Crime Busters Practice Tests
Free, AI-generated Crime Busters practice tests for Science Olympiad. Choose Invitational, Regional, State, or National difficulty, import past exam PDFs, and track your scores over time.
Crime Busters runs in Division B for the 2027 season.
What Crime Busters Tests Cover
forensic qualitative analysis for Division B: identifying unknown powders, liquids, fibers, and other evidence from a crime scenario, then matching results to suspects.
Event format 2027
- Given a scenario, evidence collection, and possible suspects
- Teams run a series of tests; results + other evidence solve the crime and answer questions
- Division B counterpart to Division C Forensics; Know the evidence types below cold
Powder analysis (classic so list)
- Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate): fizzes with vinegar/HCl; soluble-ish; pH ~8
- Baking powder: fizzes with WATER (contains built-in acid + base); contains cornstarch
- Cornstarch: turns blue-black/purple with iodine; makes a squeaky paste with water
- Flour: partial iodine reaction (lighter); contains gluten protein
- Sugar (sucrose): soluble, no iodine reaction, caramelizes/browns with heat, no fizz
- Salt (NaCl): soluble, no reactions with iodine/vinegar; crystalline cubes
- Plaster of Paris: hardens with water, not very soluble
- Epsom salt (MgSO₄): bitter, crystalline needles, soluble
- Tests to run: appearance/texture, water solubility, pH, vinegar (fizz = carbonate), iodine (starch), heat behavior (melt, char, smell)
Liquid analysis
- Water, vinegar (acidic pH ~2.5, smell), iodine solution itself, alcohol (evaporates fast, cool feeling), hydrogen peroxide (bubbles on organic material/wounds), unknown samples
- Use pH paper/indicators; never taste; waft smells
Fibers and hair
- Cotton: cellulose, burns like paper, smells like burning paper, leaves gray ash
- Wool: protein (keratin), smells like burnt hair, self-extinguishes, black crispy ash
- Silk: protein, burnt-hair smell but smoother burn
- Nylon/polyester: synthetic, melts into beads, chemical/sweet smell
- Hair: medulla patterns, root types; human vs. animal (scale patterns)
Other evidence
- Chromatography: separate ink pigments by capillary action; Rf = distance spot moved / distance solvent moved; match pens by pattern
- Fingerprints: loop (most common), whorl, arch; match minutiae (ridge endings, bifurcations)
- DNA, shoe prints/tire tracks: matching by class + individual characteristics
Common mistakes
- Baking soda vs. baking powder: powder fizzes with just water; soda needs an acid
- Cornstarch vs. flour with iodine: starch goes blue-black, flour only pale
- Wool vs. cotton burn tests: paper smell = cellulose (cotton); burnt hair = protein (wool/silk)
- Testing powders in a random order instead of running all observations on each unknown systematically
How SciolyPrep Helps You Practice
AI Test Generator
Generate original Crime Busters questions at your chosen difficulty. AI-generated questions and answers can contain mistakes, so check them against reliable sources.
Real Exam Structures
Import past Crime Busters exam PDFs, or use the Exam-Inspired Generator to get new questions modeled on real exam formats.
Progress Tracking
Scores, timing, and weak-area insights for every attempt, so you know exactly what to review before competition day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crime Busters
How do I practice for Crime Busters in Science Olympiad?
Start with the current year's rules manual for Crime Busters, then drill practice tests in increasing difficulty: Invitational, then Regional, then State and National level. SciolyPrep generates unlimited original Crime Busters practice tests at each difficulty level, so you can target your weak areas instead of hunting for scarce past exams.
Are the practice tests free?
Yes - you get 5 free AI test generations every month, forever, no credit card needed. Paid plans unlock unlimited generations for the full season if you need more volume.
What difficulty Crime Busters test should I start with?
Start at the Invitational or Regional level to build fundamentals, then move up to State and National difficulty as competition approaches. Regional tests mix recall with application; State and National tests add multi-step reasoning and data interpretation.
Can I practice with real past Science Olympiad exams?
Yes. You can import a past exam PDF from your computer or a Google Drive link, and the app parses every question into an interactive test. There is also an Exam-Inspired Generator that analyzes real exam structures (topic mix, format, difficulty) and writes 100% original new questions in that style.