Forensics C

[Phenylethylamine]

How was the multiple-choice on the Nationals test? Did your sheet help or was the multiple-choice part something that you either knew or didn't know?

There was no multiple choice– just 207 short-answer questions, some based on tests you had to run there, others on your knowledge. But yes, our sheet was helpful for many of the knowledge (as opposed to test-based) questions.

[salcedam]

How was the multiple-choice on the Nationals test? Did your sheet help or was the multiple-choice part something that you either knew or didn't know?

There was no multiple choice– just 207 short-answer questions, some based on tests you had to run there, others on your knowledge. But yes, our sheet was helpful for many of the knowledge (as opposed to test-based) questions.

Ah! Sorry! Misread your other post as "multiple-choice" for some reason...XD

What sorts of questions were asked?

[Phenylethylamine]

How was the multiple-choice on the Nationals test? Did your sheet help or was the multiple-choice part something that you either knew or didn't know?

There was no multiple choice– just 207 short-answer questions, some based on tests you had to run there, others on your knowledge. But yes, our sheet was helpful for many of the knowledge (as opposed to test-based) questions.

Ah! Sorry! Misread your other post as "multiple-choice" for some reason...XD

What sorts of questions were asked?

The powders section, which was around 50 questions, looked something like this:

1. Identify powder 1.
2. On what basis did you make your identification?
3. Which suspect does this evidence incriminate?
4. Unrelated other question- something along the lines of "How would you identify [powder]?", "Write out the reaction between [powder] and [reagent].", "Which powder would be indicated by [result (e.g., a red flame test)]?"
5. Identify powder 2.
6. On what basis...

And so on.

[salcedam]

Thanks, Phenylethylamine! Any tips on preparing for next year based on the Nationals test? Things to study, stuff to add to the sheet, etc.?

[Phenylethylamine]

Thanks, Phenylethylamine! Any tips on preparing for next year based on the Nationals test? Things to study, stuff to add to the sheet, etc.?

Definitely have the formulas for every powder, maybe some uses, and a very specific flow chart of how to identify every powder.

Based on what my partner was doing, know how to do sheet chromatography (i.e., multiple samples on a single sheet, rather than individual strips) and not necessarily with pens (at Nationals it was juices), density tests for the polymers, and weird types of hair/fiber (apparently there was bat hair at Nationals).

Also, for this event writer but also for the event in general, you need to work fast. 207 questions is a lot to do in 50 minutes.