Junior Science Olympiad: Preparation

The International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) is a major international academical competition held annually and the only international academical competition that covers physics, chemistry and biology at the same time. For the competition, each country may only send a team of up to 6 students, 15 or younger, and 3 official team leaders. Bangladesh has recently received the membership of IJSO.

This article is for the future IJSO participants. 

IJSO Preparation

Book Suggestion

1. Biology by EP Solomon, LR Berg and DW Martin

2. General Chemistry by Ebbing

3. College Physics by Alan Giambattista, Betty McCarthy Richardson, and Robert C. Richardson

4. Physics by by John D. Cutnell, Kenneth W. Johnson

Resources

1. IJSO Past Papers

    Check out the solutions carefully.

2. Hong Kong IJSO Training Manual 

   Check out each of the training manual carefully. This is extremely helpful.

3. Indian Junior Science Olympiad Papers

    INJSO Question Papers and Model Solutions.

4. IJSO Syllabus

Science Skills and Safety:

·         Understanding scientific methods and working in the laboratory.

·         Identify and use basic laboratory equipment

·         Draw scientific diagrams of apparatus

·         Follow instructions in the laboratory

·         Follow safety techniques when using equipment

·         Measure temperature and volume

·         Make observations using the five senses

·         Make inferences based on observations

·         Describe the scientific method

·         Record a science experiment using standard headings

·         Collect, represent and interpret data in tables and graphs

·         Use scientific language

How to win a Gold Medal at International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)?

What is required to be able to grasp the ideas of physics and solve problems so well that you could get a gold medal at IPhO? Do you need just to be gifted? Of course not, there are other students, who have solved a lot of problems – while you are thinking hard trying to "invent a bicycle", they are already writing the solution, because they had solved a similar problem earlier. Is it enough to solve a lot of problems and read a lot of problem solutions? Most often, no. Just solving or reading solutions, of course, will increase your technical skills, but you also need to think over, what were the main ideas which made it possible to solve the problem, and take these ideas into your permanent arsenal; if you solve too many problems, you don't have time to think over. Is it possible to learn "the art of problem solving" and if yes then how? Well, 99% of the Olympiad problems are solved using a rather limited set of ideas (for mathematics, that set is somewhat larger). So, if you acquire those ideas well enough – so that you can recognize them even if they are carefully hidden – then the IPhO gold will be yours! Do not worry, no-one expects you to discover a solving technique which has been never seen before, because that would be an achievement worth of a Nobel Prize!

300+ Scientific Olympiad Paper Links [Past Olympiad Papers]

Based On Country

• Bangladesh Mathematics Olympiad
• Bangladesh Physics Olympiad
• Bangladesh Informatics Olympia

• British Mathematics Olympiad
• British Physics Olympiad
• UK Chemistry Olympiad
• British Informatics Olympiad
• British Biology Olympiad

• South African Mathematics Olympiad
• South African Physics Olympiad

• Sri Lankan Mathematics Olympiad
• Sri Lankan Biology Olympiad
• Sri Lankan Physics Olympiad
• Sri Lankan Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad

Bangladesh Physics Olympiad (BdPhO) 2014 [Registration]

Bangladesh Physics Olympiad 2014 is going to take place soon. 

In the preliminary stage, the competition will held across the 7 divisions (Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet, Barishal, Khulna) and 3 regions (Mymensingh, Kushtia, Comilla).

The competition is divided into three categories
1. Category A : Class 7 and 8.
2. Category B : Class 9 and 10.
3. Category C : Class 11, 12 and Pre-University.

Top scorers from Divisional Olympiad will be selected for National Round to be held in Dhaka.

Divisional Physics Olympiad 2014 registrations for Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet,Chittagong and Mymensingh are in progress.

For Registration, Follow this Link.
For Preparation, Follow this Link.
For Recent Updates, Follow this Facebook Group of Bangladesh Physics Olympiad.

World Physics Olympiad (WoPhO)

World Physics Olympiad – Beat the Champion, a secondary school level individual physics competition, started in 2011. It is a unique competition.

