Students enjoy success in 2023 Chemistry Olympiad

Salopian scientists received four gold, eight silver and twenty-one bronze awards from the first round of the 2023 Chemistry Olympiad.

The gold standard was achieved by the top 9% of students from nearly 12,000 entries.

Thirty-six students took part in Round 1 of the Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad in January. This year, there were twenty-five students from Lower Sixth and nine students from the Upper Sixth. The results were outstanding, and they can be proud of their performance.

This competition is designed to challenge and stimulate the most talented young chemists in the country and is open to all post-16 students in the UK.  Further information is available on Round one results of 2023 Chemistry Olympiad | RSC News | RSC Education.

The paper itself is based on the core of the chemistry A-level specifications, so that students taking any of the different exam board A-levels can compete fairly. The exam lasts two hours and is composed of a series of structured questions designed to stretch able students by making them apply the principles they have learnt to new and often more complex situations than they would meet in their A-level course. Thus, in order to score marks, it is essential to have a very sound base of knowledge and understanding, but also have the ability to think and reason - often "outside the box" - at a high level.

Gold Awards were awarded to:

Jia Shin Q (Rt, UVI), Charlie S (I, LVI), Vanessa W (EDH, UVI) and Olivia Z (EDH, UVI)

Silver Awards were awarded to:

Chloe C (M, UVI), Ollie C (Rb, LVI), Jeremy G (O, LVI), Cici H (MSH, LVI), Tommy W (O, LVI), Mico X (EDH, LVI), Jonathan Z (O, UVI) and Maggie Z (M, LVI)

Bronze Awards were awarded to:

Nigel C (S, LVI), Jeremy C (O, LVI), Archie C (Rb, UVI), Hal C (R, LVI), James C (SH, UVI), Kanami F (MSH, LVI), Jacky G (R, LVI), Henry H (Ch, LVI), Angel L (MSH, UVI), Ben L (S, LVI), Moriz I (I, LVI), Cherry L (G, LVI), Rio N (R, LVI), Jennifer O’B (MSH, LVI), Anson P (O, LVI), Isabella Q (MSH, LVI), Umar S (S, LVI), Mingming S (SH, UVI), Gladys W (MSH, LVI), Isaac W (Ch, LVI) and Yanny Y (EDH, LVI).

Dr Andy Briggs

Head of Science