A couple days before the 2005 Open Exam, I heard about the USABO for the first time. My AP Biology teacher asked me if I could stay after school one day the following week to take part in a competition. I agreed to take the exam even though I knew very little about the USABO and its selection process. In preparation for the Open Exam, I completed a packet of sample study questions given to me by my teacher (and available at www.ibo-info.org). Based on these questions, I knew that the exam was going to be difficult, but I was determined to perform as well as I could. I didn't have time to review any other material, so I relied on the fact that I had studied very thoroughly for all of my past biology tests. I hoped that I would remember something! As I took the exam, I knew the answers to some questions and had no clue on others. When I finished, I did not know whether or not I had made it to the next round.