2009-2010 Log1 Contest

Test Descriptions and Samples

This page includes test descriptions, links to sample questions and test administration procedures. There are many more sample tests at the national site. The tests for this years Log 1 contest were chosen to model the kinds of tests that will be given at the 2010 National Convention in Washington D.C. There will be three rounds of testing; a) Topic Test 1/2, b) Topic Tests 3/4, and c) Individual overall knowledge and problem solving skills. There will be somewhat different versions of each of the tests for the different divisions: Theta, Alpha and Mu.

The FAMAT organization has put together a great online reference of past tests.

Log1 tests from 2008-2009: Individual, Circles, Geometry, Matrices, Number Theory.
Log1 tests from 2007-2008: Individual, Ciphering, Geometry, Applications and Logs/Exponents.

The division definitions are:
MU level is for full members who are enrolled in Calculus class.
ALPHA level is for full members who are enrolled in math courses above Algebra II but have not been enrolled in a Calculus class.
THETA level is for associate or full members are enrolled in Geometry and/or Algebra II but have not been enrolled in a higher level mathematics course.

Round 1 - Topic Test 1/2
There will be two topic areas that the students may choose between:
Logs/Exponents -This test will focus on utilizing properties of logs and exponents, natural logs, solving word problems, etc.
Probability -This test will focus on determining the likelihood of various situations using various mathematical approaches.

During each round, a link will be provided so that verified sponsors can download electronic copies of the tests and instructions. For the first round, there will be six tests (2 topics for 3 divisions). Sponsors should print the tests and make sufficient copies for their students and schedule a time duing the two-week testing period to administer the test. At the testing time, sponsors should distribute scratch paper and copies of the chosen tests to each student.

Each Topic Test will consist of fifteen open-answer problems to be solved without a calculator in thirty minutes. The Alpha division test will have at least three questions substituted for Theta questions and the Mu test will substitute at least an additional three questions. In each case, correct responses on the first five questions are worth 4 points, 5 points for questions 6 through 10 and the last five questions are each worth 6 points. At the conclusion of the test, sponsors should score each paper and enter the scores on the student information page. If there are any disputed questions or answers for which the sponsor concurs, please contact log1dispute@wamath.net. Scores may be entered or edited up to one week after the testing round ends.

Round 2 - Topic Test 3/4
There will be two topic areas that the students may choose between:
Sequences and Series - This test focuses on solving various geometric and arithmetic series and sequences.
Geometry - This test involves all aspects of geometry including polygons, similar objects, etc.

During each round, a link will be provided so that verified sponsors can download electronic copies of the tests and instructions. For the first round, there will be six tests (2 topics for 3 divisions). Sponsors should print the tests and make sufficient copies for their students and schedule a time duing the one-week testing period to administer the test. At the testing time, sponsors should distribute scratch paper and copies of the chosen tests to each student.

Round 3 - Individual Test
The individual test is adminstered in the same manner as the topic tests.It is a 15-problem, 30-minute, individual test of general mathematics knowledge. Problems, to be solved without a calculator, will range from easy to difficult, to provide confidence and challenges to all students. Problem selection and scoring will be the same as the topic tests.

Again, disputed questions may be submitted to log1dispute@wamath.net as soon as they are noted. We will verify the dispute and notify other schools if a change is necessary.

Scoring
Each student test score will be scaled to account for varying test difficulty. The test score will be divided by the maximum test score for that test and math division and multiplied by 100. A student’s overall score will be the sum of their scaled scores on the three tests and will thus be a whole number between zero and three hundred.