General rules

1. The answer must be spelled absolutely correctly to obtain the score,

including scientific and technical names.

2. Abbreviations are not allowed unless provided previously.

3. For the scientific (organism) name, italic or underline is not required.

4. A capitalization is required for a specific word according to international

standards. Otherwise, the answer is considered to be incorrect.

5. Both British and American English writing styles are accepted in the
competition.

6. For the name of drugs, only generic name is accepted. Answering in trade
name is unacceptable.

First Round
1. Each team member will participate in the first round individually.

2. Scores from all four members of a team will be combined for team score.

3. Sixteen teams with highest scores will advance to the second round and the
remaining teams will have a chance to participate in the revival round.

4. The number of the qualified team can be adjusted in the case that two or
more teams have equal scores and more than one team are ranked at the 16th
place.

5. The first round competition is composed of 2 parts: multiple-choice

questions (MCQs) and timed-laboratory questions.
Multiple-choice questions
1. There are a total of 70 computer-based questions; each question consists of
4 choices.

2. Ninety minutes will be provided to complete this part.

3. Each correct answer will be given 1 point.

4. MCQs part will be accounted for70 percent of the first round’s total score.

Timed-laboratory questions
1. There are a total of 30 question stations with 7 break stations.

2. Two minutes will be provided for each station.

3. Each station includes a laboratory report or a microscope, and short

questions. To answer the questions, participant must write down the answer in
the answer sheet provided. The station number must be carefully checked to
match with the number in the answer sheet.

4. Each station contains one or two questions. All answers must be correct and
have no misspell in order to obtain 1 point for each station.

5. Timed-laboratory questions part will be accounted for30 percent of the first

round’s total score.

Revival round

1. The teams that are not qualified to advance to the second round based on
the team score from the first round have a chance to participate in the revival
round. Each team member will participate in the revival round individually.

2. The revival round competition is based on computer-based true/false

questions.

3. There are 50 questions and 30 minutes will be provided for this round.
4. Each participant is given an option to answer or to not answer each question
freely.

5. Each correct answer will be counted for 2 points.

6. Each wrong answer will be counted for 0 point.

7. Each unanswered question will be counted for 1 point.

8. Eight teams with highest scores will be advanced to the second round; a
number of team may be adjusted to comprise a total of 24 teams for the
second round.

9. If more than one team has equal score to compete for the advancement,
one with higher scores in the first round will be qualified.

Second round

1. All 24 teams entering the second round will be arranged into 6 groups by
rank based on scores from the first and revival rounds. Each group contains 4
teams to achieve approximately similar average score for each team.

2. The second round competition is based on short-answer questions with or

without pictures. Each session contains a set of 8 questions with 3 questions
for 2 points, 3 questions for 3 points and 2 questions for 4 points. Each
question will be appeared on the screen, and 60 seconds will be given for each
team to write down the answer and send it via an electronic device.

3. Each team can use a bonus only once in each session. If a bonus is used and
the answer is correct, that team will get a double score. If the answer is
incorrect when using bonus, the team score will be deducted equal to the
amount of point for that question.

4. Two teams with highest scores from each group will be advanced to the
semi-final round.
 5. If there is a draw between two or more teams, the sudden-death questions
will be used for that group. Only teams with equal score and with possibility to
qualify for advancement will compete for the question. The first team that
answers correctly will be immediately advanced to the semi-final round. If
there remains a draw after two sudden-death questions, the team with higher
score in the first round will be qualified for advancement.

Semi-Final Round

1. Twelves teams entering semi-final round will be randomly divided into 4

groups (3 teams per group).

2. Three teams in each group will compete for the selected question set and
the team with highest score in each group will be qualified for the final round.

3. Each team sends one member for each question.

4. There are a total of 12 questions and each team member will answer 3
questions. Each team can arrange its members to answer each question freely.

5. For each question, after the MC finishes reading the question, the MC will
give a signal to answer the question. A team that presses the button first will
be given a chance to answer. Ten seconds will be given to that team to state
the answer. A correct answer will be given 3 points. A wrong answer –will
deduct 1 point to team score.

