Road Scholar

Welcome to Road Scholar! In this event, participants will answer interpretive questions that may use one or more state highway maps, USGS topographic maps, Internet-generated maps, a road atlas, or satellite/aerial images.

The information below should not be interpreted as an extension of the rules. You can find free online copies of the current rules for download on the 2025 Rules page of the Science Olympiad website. The official rules in the current Rules Manual take precedence.

Resources & Links

• Sample Activities & Tasks
  • New 2025
• Basic Navigation - Map Reading Scotland video 
• How to Read A Map Blog
• Math In Road Scholar Handout - Updated for 2024
• Road Scholar Notes - Updated for 2024
• Coaching Notes - These documents are written to help explain and teach some key content behind this event
  • Notes on Watersheds
  • Notes on Latitude and Longitude
  • Notes on Latitude and Longitude Calculations
  • Notes on the Public Land Survey System
  • Notes on Compasses, Azimuths, and Bearings
  • Notes on the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System
  • Notes on Map Sector Reference Grids
  • Notes on Grades and Gradients
  • Notes on Contours and Elevations
• Road Scholar Example Questions - New 2024
• Road Scholar Practice Exam with Coaching Notes
  • Practice Exam
  • Exam Map
• Introduction to topographic maps video
• Introduction to magnetic declination video
• Recommended Road Scholar Equipment 
• Sample Student Map Design Exercise
• Course Outline
• USGS - Topographic Map Symbols
• USGS Map Locator
• USGS Teaching Resources

Science Olympiad Store Materials

• Starter Pack - Road Scholar 
• 2025 National Test Packet
• 2024 National Test Packet
• 2023 National Test Packet
• 2022 National Test Packet
• 2021 National Test Packet

Practice Problems & Tests

• Practice Test - 2025 Bulls SO Invitational 
• Practice Test - 2025 Purdue Invitational 
• Practice Test - 2025 USC Invitational
• Practice Test - 2025 UT Austin Invitational
• Practice Test - 2025 Mason High School Invitational
• Practice Test - 2023 Brown University Invitational
• Practice Test - 2023 Archimedean Invitational
• Practice Test - 2023 Sierra Vista Invitational
• Practice Test - 2023 University of Michigan Invitational
• Practice Test - 2023 University of Chicago Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 UT Austin Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 Rickards Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 Highlands Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 BullSO Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 National Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 UChicago Invitational
• Practice Test - 2021 UT Austin Invitational
• Practice Test - 2021 Troy High School Invitational
• Practice Test - 2021 BirdSO Invitational
• Competition Study Guide
  • Competition Study Guide (Answers)
• Sample Zombie Exercise
  • Zombie Introduction
  • Zombie Questions
  • Zombie Answer Sheets
  • Zombie Key
  • Zombie Coach Answers Part 1
  • Zombie Coach Answers Part 2
  • Zombie Map Scans 1-5
  • Zombie Map Scans 6-10
  • Zombie Map New Mexico
  • Zombie Map Washington

Event Supervisor Resources 

In addition to the resources on the Event Supervisors page, Road Scholar Event Supervisors should be sure to use the following resources:

• 2025 Event Logistics Resource 
• Event Supervisor Tips - Updated for 2025

Career Connections 

• CareerOneStop - Geographers Career Video
• CareerOneStop - Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Career Video
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Outlook: Surveying and Mapping Technicians
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Outlook: Cartographers and Photogrammetrists