Iberoamerican Chemistry Olympiad (OIAQ)¶

Olimpiada Iberoamericana de Química

Key Websites¶

Overview¶

The Iberoamerican Chemistry Olympiad (abbreviated OIAQ or OIbQ; Spanish: Olimpiada Iberoamericana de Química; Portuguese: Olimpíada Ibero-Americana de Química) is an annual international chemistry competition for pre-university students from the Ibero-American region — 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 Española de Química (RSEQ, Spain), Sociedade Portuguesa de Química (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

Medal System¶

Award	Distribution
🥇 Gold	8–12% of participants
🥈 Silver	18–22% of participants
🥉 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 — 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 — 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 — Consistently strong performer and frequent host (5 editions). Won the 26th virtual edition (2022)
Spain — Won the 29th edition (2025) with Carlos Calderón Alba as the top individual. All four Spanish students medaled in 2024
Argentina — Three-time host (1995, 2002, 2012). Historically competitive
El Salvador — A notable overperformer relative to country size: consistent medal winner since 2007, with golds in 2011, 2014, 2021, and 2022
Peru — Strong recent showing, including gold and silver at the 2025 edition

History¶

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

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	Bogotá, Colombia	PT	Link	Link
2015	XX	Teresina, Brasil	PT		Link
2012	XVII	Santa Fe, Argentina	PT	Link	Link