U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad: Local Competitions

In the United States, about 10,000 students between the ages of 13 and 18 enter local Chemistry Olympiad competitions vying for a chance to compete in the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) and the International Chemistry Olympiad.

The Role of ACS Local Sections

ACS local sections are vital to the success of the USNCO. They conduct local competitions each March to select nominees for the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad exam.

ACS local sections select nominees for the national exam by administering exams with laboratory practicals and reviewing teacher recommendations. The local competitions also serve to encourage a large number of students to excel in chemistry by comparing their knowledge to national and international levels.

Both the local and national competitions provide a forum for interactions between students, teachers, and other chemists.

Preparing for the Local Competition

Local examinations are administered to select candidates for the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad competition.

If you are a student or teacher preparing for the local competition, you will find value in reviewing local section exams from past years.

If you are a local section coordinator preparing testing materials, be sure to provide additional questions to use as tie-breakers in the event that several students have the same score. For more information, refer to the Coordinator’s Handbook .

Ordering Local Section Exams for the Current Year

The USNCO Local Section examination is available (for a fee) through the ACS Division of Chemical Education Examinations Institute. It is a 60-item, 110-minute multiple choice exam.

Only the USNCO Local Coordinator can order local section exams. To request an order form, please contact Cecilia Hernandez at 1-800-227-5558 ext. 6169 or email USNCO@acs.org

Recognizing Participants

Local sections often recognize their top students with monetary or other awards. If you are thinking about recognizing students and volunteers, consider:

• Awarding framed certificates or plaques to students and teachers
• Providing monetary scholarships/awards
• Presenting the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics to students
• Inviting students, parents, and teachers to a local section awards banquet
• Purchasing National Chemistry Week t-shirts for students. This recognition can bear rich dividends in public relations for the section, and also promote science education among area students and teachers.

Recognition certificates are available free of charge through the USNCO national office.