Regional round of the Logical Olympiad 2018 in Brno
It’s early morning on Friday, November 2nd. Early morning at least for me, a long time retiree who can usually afford to get up when there is light outside. I’ve helped at regional rounds several times in the past, so I know what to expect – a busy day, many unusual, sometimes stressful, situations, but especially the pride of being there when the big lecture hall fills with exceedingly clever kids.
Between 7 and 8AM, materials begin to pile on top of two long tables in the hall. Nothing can be left out. First, it must be ensured that notepads, diplomas, important documents, and presents from sponsors, such as crosswords, Sudoku puzzles, and information about the Faculty of Medicine (the regional round takes place on the premises of the Faculty of Medicine of the Masaryk University in Brno for the third time this year) are all prepared. Add a pen to prevent the need of dealing with technical difficulties during the competition. Add a Mensa Magazine. Add an apple, bottle of water, and a small snack.
The youngest competitors from the A category line up, usually with their parents. The children look calmer and better informed than their parents.
Unlike in previous years, I’m not taking up a position in front, at the lecturer’s place, to act as a supervisor-referee, I’m joining the team of test evaluators. We meet and greet, and Libor, the team leader, calls for a short meeting: we have to agree on the method of assessment that must be performed for every part of the competition, and for each category, very quickly.
We correct the result for one question in the template, we’re notified of a possibility of a different solution for another one. Based on the advice of an experienced evaluator, Misa, we decide to work in pairs – one person takes the first and second page of the written test, the other takes the third and fourth.
At half past eight, the first round of Category A begins. The photographer – Jana – and the cameraman – Vojta – walk the floor silently, and keep capturing the concentrated faces of the youngest competitors, as well as funny situations that occur.
The first round is complete – we get the completed tests, and we have 20 minutes for evaluating them. I keep correcting the third and fourth pages, adding the intermediate sums, handing the test over to Mirek, who in turn passes it to Libor, who double-checks the results, sums up the intermediate results, and hands it over to Lenka at the computer. Hanka and Misa work in the same way.
We are done before the break is over, and another round starts – a visual one this time, with the tasks being projected on three huge screens above the presenter, Vasek. A small hiccup with an insufficient number of answer sheets is resolved by the presenter keeping his composure: “Just tear out a sheet from the notepad, write your code number and name on the top, and write the numbers 1 to 20 in a single column; once the test begins, write the letters from the multiple choice tests next to the question number. “Ouch, more work for us – but it’s just a couple of papers, we’ll manage... We have the opportunity to observe the tasks, we even have the templates with results – but I’m still not sure how successful I would be as a competitor; there are types of tasks that, for me, are really impossible to solve.
During the “IQee” and Dana’s Mensa presentation (where parents were already present), we are done with the evaluation.
The 15 best competitors in category A are announced and receive prizes from sponsors; ten will participate in the national finals in Prague.
The results in categories B and C are announced in a similar way, just the number of accompanying persons grows smaller…
All in all, the competition went off without any major problems, thanks to the meticulous preparation by all members of the team, and their concentration on the assigned tasks. Well, it can be also said in a different way – Mensa is a group of people who have high EQs as well as IQs – i.e. who are observant, understanding, and creative. At least those who are willing to devote their time to a good purpose.
Related topics
5.11.2018