Canadian Chemistry Contest

Is chemistry one of your strengths? Then test your skills and measure yourself against fellow students who share the same passion. The Canadian Chemistry Contest (CCC) (parts A and B) is carried out in conjunction with the Canadian Chemistry Olympiad (CCO) (parts A and C). The Canadian Chemistry Contest is for high school and cégep students.

Who Should Participate?
When Does it Take Place?
Awards and Prizes
How to Register
How it Works
How to Prepare
Previous contests / exams
Winners
Coordinators
Contributors
Sponsors

Who Should Participate? top

Parts A and B: Students ranking in the top 10% at high schools and cégeps (cégep students who have taken no more than two courses in chemistry are eligible)
Parts A and C (CCO selection exam): Students less than 20 years old at the time of the international competition who have not taken any chemistry course at the university level.

When Does it Take Place? top

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Awards and Prizes top

The top three students are selected in each of the following six regions to win the prizes listed below. As well, among the first place winners, one national winner is selected.

National
Atlantic
Quebec
Ontario
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nunavut
Alberta and the Northwest Territories
British Columbia and the Yukon.

Prizes: National Winner — $350 additional (total of $800) First place regional winners — $450 Second place regional winners — $200 Third place regional winners — $100 Special Merit Award certificates and CIC lapel pins are also presented for outstanding papers in each region.

How to Register top

Registration forms for the contest will be mailed by District Coordinators to all high schools in their district in March.
The CIC welcomes the participation of schools that have not been involved previously.
All enquiries from schools should be sent to the Regional or District Coordinators.

How It Works top

Letters from the National Examiner

The Canadian Chemistry Contest (CCC) is combined with the Canadian Chemistry Olympiad (CCO) Selection Exam. It consists of three parts:
- Part A: 25 Multiple-choice questions. Duration: 60 minutes.
- Part B: Four extended-response questions, two of which must be answered. Duration: 90 minutes.
- Part C: Free-response problem-solving questions, designed to be more challenging. Duration: 90 minutes.
All three sections of the combined CCC and COO may be written in either English or French.
Parts A and B constitute the Canadian Chemistry Contest, and are prepared by the National Examiner.
The CCO Olympiad Selection Exam consists of the same Part A together with Part C which is designed by the CCO
Those interested in both competitions may write Parts A, B and C within the total time of four hours.

How to Prepare top

Download copies of previous contests (below) and use them as practice to see the types of questions asked.
Students are encouraged to try the questions before looking at the solutions provided.
Solutions for Part A and Part B of the most recent contests are also available.

Previous Contests / Exams top

Data Sheet for CIC/CCO contests
Provisional Curriculum
Analysis of Part B of past contests

2010 Contest

2009 Contest

2008 Contest

2007 Contest

2006 Contest

2005 Contest

Previous Winners top

Coordinators top

National Coordinator/Judge

François Gauvin, MCIC
Université de Saint-Boniface
Department of Chemistry
Winnipeg, Man.
gauvinf@cc.umanitoba.ca

National Examiner

Jennifer Pitt-Lainsbury
University of Toronto Schools
Science Department
Toronto, Ont.
T. 416-978-6330
jpittlainsbury@utschools.ca

Regional Coordinators

Atlantic
Andrew Grant, MCIC
Mount Allison University
Department of Chemistry
Sackville, N.B.
T. 506-364-2368
agrant@mta.ca

Quebec
Denis Bussières, MCIC
Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Département de chimie
Chicoutimi, Que.
T. 418-545-5011, ext. 5074
dbussier@uqac.ca

Ontario
Pippa Lock, MCIC
McMaster University
Department of Chemistry
Hamilton, Ont.
T. 905-525-9140, ext. 23302
lockpe@mcmaster.ca

Manitoba/Saskatchewan/Nunavut
Krystyna Koczanski, MCIC
University of Manitoba
Department of Chemistry
Winnipeg, Man.
T. 204-474-9215
koczansk@cc.umanitoba.ca

Alberta and Northwest Territories
Christie McDermott, MCIC
University of Alberta
Department of Chemistry
Edmonton, Alta.
T. 403-492-4969
christie.mcdermott@ualberta.ca

British Columbia/Yukon
Amanda Whiting, MCIC
University of Victoria
Department of Chemistry
Victoria, B.C.
awhiting@uvic.ca

Contributors top

This contest is organized by the Chemical Education Division of the Chemical Institute of Canada with the help of coordinators at universities across the country.

Sponsors top

Find out more details on the Canadian Chemistry Olympiad
Participate in the Science Fairs.

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