What is Forensics?
Forensics is a Division C event where teams analyze physical evidence from a crime scenario — things like powders, plastics, fibers, chromatography samples, fingerprints, and other materials listed in the year’s rules. You collect observations carefully, match evidence to suspects or sources, and write conclusions that follow from the data. It’s part lab technique, part chemistry/biology knowledge, and part detective logic.
What’s usually included
Lab / analysis skills
- Unknown powders and qualitative tests
- Chromatography and polymers/plastics/fibers
- Fingerprints and other impression evidence
- Glass, soil, or additional evidence types listed in rules
Case reasoning
- Connecting evidence to a timeline or suspect set
- Blood typing / DNA / serology topics when included
- Clear, evidence-based written conclusions
- Clean notebook habits under tournament time
Early-season misses usually come from sloppy procedure. Build a methods sheet for every analysis, then speed up once your observations are repeatable.
Practice tests
Forensics practice pack
Practice tests + answer keys (PDF) in one Google Drive folder — powders, polymers, image-based evidence, mass spec / blood / glass, and analysis.
Open Drive folder →Rules, wiki & more practice
Official rules
Current Forensics event page and expectations.
SOINC Forensics →Rules manuals
Full Division C manual for your season.
SOINC →Scioly wiki
Techniques, study lists, and event notes.
Wiki: Forensics →Test exchange
Past tests for case practice and timing.
Scioly tests →SciOly Tutor videos
Lab workflow and evidence strategy explainers.
YouTube →