Local Chemistry Olympiad Competitions
Approximately 10,000 U.S. 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 and the International Chemistry Olympiad.
ACS local sections conduct local competitions each March to select nominees for the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad. Coordinators are responsible for administering exams and reviewing teacher recommendations.
The local competition is open to all high school students. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to take a local exam. Special rules apply to those who advance to the national competition.
How to Participate
To register your school (teachers) or home-schooled student (parents), contact the coordinator of your ACS Local Section. If your school will not be registering for the competition, a parent or guardian can contact the coordinator of your ACS Local Section directly. A list of coordinators and associated local sections will be available soon.
If your ACS local section is not participating in the Olympiad, email the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Office.
Preparing for the Local Competition
Local Chemistry Olympiad Exams will be administered March 1–31, 2010!
If you are a student or teacher:
- Review exams from past years to prepare for the competition
If you are a local section coordinator:
- The Olympiad Coordinators page contains detailed information, including the competition schedule and handbook
- The U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Local Examination is available (for a fee) through the USNCO office. To request an order form, contact Margaret Thatcher at (800) 227-5558 ext. 6328 or email the national office at usnco@acs.org
- Be sure to provide additional questions to use as tie-breakers in the event that several students have the same score
Recognizing Participants
Local sections often recognize 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
*Request recognition certificates (free) - 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 USNCO lapel pins