6. If the first team’s answer is wrong, there will be a wrong buzzing sound and
the question will be opened to the other two teams to answer by pressing the
button. The button can be pressed immediately after the wrong buzzing sound.
After the button is pressed, 10 seconds will be given to state the answer.
Premature use of the button (e.g. pressing before the wrong buzzing sound)
will be penalized for 1 point. A correct answer from the second team will be
given 2 points. A wrong answer will deduct 1 point to team score. If no team
urges to press the button, the question will be forfeited, and the solution of
the question will be given
7. If the second team’s answer is wrong, the right to answer the question will
belong to the third team. A correct answer will be given 1 point. A wrong
answer will not deduct the team score.

8. If there is no response from the third team within 10 seconds, the question
will be forfeited or the third team may deny answering.

9. If there is a tie between two (or more) teams, one sudden-death question
will be used. Each team has to send one member to answer this question.

10. If no team answers the sudden-death question correctly, the team with
higher score in the first round will advance to the final round.

Final Round

1. Teams and scores

1.1 Four teams that are qualified for the final round will be randomly ordered
into team A, B, C and D. Each team has to separate its members into two pairs,
which will remain for the final round competition.

1.2 The first pairs of each team (A1, B1, C1, and D1) will have a chance to select
laboratory investigation and answer the question given on the stage by
speaking out, so called the oral part.

1.3 Four teams, A1, B1, C1, and D1, will take turn to answer this oral part in
order.

1.4 The score for each question in the oral part is 10 points, and will be
deducted according to the selected laboratory investigation. If answering
incorrectly, the chance will be turned to the next team (see below).

1.5 The second pairs of each team (A2, B2, C2, and D2) will answer the name of
causative agent for each question by writing on an electronic device (tablet), so
called the written part.

1.6 The second pairs of each team can write down the answer the question
begins and the answer can be resubmitted as many times as needed until 45
seconds after the result of laboratory investigation selected by the first pairs is
shown.

1.7 The written part will give 3 points for each question if answered correctly.
If answering incorrectly, team score will not be deducted.

The team and its divisions as well as the role in answering are as shown in
Table 1.

Table 1. Teams, division and role in answering.

Team/Role A B C D
ORAL A1 B1 C1 D1
A1 B1 C1 D1
WRITTEN A2 B2 C2 D2
A2 B2 C2 D2

2. Sequence of the final round

2.1 The final round competition comprises 12 sequences. There will be two
parts of answer in each case scenario: 1) the specific question and 2) the name
of causative agent. The sequence in the final round for each team is shown in
Table 2.

Table 2. Sequence for teams to compete and answer questions in the final
round.

Sequence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Team A B C D A B C D A B C D

2.2 The oral part (taken by the first pairs of each team).

There are 8 steps to answer the oral part of each question. These steps
apply to every sequence.

Step 1: Select the question

 1.1 In the first sequence, the first pairs (e.g. A1) has a chance to
randomly choose the question.

1.2 MCs will read the case scenario question twice. The patient’s history
and physical examination will be shown with the specific question.

Step 2: Choose the investigation

2.1 After finish reading the question, choices of laboratory investigation

will be given. Each choice has different minus points (e.g. -1, -2, or -3 points).

2.2 The first team (e.g. A1) will have 15 seconds to choose one of the
laboratory investigations to diagnose patient’s problem and answer the
specific question. The selection of laboratory investigation at this step is
mandatory.

Step 3: Answer the question

3.1 As soon as the result of the selected investigation is shown, the total
score of this part (10 points) is subtracted by the minus score of that
investigation.

3.2 As soon as the result of the investigation is shown, there will be 1

minute to answer the question; the first 45 seconds of the minute is for the
written part to be answered by the second pairs of each team (e.g. A2, see
below), and the last 15 seconds of the minute is for the oral part to be
answered by the first pairs of the team (e.g. A1). During this minute, the first
team (e.g. A1) can choose to use a bonus, double score or friend call. A bonus
will be allowed to be used only if the pair is the first team to answer that
question in the oral part.

