Designed to challenge and inspire, the UK Chemistry Olympiad (UKChO) is a unique opportunity for pupils to push themselves further and excel in the field of Chemistry. Budding chemists develop critical problem-solving skills, learn to think more creatively, and get a chance to test their knowledge in real-world situations. They could even find themselves representing the UK at the prestigious International Chemistry Olympiad.
47 pupils have achieved impressive results in the prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Chemistry Olympiad, sitting the demanding national paper on 24 January. The cohort included two Second Year Specialists (Year 13), 41 First Year Specialists (Year 12), and four Fifths (Year 11), all of whom volunteered to take part in one of the most academically challenging competitions available to secondary school chemists in the UK.
The results were excellent. James, Second Year Specialist (Year 13) achieved a Gold award and 18 pupils achieved Silver, with a further 23 receiving a Bronze.
Preparing and participating in the Chemistry Olympiad was challenging but equally rewarding. It sparked my interest in Chemistry even more by going beyond the textbook and giving me a glimpse of topics covered at university. The paper requires combining skills in Chemistry and Mathematics with rigorous thinking to solve problems. The experience was the greatest challenge thus far, but it has definitely inspired me to pursue Chemistry further.
COCO, FIRST YEAR SPECIALIST (YEAR 12)
The Chemistry Olympiad paper is a two‑hour examination sat under full exam conditions, demanding exceptional concentration, resilience, and tenacity. Marking and moderation of the paper is extensive and highly rigorous.
While the paper is aimed primarily at Year 13 pupils, the nature of the questions goes well beyond the A Level syllabus, requiring pupils to apply chemical ideas in unfamiliar and often abstract contexts. Many of the questions are written by university academics, including professors from institutions such as UCL and the University of Cambridge, giving pupils a rare opportunity to engage with chemistry at near undergraduate level.
The level of challenge is reflected in the national statistics. Out of 17,241 entrants, only 8.5% achieved Gold, 25.7% Silver and 36.5% Bronze, with 29.3% (over 5,000) young people narrowly missing out on an award.
A huge congratulations to all Carthusians who volunteered to sit the paper, demonstrating academic courage, commitment, and perseverance. A special mention must go to James, Second Year Specialist (Year 13), who achieved the highest mark within the School, and Coco, First Year Specialist (Year 12), who achieved the highest mark in the First Year Specialists, and Jonathan, Fifth (Year 11), who achieved the third highest mark in the School.
