Two qualify for National Chemistry Olympiad

March 31, 2023

Two Upper St. Clair High School students have advanced in the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO). Juniors Isabella Zhang and Mahir Parmar completed the local qualifying exam on Saturday, March 18, 2023, and are among the approximately 1,000 high school students who will move on to the national exam, administered April 15-23.

“Our students annually participate in this competition,” said Laura Marks, USCHS chemistry teacher. “This is the third consecutive year our students were chosen to sit for the national exam.”

The National Chemistry Olympiad Exam is a three-part exam administered on a single day. Each of the three parts takes approximately two hours to complete.

Sponsored by the American Chemical Society, the USNCO program is a competition designed to stimulate and promote achievement in high school chemistry. The program has four tiers: Local Chemistry Olympiad Exams, National Chemistry Olympiad Exams, Study Camp for the 20 top-scoring students from the national exam, and International Chemistry Olympiad Exams for four students chosen based on their performance at the Study Camp.

In 2022, 326 students from 84 countries participated in the 53rd International Chemistry Olympiad. Team USA earned one gold and three silver medals. The 2023 International Chemistry Olympiad is set for July 16-25 in Switzerland.