3.3 If the “double score” bonus is selected, the team will get two times
of the final score of that specific question in the oral part (not combined with
the score from the written part) if answering correctly. However, if the answer
is wrong, the team score will be deducted by the score left for the specific
question in the oral part. (not combined with the score from the written part)

3.4 If the “friend call” bonus is selected, the first pairs can call a friend from the
second pairs (select one friend) to help answering the question. Additional 1
minute will be given.
 3.5 The bonus can be used only once for the entire final round, and can
be used together in a single question.

Step 4: Answer it or lose it

4.1 If the answer is correct, the first team (e.g. A1) will get the score left
after subtracting by laboratory investigation minus score. The competition will
then immediately move on to the next sequence.

4.2 If there is no answer in time, or the answer is wrong, there will be a

wrong buzzing sound and the other teams (B1, C1, and D1) will get the chance
to press the button to answer. The other teams can press the button
immediately after hearing the wrong buzzing sound.

Pressing the button before the wrong buzzing sound will cause the team
to be penalized for 3 points.

4.3 If no one presses the button within 15 seconds after the wrong
buzzing sound, the question will be forfeited, and the solution of the question
will be given. The competition will then immediately move on to the next
sequence.

Step 5: Choose more investigation and give new answer

If the answer from the first team (e.g. A1) is wrong and there is another
team (e.g. B1) pressing the button (according to step 4), that team will have 15
seconds to choose more laboratory investigation, or choose to have no further
laboratory investigation .

5.1 As soon as the result of the selected investigation is shown, the total
score of this part (remaining points from step 3.1) will be subtracted by the
minus score of that investigation.

5.2 As soon as the result of the investigation is shown, or if the first pairs
of the team pressing the button (e.g. B1) choose to have no further
investigation, there will be 1 minute to answer the question; the first 45
seconds of the minute is for the written part to be answered by the second
pairs of each team (A2, B2, C2, and D2), and the last 15 seconds is for the oral
part to be answered by the first pairs of the team pressing the button (e.g. B1)
to speak out the answer. The bonus is not allowed for use now.
 Step 6: Answer it or lose it, again

6.6.1 If the second team’s (e.g. B1) answer is correct, it will get the score
left after subtracting by their selected laboratory investigation minus scores, if
any (according to step 5.1).

6.2 If there is no answer in time, or the answer from the second team
(e.g. B1) is wrong, there will be a wrong buzzing sound. the remaining two
pairs (e.g. C1 and D1) will get a chance to press the button to answer. The can
press the button immediately after hearing the wrong buzzing sound.

The first two teams that answer incorrectly (e.g. A1 and B1) are not
allowed to press the button.

Pressing the button before the wrong buzzing sound will cause the team
to be penalized for 3 points.

6.3 If no one presses the button within 15 seconds after the wrong
buzzing sound, the question will be forfeited. The competition will then
immediately move on to the next sequence

Step 7: Choose more investigation and give new answer

If the button is pressed by one of the two remaining pairs (e.g. C1), it will
have 15 seconds to choose more laboratory investigation, or choose to answer
without selecting laboratory investigation.

7.1 As soon as the result of the selected investigation is shown, the total
score of this part (remaining points from step 5.1) is subtracted by the minus
score of that investigation.

7.2 As soon as the result of the selected investigation is shown, there

will be 1 minute to answer the question; the first 45 seconds of the minute is
for the written part to be answered by the second pairs of each team(A2, B2,
C2, and D2), and the last 15 seconds is for the oral part to be answered by the
first pairs of the team pressing the button (e.g. C1) to speak out the answer.
The bonus is not allowed for now.

Step 8: Get the score or forfeit the question

 8.1 If the the third team’s (e.g. C1) answer is correct, it will get the score
left after subtracting by selected laboratory investigation minus scores, if any
(according to step 7.1).

8.2 If there is no answer in time, or the answer from the third team (e.g.
C1) is wrong, there will be a wrong buzzing sound. No team will receive scores
for the oral part of this question and the question will be forfeited. The
competition will then immediately move on to the next sequence.

