Wednesday 13 May 2026
In the April holidays, I had the opportunity to participate in the New Zealand Chemistry Olympiad camp. The process to select 32 people to attend this camp consists of two tests which are a mixture of multi-choice and short answer questions.
The 6-day-long camp was a rigorous and enriching, and helped me develop a vast range of new knowledge far outside the school syllabus, as well as improving my fundamental understanding. Each day consisted of two 1.5 hour lectures, a 3-hour lab session and a 1.5 hour problem session in the afternoon. After a 3-hour practical and a 3-hour theory exam at the end of the camp, four students were selected to represent NZ in the International Chemistry Olympiad in Uzbekistan this July.
My favourite part of each day was the labs in the School of Chemical Sciences at the University of Auckland, as we had the opportunity to perform exciting experiments that are outside the school syllabus.
For me, the most beneficial part of the camp was meeting other inquisitive, hard-working and intelligent students that motivated me to try my best and helped me along the way, whom I will share many lasting memories with.
I’m very grateful to have been selected to attend this camp, and would encourage all keen students to have a go at Olympiads!
Angus Birchenough (Year 13, Marsden)