Cambridge Chemistry Challenge

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Reply 2940

Lolwhynot

The two people who got the top mark are both from Winchester College btw

Reply 2941

allstar1996

Original post by Lolwhynot

The two people who got the top mark are both from Winchester College btw

How are Winchester so ridiculously good?!

Reply 2942

AndyChow

Original post by Protoxylic

Anybody got their certificates and trophies yet?

The school pinned my certificate on the notice board for display since it was the first Rg in school's history, I don't think I'm gonna have it back. :s-smilie:

Also the glass cube was given to the school rather than pupil. I'd wish they give us trophies.

Reply 2943

Pigster

Original post by allstar1996

How are Winchester so ridiculously good?!

Which answer do you want?

I expect they have excellent teaching coupled with the Cambridge PreU course, which teaches a bit more content than a typical A-level.

I expect they have a very selective intake: if you start with the best, you should get the best results.

Or the cynical answer: the teachers have access to the paper before the students sit it. If you want to appear at the top of the list, you coach your students.

Reply 2944

Protoxylic

Original post by Pigster

That's the sad part about the Chemistry challenge, there is an element of suspicion that anybody with a high mark (top 1-2 percent) had been coached, or worse, got told the questions before the exam. However, I try to feel optimistic about the whole thing given the the students that sit it should have the decency to at least sit it properly given that it is a paper prospective students put on their personal statements.

Reply 2945

Pigster

Considering Winchester's place near the top of the UK's independent schools' league table, there must be a pressure to do well in competitions like this. I too hope that it was done properly there and at all schools. Or am I just naïve?

I can only tell you about how I did it in my school and hope that you trust me: I didn't show or discuss the paper with other staff and resisted all temptation to discuss it with the students, beyond my thoughts that it was a little harder than previous years. But given that our school is also near the top of the league tables, do you still trust me?

Congratulations to Winchester's students, they no doubt deserve the accolade; if, year after year, the top placed students went to a school who appeared 100th in the league tables, then I'd be extremely suspicious.

Reply 2946

EddieS

anyone going on the course and does anyone know what to expect?

Reply 2947

Jay-dawg

Still haven't got my results I'm so annoyed! :frown:

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Reply 2948

amtheril

In the current challenge, who is the guy holding fireworks?

Reply 2949

fizzers

Original post by amtheril

In the current challenge, who is the guy holding fireworks?

Hint: he founded the only remaining company that manufactures display fireworks in the UK

Reply 2950

amtheril

Original post by fizzers

Hint: he founded the only remaining company that manufactures display fireworks in the UK

I cant find any dates of this guy - do you know when he was born/died?

Reply 2951

fizzers

Original post by amtheril

I cant find any dates of this guy - do you know when he was born/died?

Never neglect the backgrounds in c3l6!

Reply 2952

Ghys

Is anyone here going to the course at St Catherines?

Reply 2953

mcmillanr

Original post by Ghys

Is anyone here going to the course at St Catherines?

Yeah, I think there are two though... I'm going from the 28th August to the 1st September. My actual name is Rory McMillan, so if I'm on the same one as you you'll probably be able to find me in the email.