About.
Invitation
Schedule
Contest Date
January 19th, 2019
Contest Location
Elkins High School
7007 Knights Court, Missouri City, TX, 77459
Early (Online) Registration Open
NOW OPEN UNTIL January 17th, 2019!
(originally available until January 15th, 2019)
Late Registration (Walk-Ins) & Check-In
January 19th, 7:30am to 8:00am in the "Blue Hallway" side of the cafeteria
Number Sense
8:30am - 8:40am
Calculator Test
9:00am - 9:30am
General Math Test
9:50am - 10:30am
General Science Test
10:50am - 11:30am (Elementary & Middle School)
10:50am - 12:50pm (High School)
Concessions will not be sold at this tournament, so be sure to bring your own lunches!
Elementary School Awards
1:15pm - 1:45pm
Middle School Awards
2:00pm - 2:30pm
High School Awards
2:40pm - 3:10pm
Click here for a PDF version of the Schedule.
Test Information
Number Sense is a short-answer 10 minute test in which the competitor must answer 80 mental math problems, with no calculator allowed. There are tricks that exist to solve most of the problems that would normally seem preposterous to calculate mentally. Number Sense teaches a great sense of mathematical intuition and reflex. Speed, techniques, and the ability to work effectively under a time crunch are added to the student's repertoire of mathematical tools.
A pen must be used to solve the problems and absolutely no scratch work, overwrites, or crossing out is permitted. The score will be determined by the last problem attempted times 5 minus 9 times each problem skipped, missed, crossed out, or overwritten before it. Thus, it is not always the best idea to skip around the test or start from the back. Each answer can be expressed as a non-repeating rational number. Every 10 questions, students will approximate a complex calculation as an integer with 5% or less error from the actual value.
Calculator Applications is a 30 minute, short-answer test which, as evident in its name, requires a calculator. Calculator Applications teaches usage of effective problem solving skills under stressful scenarios and tests mechanical aptitude.
The test is composed of groups composed of pages each with 10 questions. The first 5 questions on a page will be "number crunchers," or algebraic expressions consisting of multiple operators that require speed typing into the calculator. The next three problems are stated problems, or word problems. These problems present textual scenarios that require computation of a certain quantity. Last, but not least, the remaining problems on the page are geometry problems, which depict a geometric arrangement of shapes or graphs and require the calculation of an unknown quantity when certain quantities, such as side length or volume, are given. Unlike Number Sense, work can be shown and write-overs and scratch-outs are acceptable.
For elementary and middle school students, the scoring is the same as number sense, and this test has 80 problems. The score will be determined by the last problem attempted times 5 minus 9 times each problem skipped, missed, crossed out, or overwritten before it and the same rules hold as far as the point system.
For high school students, the scoring is similar, but there are only 70 questions and 7 points are deducted for each question skipped or missed.
General Mathematics is a multiple choice exam that tests the student's knowledge of problem-solving skills and, as the name suggests, general mathematical knowledge and methods. The Mathematics exam instills an arsenal of mathematical knowledge and problem solving ability in the student.
The elementary and middle school topics usually range from basic arithmetic to rudimentary Algebra II, while the high school tests cover information acquired from Algebra I to Calculus BC.
For elementary and middle school students, no calculator is permitted. The test is 40 minutes long, has 50 questions, and, unlike Number Sense and Calculator Applications, permits skipping around. Five points are awarded per correct answer, and 2 points deducted for each wrong answer. No points are subtracted or added for questions omitted.
In high school, the rules are a bit different. The time limit is still 40 minutes, but there are now 60 questions to answer. Luckily, calculators are permitted. Each question answered correctly is now 6 points instead of 5, and 2 points will be deducted for each wrong answer.
Science is a multiple choice test and is considerably slower-paced than the other three. This is because it is mainly an exam of knowledge rather than ability. Practicing and studying for the science competition inspires a thirst for knowledge in the students which can be seen through success in school science courses.
In elementary and middle school, the scoring and test appearance are very similar to that of the Mathematics test, disregarding, naturally, the fact that these questions concern science. There are still 50 questions and 5 points per correct answer with a 2 point penalty for incorrect answers, and a 40 minute time limit. Since this is the last exam of the competition, students may leave after 20 minutes. Calculators are not allowed nor are they by any means required.
High school science is even slower-paced than middle school science, with 60 questions and 2 hours to answer them, although the student may leave after 45 minutes are over. The test is divided into three explicit sections: biology, chemistry, and physics. A calculator is allowed since precise numerical calculations may be necessary. The scoring rules are the same as high school Mathematics test (6 points for each correct answer, and 2 points for each incorrect answer), and each section of 20 question receives a score out of 120. These scores are then added together and a cumulative score is calculated. The top cumulative scorers in each grade level as well as the highest scorer(s) in each of the three individual subjects in the entire competition are awarded.