Information to Schools PSSO 2011

8th PRIMARY SCHOOL SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

(PSSO) 2011
NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

Supported by:

Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sendirian Berhad

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT PARTNERSHIP (STEP)

CENTRE,
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION.
C7, C8 & C9, SIMPANG 125, JALAN MUARA, BB2313,
NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM.
TEL / FAX : 2335963
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Information to Schools PSSO 2011

1.0 INTRODUCTION

STEP Centre has been organizing this annual national level Primary School Science
Olympiad (PSSO) for primary schools all over the country since 2004. This centre is
devoted to support the SPN21 science curriculum in providing learners the opportunity to
become engaged with questions that are rich and varied enough to encourage the
development of reasoning and scientific skills. The 8th PSSO this year is targeting only the
Year 6 students age less than 13 years old by 1st September 2011.

2.0 OBJECTIVES

General objective of the Olympiad:

 To improve the competence of the students in science.

Specific objectives are:

 To provide opportunity for upper primary students to show their potential in science.
 To develop upper primary school students’ talent and interest in science’
 To motivate the primary school students in developing their intellectual capacity and
skills in Science.

3.0 CONTENT

The questions will cover intellectual science reasoning and everyday science knowledge
based on the science Syllabi for Negara Brunei Darussalam. Most of the questions will be
quite challenging. The questions consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and
structured questions.

4.0 CONDUCT OF OLYMPIAD

To achieve the specific objectives there will be two rounds for this year’s contest. The first
round aims to encourage as many Year 6 students as possible to participate in the PSSO
and also to provide a reliable mean for schools to select two top students.

4.1 First Round

a. The first round test will be held in your respective school and no travelling is
required. The headmasters/ headmistresses/ principals should appoint
teachers to supervise the test.

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Information to Schools PSSO 2011

b. In alignment with the rapid technological advancements, the first round contest
paper will be posted online by 28 February 2011. You may download the
contest paper by visiting our blogspot at:

http://stepcentrebrunei.blogspot.com/
c. Schools may administer the contest paper at any convenient time within the
first week of March, from 1st to 5th March 2011. It is up to the schools to
decide the number of students to be involved. Schools may involve as many
Year 6 students as possible or select some eligible students to participate
in this first round school-based contest.

d. The contest paper will be marked by teachers from your own school. The
answer scheme will be available online by 7th March 2011.

e. After marking the contest papers, schools may select two highest scorers
from the contest who are eligible based on the following criteria:
i) Must be Year 6 students.
ii) Age less than 13 years old by 1st September 2011 (born after 1st
September 1998).
iii) Must be citizens of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of
Negara Brunei Darussalam.

f. Schools are required to complete and submit the following directly to STEP
Centre not later than 15th March 2011:
i) First Round Contest Detail Form.
ii) List of Participants’ Form.
} (Available from our blogspot)
iii) The original answer sheets of the two top scorers.
iv) Copies of identity card [IC] (front and back pages) of the two top scorers
and copies of birth certificate (front and back pages) should be
presented for those without IC.

4.2 Second Round

The centre will select between 35 to 50 students from the first round to go through
the second round contest which will be held at our centre. The second round
contest will be held tentatively on 4th April 2011. Further information will be sent to
schools of selected students.

5.0 TEST STRUCTURE

5.1 First Round Test Structure

a) The first round test will consist of 50 MCQ of four-answer multiple-choice.
b) Students will be required to answer all questions in the prescribed answer
sheet.
c) Time allocated to answer all the problems is one hour.
d) Each student, working alone, scores 1 point for each correct answer. Thus, a
student may score up to 50 points.
e) Instructions and test items will be in English.

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Information to Schools PSSO 2011

5.2 Second Round Test Structure

a) The second round test will consist of 1 hour and 30 minutes theoretical paper.
b) Students will be required to answer all questions individually.
c) The type of questions are multiple choices, structured and simple explanation.
d) Instructions and test items will be in English.

6.0 PRIZES

All students will receive Certificate of Participation. Top 3 students from the second round
contest will be awarded with gold, silver and bronze medals respectively and cash.
Consolation prizes may also be given.

7.0 RULES AND REGULATION

7.1 Calculators, calculator watches, hand phones, additional written materials, and other
unauthorized aids such as protractor and compass are prohibited.
7.2 Schools are entrusted to maintain the integrity of the test administration process.
Thus, schools’ test administrators:
• should choose a suitable time and testing location.
• should conduct the test for all students from each respective school at one
time.
• should be alert to participants’ activities throughout the session.
• should demonstrate uniform administration by making sure that all participants
understand the directions before the test begins and are ready to follow the
standard set of instructions during the test.
• are allowed to clarify the directions and general test requirements such as the
proper way to shade the chosen LETTER in the answer sheet, but prohibit
help with the actual test questions. Administrators should not offer more
information than what is indicated in the instructions.

8.0 MARKERS AND EVALUATORS

8.1 For the second round contest, the markers, evaluators and adjudicators appointed
are education officers from primary and secondary school teachers as well as other
relevant organisations.
8.2 In any events of uncertainty pertaining to marking or judging, the Technical
Committee appointed will give decisions to the best of their judgment and this will be
FINAL.
8.3 Any matters arise thereafter will not be entertained.

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Information to Schools PSSO 2011

9.0 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

9.1 The Organising Committee reserves the rights to change or amend any of the
information above as deemed necessary from time to time. However, the
participating schools will be duly informed on such circumstances.
9.2 Any additional matters arise thereafter will be referred to the Organising Committee
whose eventual decisions will be final.
9.3 Queries can be directed to the coordinating officer-in-charge at STEP Centre:

a) Muhammad Purat bin Abdullah Sikut

(email: purat.abdullahsikut@moe.edu.bn)
Office Phone: 2336146

b) Nurhazrina binti Hj Abdullah

(email: nurhazrina.abdullah@gmail.com)
Office Phone: 2336147

General Office Phone/Fax: 2335963

9.4 The following are available from our blogspot at national activities/programmes.

http://stepcentrebrunei.blogspot.com/
i) PSSO 2011 Information and Guidelines
ii) PSSO 2011 Syllabus.
iii) a) First Round Contest Detail Form.
b) List Of Participants Form
iv) Student Answer Sheet.
v) Past Years Contest Papers (2008 - 2010).
vi) PSSO Contest Paper_First Round (Will be uploaded on 28th February 2011)
vii) PSSO Answer Scheme (Will be uploaded on 7th March 2011)

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