Chemistry Olympiad

I'd definitely recommend taking part - it's a fun exam and you'll enjoy it if you're applying for chemistry. You can worry about results after you've got them back

I am currently in year 12 and I want to apply for chemistry at Oxford next year. I’m looking into sitting the chemistry olympiad and just wondered what score would look impressive on my application? I know the competition is designed for second year A-level students so I’m assuming even bronze looks good - is this the case?

Haha yeah I know - I’ve loved doing the past paper questions so far and I’m definitely going to sit it either way. I was just curious about the awards and how much of an achievement a bronze/silver/gold actually would be for a year 12

I'm also applying for chemistry at Oxford next year but I'm in year 13, I didn't do olympiad but I'll just do more wider reading and super-curriculars ig

Haha yeah I know - I’ve loved doing the past paper questions so far and I’m definitely going to sit it either way. I was just curious about the awards and how much of an achievement a bronze/silver/gold actually would be for a year 12

I got a silver in Year 12, and apparently that's pretty good - not as good as a gold obviously, but the benefits is more what you learnt from it, and what you take from it rather than the colour of your award - unless you get to Round 2 and then to the British team camp.

Something that you may want to look at is the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge - because it's geared towards Year 12s, and then a good target would be to achieve the Roentgenium award, because about 30 people in the country score that highly - if you want to impress Oxford, that should probably be on your radar.

Ah nice - what super-curriculars are you thinking of? I’m trying to build mine up at the minute but it’s tricky since there isn’t a hugeee amount of challenging but still accessible chemistry content out there (at least not that I’ve found)

I'm planning to read books recommended by Oxbridge and watch documentaries, podcasts, some recorded lecture and maybe even do some kind of online course etc.. but I have time since I'll be taking a gap year though.

What are your A-levels?

I’m doing maths, further maths, chemistry and physics what are yours??

Same!! I hate my life, hate physics

Hahah yeah it’s defo my least fave of the four… What were your GCSEs?

Separate sciences
Maths
Eng Lang
Eng Lit
History
Business
PE
RE
Sociology
Economics

All 9s because I didn't take the exam lol. Yours?

Woww that’s amazing! I got ten 9s - triple science, maths, lit, lang, geog, drama, french and spanish as well as an A in add maths. What college were you thinking of?

Either Somerville or St John's
You?

I am currently in year 12 and I want to apply for chemistry at Oxford next year. I’m looking into sitting the chemistry olympiad and just wondered what score would look impressive on my application? I know the competition is designed for second year A-level students so I’m assuming even bronze looks good - is this the case?

I am applying to do chemistry @ Oxford this year. I am on a gap year and did the olympiad in y13. It is hard, do lots of past papers. I think tutors really like it. Good luck