Slovak Physics Olympiad Cat A exam-day guide
Slovak Physics Olympiad Cat A · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official invitation or registration confirmation
Bring the letter or email naming the venue, date, and start time. If you have not received one, confirm the arrangements with the organizing institution (typically the regional/national olympiad committee) before travelling.
Student ID or other photo identification
Bring a government-issued or school photo ID. The exact accepted documents are set by the organizer, so confirm with the provider what counts as valid ID.
Written confirmation of permitted aids
Rules on calculators, formula collections, tables, and printed materials vary by year and round. Ask the organizer in advance exactly which aids are allowed and bring only those.
Own pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, ruler, and geometry set
Bring spare writing instruments and a straightedge/compass set in case graphical work is required. Do not assume the venue supplies stationery.
Non-programmable calculator (only if explicitly permitted)
Confirm with the provider whether calculators are allowed and whether programmable or graphing models are banned. Bring the simplest model that meets the stated rules.
Wristwatch
A simple watch helps you pace yourself if the room clock is hard to see. Confirm whether smartwatches are prohibited; assume they are and leave them at home.
Water and a light snack
Practical sessions can be long. Confirm whether food and drink are allowed at the bench; some laboratories restrict drinks near equipment.
Transport and arrival plan
Know the venue location, the earliest arrival time, and how long registration takes. Aim to arrive well before the stated start; confirm the exact reporting time with the organizer.
Review of the syllabus and past practical tasks
Re-read the official syllabus for Category A and practise the standard practical skills (measurement, error estimation, graphing, data tables). Use only official or openly available materials.
Rest and logistics the night before
Sleep adequately, pack your bag the evening before, and set two alarms. Fatigue is a bigger risk than an unfamiliar formula.
Clarify scoring and time allocation in advance
If the organizer publishes the number of tasks, total time, and mark distribution, read it beforehand so you can plan your pacing. If not published, confirm with the provider.
Emergency contact and phone
Carry a charged phone for logistics, but confirm the policy on bringing phones into the exam room; most organizers require them to be switched off and stored away.
Plan the day
Confirm venue, reporting time, permitted aids, and ID requirements with the organizer. Re-read the Category A syllabus and the practical-skills list. Do one timed practice practical task under exam-like conditions.
Review error analysis, significant figures, and graph plotting by hand. Practise writing a clean data table and a short conclusion. Check your geometry set and calculator (if permitted) are working.
Pack your bag: ID, invitation, pens, pencils, ruler, geometry set, watch, water. Reconfirm transport and arrival time. Do light revision only; avoid learning new material. Sleep on schedule.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early, and locate the registration point and laboratory. Keep your phone switched off and stored as instructed. Read any posted instructions carefully before entering.
Read all tasks and the mark allocation before starting. Note the total time and divide it across tasks, reserving time to check units, significant figures, and that every question is answered.
Work methodically: record raw readings with units, repeat measurements where sensible, estimate uncertainties, and plot graphs neatly with labelled axes. If a piece of apparatus misbehaves, report it to the invigilator and note it in your answer.
Check that all answers are legible, units are consistent, and no question is blank. Confirm your name and candidate details are filled in as instructed.
Rules to check
Bring and display the identification required by the organizer; if you are unsure what is accepted, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Bring only the aids explicitly permitted for that round. Ask the organizer in advance about calculators, formula sheets, and printed materials; do not assume anything is allowed.
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times, including on phone storage, seating, and movement around the laboratory.
Handle apparatus and chemicals safely and as instructed; report breakages, spills, or faulty equipment immediately rather than improvising.
Breaks and leaving the room are at the invigilator's discretion; confirm the policy with the provider rather than assuming you may leave and return.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the session; suspected misconduct is handled under the organizer's rules, which you should confirm with the provider.
Scoring, mark allocation, and any penalties are set by the organizing committee; read the published instructions for your round and confirm details with the provider if unclear.
Write your answers in the format requested (units, significant figures, answer sheets) and submit all materials as directed before leaving.