2007-2008 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 2008 National Convention in Sacramento. There will be three rounds of testing; a) special knowledge in a particular topic, b) quick mathematical reasoning, and c) 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 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
There will be three topic areas that the students may choose between:
Geometry - Problems that involve geometric shapes and their properties and measurements. Difficulty will range from elementary problems on the Theta test, to possibly solving coordinate and analytic geometry problems on the Alpha and Mu tests. A sample test is: Theta (answers).
Applications - Applications of algebra 2 and geometry concepts on the Theta test to those requiring concepts from pre-calculus or trignometry on the Alpha test. The Mu test could include some elementary calculus concepts. Sample tests include: Theta (answers) and Alpha (answers).
Logarithms and Exponents - any problem that involves the use of  logarithms and/or exponents. Sample tests include: Theta (answers) and Mu (answers).

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 nine tests (3 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.

Each test will consist of 15 open-answer problems to be completed without calculators during a 30-minute testing period. The first five questions are worth 4 points each, questions 6 through 10 are worth 5 points each and the last five are worth 6 points for a total of 75 possible. Answers should be given in the space provided. There is no guessing penalty. 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 - Ciphering
Ciphering involves solving one problem at a time - quickly. Math questions can come from any topic and usually involve some technique that, if seen, greatly simplifys the problem. Students are administered 10 questions, one at a time. The Theta test will share 8 questions in common with the Alpha and 6 with the Mu test. Students will have a maximum of three minutes to answer each question but are rewarded with more points if they correctly answer the question in the first or second minute. With 5 seconds left in the first minute, second minute and third minute, the sponsor will call for papers. Problems answered correctly in the first minute are valued at 9 points, in the second minute 7 points and finally during the third minute, correct responses are worth 5 points.

At nationals, each students receives a packet of 10 questions and in fact, the test masters that will be sent contain questions on half sheets. Again, at the conclusion of the testing, the sponsor should total the scores for each student and enter them on the student information page. Here are some example ciphering tests from recent national competitions.

Theta Ciphering (answers) andAlpha Ciphering (answers) and Mu Ciphering (answers). Of course, take into account that nationals comes at the end of the school year whereas this test will be in the middle. One should not expect to see topics that would typically appear late in the year.

Round 3 - Individual Test
The individual test is adminstered as the round 1 topic tests were and may contain questions from any math topic. It is given last so that it may contain more material from the current class than the other rounds. Scoring is done the same as the topic tests and scores are to be entered online during the test rounds. Here are some example national tests given at the end of the school year. Theta Individual (answers), Alpha Individual (answers), Mu Individual (answers).

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.