FAQ

• Science Olympiad (SO) is a nationwide competition, starting at Regional level. Top teams will advance to State level, and No. 1 in State will advance to National level. 

• There are 23 events that include 5 categories: 

  1. 1. 1. Life, Personal & Social Science

        2. Earth & Space Science

        3. Chemistry & Physics

        4. Technology & Engineering Design

        5. Inquiry & Nature of Science

• Science Olympiad Event Types

  1. Core Knowledge/Study Event: An event where participants are given a set of topics that they are expected to research and master the factual content. Mastery is then demonstrated at a tournament by taking a paper-pencil or computer test. 

  2. Building Event: An event where participants are given some specifications about a device or object they are expected to design, create, and test in advance of the tournament. The devices or objects are often modified on site to account for an unknown parameter prior to testing or evaluation. 

  3. Laboratory/Hands-On Event: An event where participants are given a general topic in which they will be expected to deepen their content knowledge of the topic and associated research techniques prior to the tournament. At the tournament the they will be assessed by the completion of a hands-on task, which may or may not require a written report, within a defined timeframe. 

  4. Hybrid Event: An event which contains elements from two, or more, of the above event types in combination. The most common combination mixes elements of a Core Knowledge event with elements of a Building event. 

• Each school can have 1 or more teams. One team consists of up to 15 students. Each student can compete in 1-3 events. 

• There are two divisions 

• Division B for 5th - 8th graders.  Torrey Hills will compete in Division B.

• Division C for 9th - 12th graders.

• There are 23 events in 5 categories https://www.soinc.org/events/2025-division-b-events

• LIFE, PERSONAL & SOCIAL SCIENCE

  • Anatomy and Physiology

  • Disease Detectives

  • Ecology

  • Forestry

  • Microbe Mission

• EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE

  • Dynamic Planet

  • Fossils

  • Meteorology

  • Reach for the Stars

  • Road Scholar

• PHYSICAL SCIENCE & CHEMISTRY

  • Air Trajectory

  • Can't Judge a Powder

  • Crime Busters

  • Optics

  • Wind Power

• TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING

  • Flight

  • Roller Coaster

  • Tower

  • Wheeled Vehicle

• INQUIRY & NATURE OF SCIENCE

  • Codebusters

  • Experimental Design

  • Fast Facts

  • Write It Do It

• A team consists of up to 15 students. 

• 1, 2 or 3 events

• There will be weekly 1- 1.5 hours class for each event.  Students may need more time to do homework and review the material.

• The event coach will determine the location of the class.  

To cover:

• Study materials

• Building materials

• Lab supplies

• Registration fee

• Competition Day food and drinks

• T shirts

• Classroom rentals

• Sign up for an event coach.

• Be supportive

• Help with competition day 

• Make a donation to PTA