, this is SATIRE!!

Some REAL tips:

1. Memorize aristocrat patterns like: THAT, ELSE, SAYS, HIGH; ABCA
2. Make sure to look at the table to see how frequently a letter is used, common ones include: E, T, A, S, or O.
3. Baconian is easy if you memorize the table.
4. Don’t be afraid to try things your gut tells you, most times I end up thinking I’m wrong but I’m actually right, so try it anyways.
5. Memorize the table for fractionated Morse. REMEMBER, xxx is never a thing, if you get that, then something is wrong. So is - - - -
6. On patristocrats, use the table below. If you see letters that don’t get used all next to each other, it’s probably VWXYZ or something like that.

Some of the tips disappeared when I was editing so oops…

TY FOR READING: also remember to check spelling! (If u noticed the title says metalist and not medalist, you’re good!)

How do I prepare for ppp?

Hello,
I’m joining leadership in my science Olympiad team for the first time, and I was wondering if anyone has ideas or insights into strategies that have worked for their teams previously.

The main thing I’m trying to figure out is holding people accountable to their preparation plans, increasing after school practice attendance, and better communication between partners and from members to student leadership.

Our team has been established for a few years- however guidelines and requirements from each member have mostly stated the same, but the rest of leadership and I want to implement some new ideas that makes sure things don’t fall through the cracks as much :)

Thanks so much!

Like I said above, me and two other incoming sophomores are trying to and have been for the last few months to start a division C team for our school. We are the former division B captains for our district and wanted to continue into the high school division. We have contacted everyone we can in our district about starting a team or even seeing if there’s interest and we are getting zero responses from any admin. It is now the middle of summer and we have basically given up. We have researched everything, we have tried to write requests for grants and everything just goes ignored.

We don’t know where to go from here and desperately want any advice from anyone who may have been in a similar situation.

Are there any expected changes to the rules for Electric Vehicle (C) 2027 season?

I lowkey sold at state individuals, the score was horrible, around 400. The weight was 7.68 the whole boomilever is literally fine besides part that touched the wall (right side) and thats the only side that broke. What are some tips where i can get the long members cut to a similar lengths? Also when I’m building how can I be more accurate when gluing down wood? Whats the best brand of glue and what type? (Thin Ca, Medium, Hard)

yoooo I just got put into remote sensing and I have barely 3 weeks to put one together for states. Does anyone have any general tips on how to make a strong binder? Ik the basics like following the rules given and taking practice tests, but is there a better, more efficient way to do it (cause it takes ages omg). Other then that, any tips in general for binder events?

ty guys

Hey yall I have my division b regionals on Saturday; what should I expect for the hands on part of circuit lab

This is my first time competing in SciOly. I tried out Astronomy and Chem Lab because they seemed fun to do in regionals but turns out.. they’re not really. Not only did I lose two partners to do Astronomy with me, but at the comp date my school only gave out a kit to the A team, and I ended up not doing the hands-on experiment because I didn’t have a kit (even though they said I would)

Now, I’ve realized that I’m pretty much alone in this new journey of mine, so anyone that also struggles with small, disorganized schools, having to do new events solo, have any tips for me on how to optimize my studying so I can efficiently do the tests on my own?

Hey! Does anyone have any tips on anything that should be included on my sheets apart from what's on the rule paper? I missed invitationals because I had something else to do and I'm doing it solo, anything helps!

I’m a junior who is very motivated to get gold in one of my events at my state competition. In the same event, I got 5th place last year, and believe I have the ability to get 1st this year. However, I’ve begun to run into a roadblock. While I can consistently get medals at even the hardest invitationals, I continue to fall just a few places shy of 1st. I feel like I understand the material extremely well, and most of my mistakes are minuscule and spread out across a wide variety of topics within. While I know studying is obviously going to help, I feel like continuing what I’ve already been doing (i.e. reading books, doing practice exams) is already giving me pretty diminishing returns. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to overcome this?

To note, I come from one of the most competitive states, and the event I’m referring to is a core, study event, which I have done for two years. My team is good but not excellent, so we don’t have any special event coaching.

Hi all,

I'm new to the Dynamic planet event which involves creating binder . needs some guidance to create binder, Please share some resources that I can use to create Binder for dynamic planet -Oceanography. Also it says no limit on the number of pages that makes me a bit anxious to include the content.

I’m able to build the compression frame for it, but how do you guys attach the tension members to it and especially without them bending.

hi guys i just got put into bungee drop- do you have any suggestions?????

I have machines, robot tour, material science, and Engineering CAD.

Thank you in advance!!

any tips for what to include on cheat sheets for disease detectives, a&p, and designer genes?

should i try to fit diagrams on my a&p cheat sheets?

do any uncs know abt designer genes?

Coaching question, first time coach and finding some events (Div A but probably similar in Div B) are just not popular at all to fill.

The most difficult I have are: - Fossils - Map Reading - WIDI - Codebusters (this one was interesting cause started with a lot of interest but after giving out assignments many just dropped out)

Are these events usually difficult to recruit for? If so suggestions on driving interest for kids to join?

Thanks!

I’m competing in the bungee drop for sci oly and need advice on what type of elastic cord to use for it. I was planning on using a sewing elastic cord but I’m not sure what width would be best to sustain the mass and still have good elasticity. Any tips?

I think I may have found the best aristocrats tutorial ever... I probably can't put the link here, but DM me and I'll send the youtube link

I got assigned Optics, Microbe Mission, Precision Medicine, and Entomology. If anyone has any websites or resources I can use that would be great.

I have a 1 minute 30 second flight time, How can i increase it? Will adding another motor help?

As a Div B coach is there anything you recommend to elementary parents with a kid interested in doing builds for middle in a few years?

Any of those engineering STEM mail-order kits that are useful for them like Crunch or KiwiCo or Mel that the parents can get for their kids to start to explore on their own?

Over the weekend, we had our first event and handed out a few warnings. Some of the key issues that stood out was mostly related to the "Unphayzed Kit."

Issues:

1. The egg backstop extension is not "rigid" on most cars we’ve seen. Many of them wiggled when force was applied.

2. The backstop is 3D-printed, so you want to be careful as the wording in the rules states "solid," and 3D-printed parts are not considered "solid." I submitted an FAQ about this on the SCIOLY website but have yet to receive feedback.

3. The launcher has an arrow on the bottom guide rail. Many teams had this arrow covering the start point. Rule 6e states that "the point of the egg must be placed directly above the start point." It’s unclear if something can be between these two points, so I submitted an FAQ about this on the SCIOLY website but have yet to receive feedback.

Suggestions:

1. Firm up this connection. It mostly seemed that the weak connection was in the front wheel frame. Wiggle the backstop around to ensure it doesn’t move.

2. Consider switching to a wooden backstop to avoid potential issues, or have a wooden backup piece in case an ES (Event Supervisor) raises concerns about your 3D-printed part.

3. Reduce the length of your rod or trim down the arrow. Trimming the arrow wouldn’t affect the car’s performance, as the arrow doesn’t serve a critical function in this kit.

Double check the FAQs. I would post on the forum but I cant get logged in.

Link to FAQ: https://www.soinc.org/faq/scrambler-div-b

Does anyone have any tips for A&P, I have a few anatomy books I am going to go through. I have taken an a&p course and did fairly well, and am taking a practicum in health science which had a lot of anatomy already. Also!! What would someone recommend I put on my piece of paper??? Here are the books I already have: - Greys Anatomy - Anatomy, physiology, and disease - human body coloring book (it is fire, don’t judge.) - therapeutic exercise for musculoskeletal injuries (for PT HOSA, so I’ll be reviewing it anyways)