This competition lasts for a full year in three rounds:

1. Selection round
2. Discussion round
3. Final round

Each round has its respective mission, i.e.:
1.      Selection round:  provides an opportunity for as many students as possible to participate in this physics competition based on internet technology.  Problems presented in the selection round will encourage students to study high-level physics.  Indirectly, the students will enhance their knowledge on physics. 
-> This round will run from February 1st to July 31st of each year. 
-> Participants solve the problems and submit the solutions via the internet.
-> Students not yet at university level by June 30th of the competition year.
-> Students under 20 years old by June 30th of the competition year. 

Bangladesh Biochemistry Olympiad 2013 [Registration]

5th Biochemistry Olympiad 2013

5th Biochemistry Olympiad will be held on 20th December, 2013 at Curzon Hall, University of Dhaka. Registration of the Olympiad has started from 16th August. For Details, Check the Biochemistry Olympiad Website.

For Preparation instruction, Check this Biochemistry: Preparation

InfoMatrix - International Computer Project Competition [Science Competition]

Have you heard about InfoMatrix?

InfoMatrix is an international computer project competition, born from a desire to bring the world's best IT students together. Every year it takes place at Romania, where IT geeks from all over the world compete with their project. In InfoMatrix, they've five categories, including Robotics, Computer Art, Programming, Short Movie, Hardware Control.

Check the website (Link) of InfoMatrix for more information about participation.

Science Olympiad Blog is proudly sponsored by Adroit Education - a Boutique College Consulting Firm that aides the gifted STEM Students to become the Next-Generation Researchers, Scholars, and Innovators by attending the finest American Universities.

Astronomy Olympiad: Preparation

The International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) is an annual astrophysics competition for high school students. Each national delegation is made up of at most five student competitors plus two leaders, selected on a national level.

International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics : Preparation 

• Syllabus of International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics.

• Useful Formulas for Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad

• Useful Formulas for "Spherical Astronomy" for Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad [Short Note II]

• Astronomy Olympiad Books (Latest)

Astronomy Textbooks

• "Fundamental Astronomy" by H. Karttunen, P. Kröger, H. Oja, M. Poutanen, Karl J. Donner

• "Astronomy: Principles and Practice" by A.E Roy and D. Clarke

• "Astronomy: Structure of the Universe" by A.E Roy and D. Clarke

• "The Physical Universe" by Frank Shu

• "An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics" by Bradley W. Carrol and Dale A. Ostile

• "Astronomy: A Physical Perspective" by Marc L. Kutner

• "Schaum’s Outline of Astronomy" by Stacey Palen

• "Universe" by Roger A. Freedman and William J. Kaufmann III

Physics Textbooks 

• "Fundamentals of Physics" by Robert Resnick, Jearl Walker, David Halliday

• "An Introduction to Mechanics" by Kleppner and Kolenkow

• "Physics" by John D. Cutnell, Kenneth W. Johnson

Observational Textbooks and Software

• Stellarium

• Useful Practical & Observational Skills for Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad [Short Note III]

• Sky and Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas

Past Papers

• International Astronomy Olympiad Problems with Solutions (2011-2014)

• Russian Open School Astronomical Olympiad by Correspondence Problems with Solutions (2005-2008)

• Indian National Astronomy Olympiad Problems with Solutions (2008-2014)

• Srilankan Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad Problems with Solutions (2007-2011)

• Romanian Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics Problems (2014)

• United States Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad Problems (2014)

• Bangladesh Astronomy Olympiad Problems

• "Astronomical Olympiad Problems" by V.G Surdin

• Proceedings of 3rd International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics

• Proceedings of 4th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics

Skills needed for Observational and Data Analysis Test

• How to search planets around

• About 40-50 constellations

• About 100-150 bright stars and their Bayer designation

• Positions of 40 easier "M" objects

• How to Measure Angle in the Sky

• How to Estimate Magnitude

• Exact Path of Ecliptic

• Errors and their Estimation

• Graph Plotting Techniques

Special Video Lectures and Notes

• Spherical Astronomy

• Doppler Effect

• "Physics I: Classical Mechanics" by Prof. Walter Lewin

• "Introduction to Astronomy" by Prof. Ronen Plesser

• HyperPhysics

• Useful Astronomy Links

Astronomy Olympiad Required Textbook Download Links

An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics. 

