Rules Clarifications
Clarifications & FAQs open October 1 and close May 1. Official Rules Clarifications/Changes are made to correct the rules in the Science Olympiad Rules Manuals. FAQs are replies to commonly asked questions. If a FAQ reply changes the meaning or corrects a rule it will be posted as a Clarification. The Official Rules Clarifications and FAQs apply to all states and all tournaments and originate at the National level (please check your Regional or State Website for special updates pertaining to your regional or state events). Click here to view Event FAQs or to Submit a Question. The official event rules can be found in the Science Olympiad Rules Manual free online and in print versions; each registered member must join through their state Science Olympiad organization to participate.
2023 Science Olympiad Rules Clarifications/Changes
Science Olympiad is issuing Rules Clarifications/Changes for the following competitive events that should be applied to all competitions for the 2023 Season:
Astronomy (Division C)
10/19/22
Sections 3.c.xiv, 3.c.xv., & 3.c.xvi
The following Clarification/Change is being issued to address a formatting mistake.
Original Text
3.c.xiv. 47 Tucanae
3.c.xv. X9
3.c.xvi. SN 2008D
Corrected Text/Clarification/Change
3.c.xiv. 47 Tucanae X9
3.c.xv. X9
3.c.vvi.3.cxv. SN 2008D
Bridge (Divisions B & C)
10/19/22
Section 6
The following Clarification/Change is being issued to address extraneous text that was included in the section during formatting.
Original Text
6. Test Apparatus: A list of possible questions, tasks, stations and/or examples that will help to demonstrate how the event may be run.
Corrected Text/Clarification/Change
6. Test Apparatus: A list of possible questions, tasks, stations and/or examples that will help to demonstrate how the event may be run.
Detector Building (Division C)
10/19/22
Section 5.Part II.a.ix.(4) & Section5.Part II.a.ix.(5)
The following Clarification/Change is being issued to address a formatting error. The new 5.II.b. and 5.II.c. should apply to all tournaments at all levels.
Original Text
5.Part II.a.ix
(4) Unless otherwise requested, answers must be in metric units with appropriate significant figures.
(5) While working on the written test teams are not allowed to use any laptops they may have brought with them
Corrected Text/Clarification/Change
5.Part II.a.ix
b.(4) Unless otherwise requested, answers must be in metric units with appropriate significant figures.
c.(5) While working on the written test teams are not allowed to use any laptops they may have brought with them
Forestry (Divisions B & C)
10/26/22
2023 National Tree List
The following Clarification/Change is being issued to address a misspelling on Page 2 in Column 1, Line 4 of the List.
Original Text
Moris rubra (Red Mulberry)
Corrected Text/Clarification/Change
MorisMorus rubra (Red Mulberry)
11/21/22
2023 National Tree List
The following Clarification/Change is being issued to address misspellings on National Tree List.
Original Text
Pinus attenuate(Knobcone Pine) Page 1 in Column 1, Line 22
Pinus echinate (Shortleaf Pine) Page 1 in Column 1, Line 25
Pinus monophyla (Singleleaf Pinyon) Page 1 in Column 1, Line 29
Taxodium distichum (Baldcypress) Page 1 in Column 1, Line 50
Magnolia grandifloria (Southern Magnolia) Page 2 in Column 1, Line 7
Corrected Text/Clarification/Change
Pinus attenuate attenuata (Knobcone Pine) Page 1 in Column 1, Line 22
Pinus echinate echinata (Shortleaf Pine) Page 1 in Column 1, Line 25
Pinus monophyla monophylla (Singleleaf Pinyon) Page 1 in Column 1, Line 29
Taxodium distichum (Baldcypress Bald Cypress) Page 1 in Column 1, Line 50
Magnolia grandifloria grandiflora (Southern Magnolia) Page 2 in Column 1, Line 7
It's About Time (Division C)
10/26/22
Section 2.e.
The following Clarification/Change is being issued to remove text that was not removed during final edits concerning the Digital Fabrication section of the Building Policy as there is no such thing.
Original Text
2.e. Participants must be able to answer questions regarding the design, construction, and operation of the device per the Building Policy. Per the Digital Fabrication section of that policy, teams may use 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC mills, and other similar machines as a tool to construct all or part of their device. Teams are encouraged to design customized tool files/models (e.g., CAD, STL, OBJ) from scratch and should review the complete policy on www.soinc.org for more details and examples.
