Scribd
Upload
99 views1 page

ICHO

The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) is an annual competition for high school students interested in chemistry. It began in 1968 in Czechoslovakia and now includes delegations from over 60 countries. Each delegation consists of up to four students and two mentors who help translate exams and ensure fairness. Students take a theoretical and practical exam testing organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, and biochemistry at a higher level than typical secondary or post-secondary education. Preparation demands a deep understanding of chemistry and ability to connect topics.

Uploaded by

Jorge Melendo Arrufat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as ODT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
99 views1 page

ICHO

The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) is an annual competition for high school students interested in chemistry. It began in 1968 in Czechoslovakia and now includes delegations from over 60 countries. Each delegation consists of up to four students and two mentors who help translate exams and ensure fairness. Students take a theoretical and practical exam testing organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, and biochemistry at a higher level than typical secondary or post-secondary education. Preparation demands a deep understanding of chemistry and ability to connect topics.

Uploaded by

Jorge Melendo Arrufat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as ODT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) is an annual academic competition for high school

students. It is one of the International Science Olympiads.


The first IChO was held in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1968. The event has been held every year
since then, with the exception of 1971. The delegations that attended the first events were mostly
countries of the former Eastern bloc and it was not until 1980, the 12th annual International
Chemistry Olympiad, that the event was held outside of the bloc in Austria.
Each delegation consists of up to four students and two mentors (one of them is designated as the
head of the delegation or "head mentor"). A delegation may also include a handful of guests and
scientific observers. Students must be under the age of 20 and must not be enrolled as regular
students in any post-secondary education institution. The International Information Center of the
International Chemistry Olympiad is based in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Countries who wish to participate in the IChO must send observers to two consecutive olympiads
before their students can participate in the event. A total of 68 countries took part in the 38th IChO:
67 as participants and 1 as an observer.
The competition consists of two examinations, a theoretical examination and a practical
examination. Both have durations of up to 5 hours, and are held on separate days with the practical
examination usually being before the theoretical examination. The theoretical examination has a
value of 60 points and the practical examination has a value of 40 points. Each examination is
evaluated independently from the other and the sum of the results of the examinations determines a
participant's overall result. A scientific jury, which is installed by the host country, suggests the
tasks. The international jury, which consists of the 2 mentors from each of the participating
countries, discusses the competition tasks and translates them into the language of their students'
preference.
Students receive the examinations translated into their languages of preference. It is the duty of the
mentors to translate the examinations from English before they are given to the participants. After
the examinations are held and evaluated by a committee appointed by the host country and before
awards are presented, mentors discuss the evaluation of the exams with judges of the committee to
assure fairness in their evaluation. Because the mentors review the examinations before they are
given to participants, any communication between the mentors and the students is strictly forbidden
prior to the completion of both exams, and the students are required to surrender any mobile phones
and laptop computers to the organizer.
The syllabus of the competition contains subjects from several areas of chemistry, including organic
chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and
spectroscopy. Though the majority of these subjects are included in most secondary school
chemistry programs, for the most part, they are evaluated at a much deeper level and many may
require a level of knowledge and understanding comparable to that of post-secondary education. In
addition, the host country of each IChO issues a set of preparatory problems well in advance of the
competition every year. These preparatory problems cover specific topics in considerable more
depth than typical post-secondary education. Preparation for the International Chemistry Olympiad
demands a high level of understanding and interest in chemistry and an outstanding ability to relate
chemical subjects with one another as well as with the practical world.

You might also like