Analysis of Students' Problem Solving for The Physics MCQ and Theory Problems of The 20th International Junior Science Olympiad(IJSO)

Abstract

The International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) is a competition where students under the age of 15, selected six per country, compete in their scientific abilities and promote international friendship through solving multiple-choice and descriptive theoretical questions, as well as experimental tasks in physics, chemistry, and life sciences. Analyzing the questions of the Science Olympiad competition and the answers of the student delegation can provide insights into the international trends in science and gifted education, and identify the weaknesses of Korean students in the science learning process, which can help set future educational directions. This study aims to analyze the theoretical questions in physics and the answers of the South Korean delegation students presented at the 20th Junior Science Olympiad held in Bangkok, Thailand, in December 2023, and conduct interviews with each student about their problem-solving process to make suggestions related to the education of gifted students in physics.