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Iberoamerican Chemistry Olympiad (OIAQ)

Olimpiada Iberoamericana de QuΓ­mica

🌎 Key Websites

πŸ”¬ Overview

The Iberoamerican Chemistry Olympiad (abbreviated OIAQ or OIbQ; Spanish: Olimpiada Iberoamericana de QuΓ­mica; Portuguese: OlimpΓ­ada Ibero-Americana de QuΓ­mica) is an annual international chemistry competition for pre-university students from the Ibero-American region β€” encompassing Spain, Portugal, and Latin American nations. Founded in 1995 with the first edition in Mendoza, Argentina, the OIAQ brings together young chemists from across the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world for a week of scientific competition and cultural exchange.

The competition is organized on a rotating host-committee model: each edition is managed by the host country's national chemistry society or designated university, in coordination with the broader OIAQ community. Key organizing bodies include the Real Sociedad EspaΓ±ola de QuΓ­mica (RSEQ, Spain), Sociedade Portuguesa de QuΓ­mica (SPQ, Portugal), and various national olympiad programs across Latin America.

⏱ Competition Format

The OIAQ features two individual examinations held on separate days:

Component Weight Duration
Theoretical Exam 60% of final score ~4.5 hours
Practical/Experimental Exam 40% of final score ~4.5 hours
  • Languages: Spanish and Portuguese
  • Reading period: 30 minutes to read the translated exam before starting
  • Program: The competition spans approximately one week and includes cultural activities alongside the exams

πŸ† Medal System

Award Distribution
πŸ₯‡ Gold 8–12% of participants
πŸ₯ˆ Silver 18–22% of participants
πŸ₯‰ Bronze 28–32% of participants
Honourable Mention Awarded to contestants who perfectly solve at least one problem but do not earn a medal

Total medalists do not exceed 60% of all competitors. No official country ranking is published β€” the emphasis is on individual achievement and educational value rather than national rivalry.

🏁 Participating Countries (19 nations)

Each country sends up to 4 students (non-university, under 19), selected through their respective national chemistry olympiad programs, along with 2 mentors.

Region Countries
Iberian Peninsula Spain, Portugal
South America Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
Central America & Caribbean Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama
North America Mexico

Top-performing nations include:

  • Brazil β€” The historically dominant nation. Won overall first place at the 15th edition (2010). Raul Bruno Machado da Silva achieved the highest absolute score in both 2009 and 2010. Has hosted the most editions (6 times)
  • Mexico β€” Consistently strong performer and frequent host (5 editions). Won the 26th virtual edition (2022)
  • Spain β€” Won the 29th edition (2025) with Carlos CalderΓ³n Alba as the top individual. All four Spanish students medaled in 2024
  • Argentina β€” Three-time host (1995, 2002, 2012). Historically competitive
  • El Salvador β€” A notable overperformer relative to country size: consistent medal winner since 2007, with golds in 2011, 2014, 2021, and 2022
  • Peru β€” Strong recent showing, including gold and silver at the 2025 edition

πŸ“† History

Year Edition Host Country Notes
1995 I Mendoza Argentina πŸ‡¦πŸ‡· inaugural edition
1996 II Mexico City Mexico πŸ‡²πŸ‡½
1997 III Rio de Janeiro Brazil πŸ‡§πŸ‡·
1998 IV BogotΓ‘ Colombia πŸ‡¨πŸ‡΄
1999 V Santiago de Compostela Spain πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Έ first Iberian Peninsula host
2000 VI Caracas Venezuela πŸ‡»πŸ‡ͺ
2001 β€” no edition held
2002 VII Mar del Plata Argentina πŸ‡¦πŸ‡·
2003 VIII Cuernavaca Mexico πŸ‡²πŸ‡½
2004 IX CastellΓ³n Spain πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Έ
2005 X Lima Peru πŸ‡΅πŸ‡ͺ
2006 XI Aveiro Portugal πŸ‡΅πŸ‡Ή first Portuguese host
2007 XII Rio de Janeiro Brazil πŸ‡§πŸ‡·
2008 XIII Heredia Costa Rica πŸ‡¨πŸ‡·
2009 XIV Havana Cuba πŸ‡¨πŸ‡Ί
2010 XV Mexico City Mexico πŸ‡²πŸ‡½
2011 XVI Teresina Brazil πŸ‡§πŸ‡·
2012 XVII Santa Fe Argentina πŸ‡¦πŸ‡·
2013 XVIII La Paz Bolivia πŸ‡§πŸ‡΄
2014 XIX Montevideo / PiriΓ‘polis Uruguay πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Ύ
2015 XX Teresina Brazil πŸ‡§πŸ‡·
2016 XXI BogotΓ‘ Colombia πŸ‡¨πŸ‡΄
2017 XXII Lima Peru πŸ‡΅πŸ‡ͺ
2018 XXIII San Salvador El Salvador πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡»
2019 XXIV Porto Portugal πŸ‡΅πŸ‡Ή
2020 β€” cancelled COVID-19 pandemic
2021 XXV Teresina Brazil πŸ‡§πŸ‡· virtual
2022 XXVI (virtual) Mexico πŸ‡²πŸ‡½ virtual
2023 XXVII (virtual) Ecuador πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡¨ virtual
2024 XXVIII Heredia Costa Rica πŸ‡¨πŸ‡· in-person format resumed
2025 XXIX Toluca Mexico πŸ‡²πŸ‡½ hosted by UAEM
2026 XXX Fortaleza Brazil πŸ‡§πŸ‡· 30th jubilee edition; includes inaugural Ibero-American Scientific Symposium

πŸ“ Past Exams Archive

Year Edition Host Language Theory Experiment
2024 XXVIII Heredia, Costa Rica ES Link
2022 XXVI Mexico (virtual) ES Link Link
2021 XXV Teresina, Brazil (virtual) PT Link
2019 XXIV Porto, Portugal PT Link Link
2018 XXIII El Salvador PT Link Link
2017 XXII Lima, Peru PT Link Link
2016 XXI BogotΓ‘, Colombia PT Link Link
2015 XX Teresina, Brasil PT Link
2012 XVII Santa Fe, Argentina PT Link Link