Since the National Astronomy Olympiad is coming up and there's been several complaints regarding the paucity of this amazing astronomy textbook, I've uploaded the book in the Dropbox.  It's in a DjView format. If you don't have a DjViewer, then please download this software into your computer first: WinDjView.

An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics reflects the dramatic changes and advancements in astrophysics that have occurred over the past decade. This is an excellent textbook introducing all the essentials of modern astrophysics, in a clear and systematic way. The book is much more theoretical and full to the brim with useful equations, facts, theorems, definitions, lots of worked examples, plenty of problems to challenge you.  This book is also an excellent support to prepare for the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics. 

Download Link:  An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics by Carroll & Ostile.

A Student's Guide to the Mathematics of Astronomy. 

This is an amazing book for the the beginners of Astronomy, written by by Daniel Fleisch and Julia Kregenow.  The authors have addressed the topics that students find most troublesome, ranging from stars and light to gravity and black holes. This book contains dozens of fully worked examples and over 150 exercises and homework problems. 

An accompanying website features a host of supporting materials, including interactive solutions for every exercise and problem in the text and a series of video podcasts in which the authors explain the important concepts of every section of the book.
To download the book, click here. 

Science Olympiad Blog is proudly sponsored by Adroit Education - a Boutique College Consulting Firm that aides the gifted STEM Students to become the Next-Generation Researchers, Scholars, and Innovators by attending the finest American Universities.

Biology Olympiad: Preparation

Biology Olympiad Resources

1. Syllabus of International Biology Olympiad (IBO). 
2. Sample Questions of IBO.  
3. Australian Biology Olympiad 
4. Sri Lankan Biology Olympiad
5. British Biology Olympiad
6. New Zealand Biology Olympiad
7. Khan Academy Biology.   
8.  MITOPENCOURSEWARE Biology 
9. Biology Olympiad Blog

Books
1. Biology by Neil A Campbell and Jane B Reece. 
2. A-Level Biology by W. D. Philips and T. J. Chilton. 
3. Biological Sciences By D. J. Taylor, N.P.O. Green and G. W. Stout.
4. Principles of Biochemistry A. L. Lehninger, D. L. Nelson.
5. The Nature of Life John Postlethwait and Janet Hopson.
6. Molecular Biology of the Cell Bruce Alberts, Dennis Bray, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts and James D. Watson.
7. Practical Skills in Biology Allan Jones, Rob Reed and J. Wyers Addison.

Science Olympiad Blog is proudly sponsored by Adroit Education - a Boutique College Consulting Firm that aides the gifted STEM Students to become the Next-Generation Researchers, Scholars, and Innovators by attending the finest American Universities.

Chemistry Olympiad: Preparation

Chemistry Olympiad: Resources

Physical Chemistry
1. Principles of Physical Chemistry by Maron & Prutton.
2. Physical Chemistry by P.W Atkins.

Organic Chemistry
1. Organic Chemistry by Morrison & Boyd.
2. Organic Chemistry by Carey.
3. Organic Chemistry- a brief course by Atkins & Carey.

Inorganic Chemistry
1. Concise Inorganic Chemistry by Lee.
2. Basic Inorganic Chemistry by Cotton, Wilkinson & Gaus.

Analytical Chemistry
1. Analytical Chemistry by Christian.
2. Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry by Skoog & West.
3. Principles of Instrumental Analysis, by Skoog.

Biochemistry
1. Principles of Biochemistry by Lehninger.
2. Biochemistry an Introduction by Mckee & Mckee.

General Chemistry
1. General Chemistry by Ebbing.

Practical Chemistry
1. Vogel's Textbook of Quantitative Chemical Analysis by Jeffrey, Bassett, Mendham & Denney.
2. Elementary Practical Organic Chemistry (Part 1, 2 and 3) by Arthur I.Vogel.
3. Techniques and Experiments for Organic Chemistry by Addison Ault.
4. Quantitative Analysis By Day & Underwood.

Past International Chemistry Olympiad Papers (1968-2014).

