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πŸ‡±πŸ‡Ί Luxembourg Chemistry Olympiad

Overview

The Luxembourg Chemistry Olympiad (Letzebuerger Chimiesolympiad) is Luxembourg's national chemistry competition for secondary-school students, organized by the Olympiades Luxembourgeoises des Sciences Naturelles a.s.b.l. β€” a registered non-profit association that manages national olympiads in biology, chemistry, physics, and natural sciences. The competition is relatively young, having been first held in the 2018–2019 academic year. The chemistry final is held in the laboratories of the University of Luxembourg.

Key Website

Competition Format

The competition follows a three-stage structure.

  • Qualification

    • A 1-hour online multiple-choice test
    • The top 50–60 students advance

  • Semi-final

    • A 2-hour online examination with various question types
    • The top 12–14 students advance

  • Final

    • Held at the University of Luxembourg
    • Includes a 2-hour theoretical exam and a 3-hour practical laboratory exam
    • The top 4 students are selected for the IChO team

Eligibility

Open to all secondary students in Luxembourg in classes 3e, 2e, and 1re of classical or general secondary education. The competition is available in multiple languages including French and German.

Student Outcomes

Luxembourg's small higher-education system does not have formalized olympiad-linked university admission bonuses. The primary outcome is selection for the national IChO team and the prestige of national-level recognition.

IChO Performance

The official IChO results database lists Luxembourg with 0 gold, 0 silver, and 4 bronze medals, and 4 honorable mentions. Luxembourg earned its first IChO medal (bronze) in 2023 and has received at least one medal or honorable mention in every IChO since.

History

  • 2018–19: The first Luxembourg Chemistry Olympiad was held, with 11 finalists.
  • 2019: Luxembourg made its IChO debut at the 51st IChO in Paris.
  • 2023: Luxembourg earned its first IChO bronze medal (Zurich, 55th IChO).
  • Present: The competition is in its 8th edition and has shown steady improvement at the international level.