Outreach Canadian Chemistry Contest
Cliquez ici pour accéder à la page du CCC en FRANÇAIS
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.
Due to the ongoing disruption to extra-curricular activities in some Ontario schools, students who are
unable to write the CCC/CCO at their institution will be able to write at the location where their local
district coordinator works. Such students should complete the form labelled as Registration Form and
Instructions for Ontario Students and email it to their district coordinator to make appropriate
arrangements.
Please note that it is NOT a requirement for ALL Ontario students to do this. Ontario teachers who are now
participating in extra-curriculars can complete the form labeled as Registration Form and Instructions for
Non-Ontario Schools to register students to write at their school.
Registration Form and Instructions for Non-Ontario Schools
Registration Form and Instructions for Ontario Schools
District Coordinators' List and E-mail Addresses
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 16, 2013
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
- Access the MS-Word “Registration Form and Instructions” file that applies to your region by clicking on the proper link at the top of this page. You will need to consult the “District Coordinators’ List and E-mail Addresses” by clicking on the appropriate link, also at the top of this page (PDF file).
- 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
Letter 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 ![]()
2012 Contest
2011 Contest
2010 Contest
2009 Contest
2008 Contest
2007 Contest
Previous Winners top
- National

- Atlantic

- Quebec

- Ontario

- Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nunavut

- Alberta and the Northwest Territories

- British Columbia and the Yukon

Coordinators top
National Coordinator/Judge
François Gauvin, MCIC
Université de Saint-Boniface
Department of Experimental Sciences
Winnipeg, Man.
fgauvin@stboniface.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
Natasha O'Rourke, MCIC
University of Victoria
Department of Chemistry
Victoria, B.C.
norourke@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.
