Organization : Computer Olympiad South Africa
Competition Name : Talent Search Olympiad 2018
Applicable For : Mathematics, Science, IT and Computer Students
Competition Deadline : 9 March 2018
Website : http://olympiad.org.za/talent-search/
Talent Search Olympiad
** The Talent Search is the South African version of the Bebras Contest which attracts more than a million participants in the rest of the world each year.
Related : Computer Talent Search Olympiad Contest 2019 : www.southafricain.com/14000.html
** The contest requires the use of Computational Thinking – those skills that are also required for Mathematics, Science, IT and Computer Applications.
** The Talent Search identifies learners with the skills, but at the same time gives all an opportunity to develop these skills.
** The Talent Search is an online test, but for those schools with inadequate connectivity a pen-and-paper version is available which does not require computers.
** After the Talent Search, learners who have already mastered a computer language can enter the Programming Olympiad.
** Those who know how to use applications like spreadsheets, databases and a wordprocessor can enter the Applications Olympiad.
Dates
** Talent Search (for all) Any suitable time from Monday 5 March to Friday 9 March 2018 – at local schools
** The Talent Search is available as an online test for those schools with adequate facilities.
** For schools lacking facilities, it is available as a pen-and-paper test.
** The Talent Search itself is an aptitude test with no further rounds.
** However, learners who are familiar with Wordprocessing, Spreadsheets and other applications, should enter the Applications Olympiad.
** Learners who are familiar with a programming language should enter the Programming Olympiad.
** There is no requirement that Talent Search participants should enter either Olympiad, nor is there a requirement to do the Talent Search before entering either of the Olympiads.
Rules
** The school may not use the Talent Search paper before the announced date, but may use it on any day of the Talent Search week.
** As the principal and the teacher are the ones to sign the certificates, it is up to the school to make sure that results are obtained honestly.
** Learners may only participate under supervision of a professional teacher.
** One teacher at each participating school must be the contact for the Talent Search.
There are five age groups :
Elementary: Grades 5 and below
Junior: Grades 6 and 7
Intermediate: Grades 8 and 9
Senior: Grades 10 and 11
Elite: Grades 12 and above
** For each age group a participant will get 45 minutes to complete 15 tasks. (Elementary do 10 tasks in pairs)
** The tasks may be completed in any order.
The marks are allocated as follows :
** In the A section a correct answer gets +6 marks; an incorrect answer 0
** In the B section a correct answer gets +7 marks; an incorrect answer 0
** In the C section a correct answer gets +7 marks; an incorrect answer 0
** Where there is no answer, 0 (zero) points are allocated
** The maximum mark is 100
** Participation is free.
FAQ’s
How much does it cost?
It is free. Irrespective of the number of entries or the status of the school, participation in Talent Search is free.
May primary school students participate?
Yes. There are two age categories for Primary Schools and three age categories for High Schools.
May home-schoolers participate in the Talent Search?
The contest has to be written at a school under the supervision of a qualified teacher. Certificates are issued in the name of the school and are signed by the Principal and the Teacher. Home-schoolers could approach a school in their area and if the school is not yet registered with the Olympiad, encourage them to register, and request permission to participate at that school.
Do we need a computer?
Only for online participation. The pen-and-paper version does not need access to computers.
Who may participate?
Anyone, who in the opinion of the school, should take part. All learners will benefit from the exercise in computational thinking.
What about certificates?
The Computer Olympiad Office will post certificates for the following:
Gold: the top 7% of all participants nationwide
Silver: the next 14% of all participants nationwide
Bronze: the next 29% of all participants nationwide
Can someone win two certificates?
No, this should not be possible.
May the school send papers to the Computer Olympiad office to be marked?
No, for the Talent Search any teacher can mark it.
Are there any extra certificates available?
Only if the originals have been lost in the post.
What is the duration of the Talent Search paper?
Thirty minutes for the Elementary paper (teams of two) and Forty-five minutes for the other papers.
May I bring a calculator into the exam room?
Yes for a simple calculator. No if it is a programmable device. A calculator will be of limited use, however, because most questions involve reasoning and minimal calculation.
May a school write on a different date?
No school may write before the official date. If a school cannot write on the official date, they may write on the first suitable date after that. However, the online test is only available during the official week for participation. No certificate will be provided for participation after the official Talent Search Week.