Science Olympiad Blog is proudly sponsored by Adroit Education - a Boutique College Consulting Firm that aides the gifted STEM Students to become the Next-Generation Researchers, Scholars, and Innovators by attending the finest American Universities.

Physics Olympiad: Preparation

The International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) is an annual physics competition for high school students. Each national delegation is made up of at most five student competitors plus two leaders, selected on a national level.

Bangladesh Physics Olympiad

Bangladesh Physics Olympiad Committee organizes BDPhO every year, and selects Bangladesh team for International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). Bangladesh Physics Olympiad usually takes place between November to January. Bangladesh Physics Olympiad has 3 Phases.

Phase I : Divisional Round.
Phase II : National Round.
Phase III: IPhO Team Selection Camp.

Important Links:
Bangladesh Physics Olympiad Website.
Bangladesh Physics Olympiad Facebook Group.
Syllabus of the BDPhO.
Past Papers of the BdPhO. 

If you want to compete at the national or upper level physics olympiad, you should at least complete the book "Physics, Volume 1 & 2 by David Halliday, Robert Resnick and Kenneth S. Krane"

This is an undergraduate level textbook, and you need to have a decent knowledge of univariate calculus to sink your teeth into it. If you can solve 80% of the problems of Halliday, Resnick and Krane - you can start with the Past IPhO Question Papers. Note: As the scope of the syllabus has changed, it is a waste to try to handle question papers from pre-1998 era.

Suggested By: Professor Arshad Momen, Coach, Bangladesh Physics Olympiad Team.

International Physics Olympiad : Preparation 

•  Syllabus of the IPhO.

If you are a beginner you can start with non-calculus physics textbooks:

• "College Physics" by Alan Giambattista, Betty McCarthy Richardson, and Robert C. Richardson
• "Physics", 7th Edition by John D. Cutnell, Kenneth W. Johnson

Study first year level university physics.

• "Physics", Volume 1 & 2 by David Halliday, Robert Resnick and Kenneth S. Krane
•  "University Physics with Modern Physics with Mastering Physics™", 12th edition, by Hugh D. Young and Roger A. Freedman
• "Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics" by Raymond A. Serway and John W. Jewett, Jr.
• Upgrade Your Physics by The British Physics Olympiad

Interesting Resources for General Physics and Mathematics:

• "Street-Fighting Mathematics" - The Art of Educated Guessing and Opportunistic Problem Solving
• Project PHYSNET PDF Modules - Concise summaries of physics topics with exercises
• Jaan Kalda Resources
• KoMaL Magazine Resources
• Online Physics BRAWL

Textbooks on specific topics:

• "An Introduction to Mechanics" by Kleppner and Kolenkow
• "Classical Mechanics" by John R. Taylor
• "Introduction to Classical Mechanics with Problems and Solutions" by David Morin
• "Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems" by Jerry B. Marion and Stephen T. Thornton
• "Special Relativity" by A.P. French
• "Vibrations and Waves" by A.P. French
• "Introduction to Electrodynamics, 3rd ed." by David J. Griffiths
• "Electricity and Magnetism" by Edward M. Purcell
• "Electromagnetic Fields and Waves" by Paul Lorrain and Dale Corson

Practice working out theoretical problems

• Past IPhO Papers with Solutions Compilation (1967-2010)
• Past IPhO papers (From 1967 to 2014 - Separated)
• Past APhO papers
• Samples and Past Papers from The British Physics Olympiad
• POPTOR Past Problems and Solutions
• US Physics Olympiad Exams Documents
• BAUPC Exams and Solutions
• Estonian-Finnish Olympiad in Physics
• Hong Kong Physics Olympiad Training Materials
• FYKOS, Charles University, Prague 
• "Problems in General Physics" by I. E. Irodov
• Solutions to I. E. Irodov's "Problems in General Physics"
• Physics Problems
• Problem of the Week by David Morin - Harvard Physics
• "Cavendish Problems in Classical Physics" by A.B. Pippard
• "Cambridge Problems in Physics and Advice on Solutions" by P.P. Dendy, R. Tuffnell and C.H.B. Mee
• "200 Puzzling Physics Problems with Hints and Solutions" by Peter Gnadig, Gyula Honyek and Ken Riley
• "Physics by Example - 200 Problems and Solutions" by W.G. Rees
• Selected problems from "A Guide to Physics Problems", Part 1 and Part 2 by Sidney B. Cahn and Boris E. Nadgorny
• "Problems and Solutions on Mechanics" by Yung-Kuo Lim
• "Problems and Solutions on Atomic, Nuclear and Particle Physics" by Yung-Kuo Lim
• "Problems and Solutions on Electromagnetism" by Yung-Kuo Lim
• "Problems and Solutions on Optics : Major American Univ. PhD Qualifying Questions and Solutions" by Yung-Kuo Lim
• "Problems and Solutions on Solid State Physics, Relativity and Miscellaneous Topics" by Yung-Kuo Lim
• "Problems and Solutions on Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics" by Yung-Kuo Lim
• Useful Hints for Solving Physics Olympiad Problems

