01.07.2021

Y9 and Y10 students participate in the Desafio Nacional Acadêmico (DNA)

By Bruna Cronfli

Some 9th grade and 1st year High School students (Y9 and Y10) decided to participate in the  Desafio Nacional Acadêmico  (DNA), the largest knowledge olympiad held over the internet in Brazil.

The competition, which lasted 36 hours, consisted of three phases. The first, composed of four tasks, have no scores and are not mandatory but are the first tiebreakers to determine the winning teams. The extra tasks were disclosed within the team’s area and should be completed according to each category’s instructions and schedule.

The second phase had a classifying character comprising 11 themes with ten questions with variable scores, including Environment, Music, Curiosities, Current affairs, Languages, Professions, Technology, Sports, Logical Reasoning, Law, and Entrepreneurship.

The third phase, in which only the classified teams participated, consisted of a final puzzle of surprise formatting. To win the DNA, the team had to answer as many challenges they could, complete as many extra tasks as possible, and solve the final puzzle.

Although online, the activities were developed in groups and, therefore, students met at the school during the weekend. Students were accompanied by teachers when they were on campus, but the competition continued until they completed the established hour load.

Students engaged and had fun while solving the multidisciplinary challenges of the first phase and all teams moved on to the second phase. One of them, from Y10, made it to the final!