Corrected Text/Clarification/Change
2.e. Participants must be able to answer questions regarding the design, construction, and operation of the device per the Building Policy. Per the Digital Fabrication section of that policy, Teams may use 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC mills, and other similar machines as a tool to construct all or part of their device. Teams are encouraged to design customized tool files/models (e.g., CAD, STL, OBJ) from scratch and should review the complete policy on www.soinc.org for more details and examples.
Rocks and Minerals (Divisions B & C)
10/19/22
Section 2.a.
The following Clarification/Change is being issued to address a formatting error where text was needlessly repeated.
Original Text
2.a. Each team may bring one three-ring binder of any size containing information in any form and from any source attached using the available rings. Sheet protectors, lamination, tabs, and labels are permitted. If the event features a rotation through a series of laboratory stations where the participants interact with samples, specimens, or displays, no material may be removed from the binder throughout the event.
Corrected Text/Clarification/Change
2.a. Each team may bring one three-ring binder of any size containing information in any form and from any source attached using the available rings. Sheet protectors, lamination, tabs, and labels are permitted. If the event features a rotation through a series of laboratory stations where the participants interact with samples, specimens, or displays, no material may be removed from the binder throughout the event.
2023 Rocks and Minerals List
The following Clarification/Change is being issued to address a formatting error in Column 2, Lines 26 & 27 where text was needlessly indented as Willemite and Zircon are not members of the Tourmaline Group.
Original Text
Tourmaline Group1
Willemite*
Zircon*
Corrected Text/Clarification/Change
Tourmaline Group1
Willemite*
Zircon*
Scrambler (Division C)
11/09/22
Section 3.e.
The following Clarification/Change is being issued to address an error regarding the expected thickness of the backstop of the Egg Transfer Vehicle.
Original Text
3.e. The egg must rest on two (2) 1⁄4” wooden dowels which extend out between 3.0 and 4.0 cm from a rigid, unpadded and flat (no unfilled holes) backstop for the egg. The bottom of the wooden dowels must be between 5.0 and 10.0 cm above the track and within 1.0 cm from the bottom of the backstop. The egg backstop must be built of any rigid material, and it must have a flat surface of 5.0±0.5 cm wide by 5.0±0.5 cm high by 1.27 cm (0.50”) thick. Nominal blemishes which do not affect the point of contact of the egg with the backstop are allowed. A diagram of the backstop will be available on www.soinc.org. One or more violations of this paragraph counts as a single Construction Violation.
Corrected Text/Clarification/Change
3.e. The egg must rest on two (2) 1⁄4” wooden dowels which extend out between 3.0 and 4.0 cm from a rigid, unpadded and flat (no unfilled holes) backstop for the egg. The bottom of the wooden dowels must be between 5.0 and 10.0 cm above the track and within 1.0 cm from the bottom of the backstop. The egg backstop must be built of any rigid material, and it must have a flat surface of 5.0±0.5 cm wide by 5.0±0.5 cm high by 1.27 cm (0.50”) thick 1.1 cm or thicker. Nominal blemishes which do not affect the point of contact of the egg with the backstop are allowed. A diagram of the backstop will be available on www.soinc.org. One or more violations of this paragraph counts as a single Construction Violation.
Sounds of Music (Division B)
10/19/22
Section 6.b.iv.
The following Clarification/Change is being issued to address a content error regarding scoring and the points allocation for this event.
Original Text
6.b.iv. Song Score (SS) = (Device Song Score/Highest Device Song Score of all teams) x 15 points
Corrected Text/Clarification/Change
6.b.iv. Song Score (SS) = (Device Song Score/Highest Device Song Score of all teams) x 15 points 20 points
10/31/22
Song Excerpts
The following Clarification/Change is being issued to replace the song excerpt for State Tournaments, Battle Hymn of the Republic, because it contains notes across more than one octave. A new song excerpt will be posted on the Sounds of Music Event Page once it has been identified.
Wheeled Vehicle (Division B)
10/19/22
Section 5.b.ii
The following Clarification/Change is being issued to address a content error regarding the appropriate distance for a marking on the track.
Original Text
5.b.ii. 0.25 m Timing Line - a line of 2.5 cm tape, approximately 70 cm long, to be placed perpendicular to and centered on te imaginary Center Line. The edge of the line closest to the Start Point must be 0.25 cm from the Start Point.
Corrected Text/Clarification/Change
5.b.ii. 0.25 m Timing Line - a line of 2.5 cm tape, approximately 70 cm long, to be placed perpendicular to and centered on te imaginary Center Line. The edge of the line closest to the Start Point must be 0.25 cm m from the Start Point.
