Super early, but how are you guys feeling about the Chemistry Olympiad? How are you guys studying? I’m running over my AP book again for locals and ask a camper and IChO contestant I know for other books. I’m a senior, so just doing it for the fun. I took the local exam this year and got top 2 in my school, but testing anxiety made my score really low (the test wasn’t a piece of cake either…).
I took the last one just for fun, but I wish my AP teacher actually knew something about chemistry, maybe then I’d have a shot. Good luck!
Isn’t there already a thread for this? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1785249-international-chemistry-olympiad-2016.html
@Naruhodou it sounds like that guy was talking about IChO only, and this is more for locals, nationals, and then everything after. But I do apologize if people perceive it as the same thing.
@michelle426 I’ve also been following that post, and they seem to be talking more about USNCO than IChO. In the post, ahsu01 DID ask for “tips from a camper,” so I assume he means the US.
Yo so to summarize from my other thread stovn and jhgong both said to get the following books:
- Skoog Analytical Chemistry
- Carey Organic Chemistry
- Engel/Reid Physical Chemistry
- Wulfsberg Inorganic Chemistry
- Voet Biochemistry
- Ansyln Physical Organic Chemistry
@ahsu01 better get studying ^:)^
The first three arent that bad, I finished them by non-stop reading for the part month. The last three are the really difficult ones. Even skimming the material, I still find it hard to understand.
You should focus on making camp first instead of trying for IChO. You need a ridiculously high index to qualify for camp these days, so making sure you don’t lose random points on USNCO is crucial.
To make camp, I stress only one book, and that is Zumdahl’s General Chem. Memorize that thing from start to end and do all the practice problems and you’re in really good position for camp. Then look into Carey’s Organic Chem and then a little biochemistry and physical/analytical chemistry. Know how to use instrumental analysis.
To be honest, once you make camp, making IChO is considerably easier as you’re getting lectured 24/7 with problem sets and assessments due frequently. Everyone just studies all the time there anyways.
How is this plan to make top 20 camp?
- Read Zumdahl Chemistry and do all practice problems
- Read Carey’s Organic Chemistry
- Do all past USNCO tests
- Read biochem and analytical chem books
@titan456 just work your hardest. there’s shenanigans that go down during nationals. but for now, it’s as good as any other.
Don’t read all of the books cover to cover unless for personal interest. I have asked someone from my school who made camp about what to do. You should only read the parts from the prep problems for biochemistry and inorganic chemistry. Honestly, the Internet will help you for those two fields. You should read an organic chemistry book such as Clayden’s(Ansyln’s is way too overkill;Only use it for problems if you want to), a physical chemistry book (Atkins is the best imo), and an analytical chemistry(Skroog will suffice; you could finish this book very quickly, since the concepts are not as tough as the other fields). The only way to make camp and farther is to do as many problems as you can once you have a background knowledge. If you do make camp, focus on doing icho problems after you get the call. There is a big jump from the problems on the national exam to the problems you do at camp. By the way, Voet’s is a little boring to read. Lehninger’s covers the exact same material and has very nice diagrams and pictures. Zumdahl’s challenge problems will also help for the free response on the national exam. For the lab part, you’re just going to have to either practice past problems in an actual lab, or read a general chemistry lab manual.
Also, Carey’s is a little boring. Klein is much more enjoyable and easier to learn from. Don’t focus on memorizing specific reaction mechanisms. You should try to understand how electrons move in a reaction. However, that is my opinion. You may find Carey’s much more easier to learn from.
My school allows us to practice labs in our free time. Does yours?
I think my school will start letting us do labs this year after school. @michelle426
What do you guys think will be your region’s local cutoff this year? 2 years ago, mine was 55/60, but the harder test this year made it 45/60.
I predict a 59/60 for my school, since everybody is super competitive. For the local section, a 55.
@ahsu01 well, the performance in context of your school is based on how the top two perform (so basically the 2nd highest scoring) so there’s no “real” cutoff. The local section allows a certain number of kids from the section schools based on size of the section. If the section has 72 candidates from the schools, and they can only send 15 kids, then the top 15 all have scores higher than let’s say 47/60. The cutoff will be based on the score of the 15th highest scorer.
My Zumdahl’s arrived today! My dad got the international version though… is that a problem?
Shouldn’t be. Usually, both contain the same material.