International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO): Parent & Student IP Math & Physics Guide

Q: What does International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO): Parent & Student IP Math & Physics Guide cover?
A: Everything IP parents and STEM-inclined students need to know about the IChO - from the 5-hour lab exam format and medal cut-offs to how national selections.

TL;DR
The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) is an annual chemistry competition for secondary-school students. Each participating country’s delegation is expected to include four competitors and two mentors (competitors must be under 20 on 1 July of the competition year).
The competition has two parts-practical (experimental) and theoretical-with 4–5 hours working time allotted for each part, and scores are capped at 40 points (practical) + 60 points (theory).
Medal “cut-offs” change each year because awards are allocated by bands (for example: top 10–12% gold, next 20–22% silver, next 30–32% bronze) after scripts are marked.

For IP‑specific Chemistry pacing, lab prep, and WA alignment, see our IP Chemistry tuition hub.

Map every derivation back to the JC syllabus with our H2 Chemistry notes hub so Olympiad drills double as H2 Chemistry revision.

Status: IChO Steering Committee host list and IChO regulations (valid from 1 July 2021) checked 2026-01-26 - the delegation, timing bands, and medal-allocation rules remain published; host cities/dates update annually, so always confirm on the official host list.

Registration quick answer (Singapore): Students don’t enter IChO directly. Countries send national teams via their chemistry olympiad. See the IChO Steering Committee site for rules and hosts: https://www.ichosc.org/

1 What exactly is the IChO?

The IChO is an annual international chemistry competition for secondary-school students, organised in July by the host country’s ministry (or an appropriate institution) under published regulations.

Key facts