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🇦🇷 Argentine Chemistry Olympiad

Programa Olimpíada Argentina de Química

🔗 Official Website

🧭 Overview

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The Programa Olimpíada Argentina de Química (OAQ) is Argentina's nationwide chemistry competition for secondary-school students, organized by the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires (FCEN–UBA) through its Olympic Committee. Schools enter students through a teacher coordinator, making teachers an important part of the programme's national network. The OAQ combines written problem solving, experimental chemistry, teacher development, and selection for both the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) and the Iberoamerican Chemistry Olympiad (OIAQ).

🏁 Competition Format

The competition progresses through four stages:

  • 1⃣ School Round (Certamen Colegial)

    • Held at participating schools across Argentina
    • Open to students in all five competition categories

  • 2⃣ Interschool Round (Certamen Intercolegial)

    • Regional competition among schools within each zone

  • 3⃣ Zonal Round (Certamen Zonal)

    • Students who advance from the interschool round compete within their geographic zone
    • Argentina's 17+ provinces are organized into multiple zones

  • 4⃣ National Round (Certamen Nacional)

    • A multi-day event traditionally held in Villa Giardino, Córdoba
    • Approximately 300 students from ~90 schools qualify from the earlier stages
    • Around 124 participants receive medals at the national round
    • Advanced competitors complete experimental work

The programme uses five categories — Initial Level, Level 1, Level 2, Level 2 BIS, and Level 3 — to accommodate students from different school years and educational pathways. The precise category mapping criteria can be found on the offcial site. For international readers, an approximate rule of thumb may look like:

Category Grade - Science Grade - Humanities
Initial 8- 8-
1 9 9-10
2 10 11-12
2 BIS 11 -
3 12 -
3E 12 -

International Selection Pathway

From the upper-level national medalists, approximately 25 students are invited to theoretical and laboratory training at FCEN–UBA. Further assessments reduce the group before selection:

  • 4 students are chosen for the IChO team
  • A separate delegation of 4 students is selected for the Iberoamerican Chemistry Olympiad (OIAQ)

Argentina has competed at the IChO since 1995 and has earned at least one medal at every edition since.

📜 History

  • 1991 — FCEN–UBA established the programme and held the first national competition
  • 1995 — Argentina began participating in the IChO
  • 2000 — The programme was reorganized around an Olympic Committee and a technical-pedagogical team
  • 2001 — Experimental chemistry became a stronger part of the programme; the national final developed as both a competition and a meeting place for students and teachers
  • 2019 — Tobías Viola Aprea achieved the absolute top score at the OIAQ in Porto, despite budget cuts
  • 2026 — The OAQ announced its 36th edition

🏆 IChO Performance

Through the 58th IChO, Argentina's lifetime record is 10 gold, 23 silver, 66 bronze, and 8 honourable mentions.

Notable highlights:

  • 1998 — Best team result: 2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
  • 2005 — 1 gold, 3 silver (no bronze — all four delegates medaled)
  • Argentina has been the only Iberoamerican country to medal with all four delegates at IChO

🏅 OIAQ Performance

Argentina is one of the strongest Iberoamerican nations. At the 24th OIAQ in Porto (2019), a team member achieved the absolute top score among all participants, alongside 2 silver medals.

📚 Past Exams Archive