Practice doing experiments

• Past IPhO papers
• Past APhO papers
• Practical Physics, 4th Edition by G. L. Squires
• Student Laboratory Handbook
• An Introduction to Error Analysis, 2nd Edition by John R. Taylor
• Data and Error Analysis Note

Courtesy: How to Prepare for Physics Olympiad

Physics Olympiad Interesting Textbook/Course Download Links

Physics Olympiad: Basic to Advanced Exercises

This book contains some of the problems and solutions in the past domestic theoretical and experimental rounds of Japan Physics Olympiad. Through the exercises, this book aim at introducing the appeal and interest of modern physics to high-school students. 

In particular, the problems for the second-round of competition are like long journey of physics, beginning with fundamental physics of junior-high-school level, and ending with the forefronts of updated physics and technology.

You can download the book from here.

MIT OCW: Physics I and II

Physics I is a first-year physics course which introduces students to classical mechanics. This course has a hands-on focus, and approaches mechanics through take-home experiments. Topics include: kinematics, Newton's laws of motion, universal gravitation, statics, conservation laws, energy, work, momentum, and special relativity.

Physics II is the second semester of introductory physics. The focus is on electricity and magnetism.

MIT OCW has selected relevant material from MIT's introductory physics courses to support students as they study for the AP Physics curriculum. The videos are extremely helpful for beginner level understanding of Physics. 

To download all the videos, click here DOWNLOAD LINK.

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Earth Science Olympiad: Preparation

Please read the lastest post on preparation for the International Earth Science Olympiad. Preparation for International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) [Preparation Guideline]

Science Olympiad Blog is proudly sponsored by Adroit Education - a Boutique College Consulting Firm that aides the gifted STEM Students to become the Next-Generation Researchers, Scholars, and Innovators by attending the finest American Universities.

[Old Post] This post is for those who are preparing for the Earth Science Olympiad. Earth Olympiad generally tests your knowledge on Geology, Meteorology, Astronomy, and Environmental Sciences.

National Earth Olympiad Preparation Materials 

Preparatory Books

• High School Earth Science

• Khan Academy Earth Geological and Climate History. 

• Tulane University Earth and Environmental Sciences by Stephen A. Nelson.

• Earth Science (Geology, Environment and Universe) By McGrawhills Glencoe Series. 

• CliffsNotes Physical Geology by Mark J. Crawford.

• CliffsNotes Earth Science.

• Planet Earth by Cesare Emiliani. 

Question Papers

• National Earth Olympiad 2012 (Dhaka Division)

• IESO Questions Paper (2007-2009)

• IESO Question Paper (2010-2013)

• IESO Question Paper 2007

• IESO Question Paper 2008

• IESO Question Paper 2009

• IESO Question Paper 2010

• IESO Question Paper 2011

• IESO Question Paper 2012

• IESO Question Paper 2013

• Indian Earth Science Olympiad 2010

• Indian Earth Science Olympiad 2011

Special Notes

• IESO Preparation Material (Geomorphic Processes and Evolution of Landforms)

• IESO Preparation Material (Physical Oceanography) 

• IESO Preparation Material (Paleontology)

• IESO Preparation Material (Physical Geology and Geodynamics)

• IESO Preparation Material (Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks)

NEO Preparation Series

• NEO Preparation I