The same rules are applied for every sequence.

2.2 The written part (taken by the second pairs of each team)

In each question, the second pairs of each team (A2, B2, C2, and D2) will
answer only one name of the causative agent (organism) of the question. The
name must be in species name according to its scientific name, unless
specified, and must be spelled absolutely correctly to get 3 points (no partial
score will be given).

There are 3 steps to answer the written part of each question. These
steps apply to every sequence.

Step 1: Answer the written part

1.1 The name of causative agent in that question can be written down
once the question begins and must be submitted within 45 seconds after the
result of selected laboratory investigation is shown (chosen by the first pairs in
the oral part). The answer can be changed at any time within the time allowed.

1.2 If the answer of the oral part is correct, the answer from the written
part will be disclosed. Any team that writes the correct answer will get 3
points.

1.3 If the answer of the oral part is wrong, and no one is pressing the
button, the question will be forfeited. The answer from the written part will be
disclosed. Any team that writes the correct answer will get 3 points.

1.4 If the answer of the oral part of the first team (e.g. A1) is wrong, and
there is the other team (e.g. B1) pressing the button, after B1 chooses to select
or not to select more laboratory investigation, the answer from the written
part can be resubmitted and then proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Resubmit the written part

2.1 As soon as the result of more laboratory investigation is shown, or

the second team (e.g. B1) make the decision not to select more investigation,
there will be 45 seconds to resubmit the answer from the written part if
needed The final answer will be the last submitted answer in time.

2.2 If the answer of the second team (e.g. B1) is correct, the answer
from the written part will be disclosed. Any team that writes the correct
answer will get 3 points.

2.3 If the answer of the second team (e.g. B1) is wrong, and no one is
pressing the button, the question will be forfeited. The answer from the
written part will be disclosed. Any team that writes the correct answer will get
3 points.
2.4 If the answer of the second team (e.g. B1) is wrong, and there is one
of the remaining two team (C1and D1) pressing the button, the third team (e.g.
C1) will choose to select or not to select more laboratory investigation, the
answer from the written part can be resubmitted, and then proceed to step 3.

Step 3: Resubmit the written part, again

3.1 As soon as the result of more laboratory investigation is shown, or

the third team (e.g. C1) make the decision not to select more investigation,
there will be 45 seconds to resubmit the answer from the written part, if
needed. The final answer will be the last submitted answer in time.

3.2 If the answer of the third team (e.g. C1) is correct, the answer from
the written part will be disclosed. Any team that writes the correct answer will
get 3 points.

3.3 If the answer of the third team (e.g. C1) is wrong, the question will
be forfeited (no more pressing button). The answer from the written part will
be disclosed. Any team that writes the correct answer will get 3 points.

The same rules are applied for every sequence.

3. The winner decision

3.1 After finishing 12 questions in the final round, the team that gets the
highest score will be the winner of SIMPIC2015.

3.2 In case that there are two or more teams getting tied highest scores, only
those teams will compete against each other by reserved sudden-death
questions, or questions from the judges. The winner will be the team that
answers the question correctly first.

3.3 There are 3 steps to answer the sudden-death question for the winner.

Step 1: Press the button

1.1 All four members of the competing teams will be on the stage
behind the button.

1.2 After the question is read twice completely, MCs will announce the
signal “Press”, and the competing teams are allowed to press the button.

1.3 If there is a team pressing the button before the signal from MCs,
that team will not be allowed to answer that question. The other team will
have a chance to answer instead. If there are two teams left, they will compete
for pressing the button again.

Step 2: Answer the question

2.1 The team that presses the button first will have the right to answer.
If the answer is correct, that team will be the winner.

2.2 If the answer is wrong, the other team will have a chance to answer
instead. If the answer is correct, that team will be the winner. If there are two
teams left after the first team given the wrong answer, they will compete for
pressing the button again, and then go back to 2.1.

2.3 In case that there is no correct answer after all competing teams
have a chance to answer, the question will be forfeited. The new reserved
question will be given, and then go back to step 1.