International Chemistry Olympiads (IChO)

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Description:

Each year, talented students passionate about chemistry from over 90 countries gather together to collaborate, bond, and compete with each other. The IChO includes two exams, each not exceeding 5 hours. 

  • This exam tests laboratory techniques, data analysis, and experimental problem-solving skills. It is worth 40 points, and it spans over 5 hours.

    • The exam typically includes a few independent experimental tasks. For instance, the 2025 IChO practical exam required skills in synthesizing coordination compounds, identifying amino acids, and performing titrations.

    • Before the exam starts, students will have 15 minutes to read over the exam paper. Additionally, students have only one chance to ask for a replacement for a consumable or piece of glassware without penalty. Each subsequent replacement will cause a one-point deduction.

  • This exam covers advanced topics across all areas of chemistry and emphasizes knowledge, creativity, and critical thinking. It is worth 60 points, and it spans 5 hours.

    • Structure: The exam usually includes 9 multi-step problems, covering all advanced topics in major areas of chemistry. The exam includes application questions that connect theoretical concepts to real-life topics such as seawater desalination, solar energy, etc. The topics are categorized as:

      • The atom: Includes concepts from quantum numbers to the shapes of d-orbitals.

      • Chemical bonding: Covers advanced topics like VSEPR theory, hybridization, and molecular orbital (MO) theory.

      • Inorganic chemistry: Includes periodic trends, the chemistry of main groups and transition elements, and coordination chemistry.

      • Physical chemistry: Topics like thermodynamics, kinetics, and the van der Waals gas law are included.

    The score of the student is the combination of their two exam scores. Team scores are not calculated.

Competition Details:

Official website: click here

    • Each nation will send a delegation of 4 students to represent their nation to compete at IChO. 

    • Each delegation is required to have 2 faculty advisors who will also take on the role of international judges. 

    • All competing students must be enrolled in high school and not enter college. They must not be 20 years old before July 1st. 

    • They must qualify from their national chemistry olympiad. 

    • Gold Medal: Awarded to the top ~12% of students.

    • Silver Medal: Awarded to the next ~22% of students.

    • Bronze Medal: Awarded to the following ~32% of students.

    • Special awards are also given to the student that scored the highest overall, the student that scored the highest in the theoretical exam, and the student that scored the highest in the practical exam. 

More Details on IChO:

Canadian Chemistry Olympiad (CChO) Informations:

Exam Format: The test is a personal, in-person written exam for most students. It lasts 120 minutes and consists of 5 challenging free-response questions (calculations, derivations, explanations, and design).

Content & Difficulty: The exam tests chemistry knowledge beyond the high school level, extending into university-level topics. The weighting of the major subject areas is typically as follows:

  • Physical Chemistry (approx. 35%): quantum chemistry, complex kinetics, thermodynamics.

  • Organic Chemistry (approx. 30%): synthesis design, NMR analysis, mechanism inference.

  • Inorganic Chemistry (approx. 20%): crystal field theory, coordination catalysis.

  • Analytical Chemistry (approx. 15%): spectroscopy, titration curve calculations.