TeamworkExam + Case StudyTeam Event

Forensic Science

Two-person teams take a 50-question forensic science test, then top teams get 40 minutes to analyze a death investigation case and type a conclusion on cause, manner and time of death.

The AI judge does not score this round. Use the practice test for Round One.

About this event

Forensic Science is a two-person team event for the Secondary and Postsecondary/Collegiate divisions, sponsored by Anatomage, and aimed at advanced students who have already taken medical terminology and anatomy and physiology (the materials can be graphic, so advisors are told to get administrative and parental approval). Round One is a 50-question multiple-choice test in 60 minutes written from Forensic Science Fundamentals (Bertino) and Bell's Forensic Science; the team average qualifies the team and counts in the final score. Crime scene and death investigation and forensic toxicology and pharmacology are 20 percent each, with 10 percent each on history and careers, anthropology, entomology, blood and fluid identification, DNA analysis, and forensic psychology. Top teams advance to Round Two, where every team analyzes the same secret case, presented as a physical scene, written documents such as a police report and autopsy, or a digital scene. The team has 40 minutes to work and type a conclusion on a battery-powered device, following the template: time of death range, immediate cause of death, manner of death (natural, accident, suicide, homicide or undetermined), contributing conditions and the supporting evidence, then 5 minutes to upload it as a PDF; the internet may not be used for research. The 80-point rubric scores each of those elements plus application of anatomy and forensic knowledge, clarity and grammar. The average test score is added to the case score and breaks ties.

Test day

What to expect

Round One test, then Round Two

Round One is a 50-question test in 60 minutes; the top scorers advance to Round Two. Official format: 50-question test, 60 minutes (team average), then a 40-minute case study analysis with written conclusion plus 5 minutes to upload for top teams.

Written from the test plan

Questions follow the event's published test plan, section by section, and are written from the listed reference texts. Practice questions here are drawn in the same proportions.

How you advance

How many advance from regionals to states and on to the International Leadership Conference (ILC) depends on your association's rules. Study the official test plan: it lists each section and its share of the test.

What judges score

Case Study Analysis: Time of Death Range (10), Immediate Cause of Death (10), Manner of Death: natural, accident, suicide, homicide, undetermined (10), Other conditions, as applicable (10), Evidence connects evidence to the conclusions (10), Evidence, application of knowledge (10), Evidence, concise, clear and logical (10), Grammar, Mechanics, and Spelling (10); total 80

What's on the test

Forensic History and Careers · 10%Crime Scene and Death Investigation · 20%Forensic Toxicology and Pharmacology · 20%Forensic Anthropology · 10%Forensic Entomology · 10%Identification of Blood, Bloodstains, Biological Fluids and Stains · 10%Techniques of DNA Analysis · 10%Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry · 10%

Study resources

Bookmark to save

Curated by ChapterPrep. Free unless noted. External links open in a new tab.