Turkish Chemistry Olympiad

Türkiye Kimya Olimpiyatı

Overview

The Turkish Chemistry Olympiad (Türkiye Kimya Olimpiyatı) is organized by TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) through its BIDEB (Science and Society Department), as part of the broader TÜBİTAK Science Olympiads Program covering nine academic disciplines. The programme selects Turkey's representatives for the IChO and offers substantial academic rewards including university admission benefits and scholarships.

Key Website

• TÜBİTAK Science Olympiads
• IChO results database: Turkey

Competition Format

The competition follows a three-stage pathway.

• Stage 1: First Stage Exam (Birinci Aşama Sınavı)

  • A multiple-choice examination administered simultaneously nationwide
  • Chemistry: 32 questions in 100 minutes
  • Approximately 18,000+ students apply across all nine subjects; roughly 500 are invited to Stage 2

• Stage 2: Summer School and Second Stage Exam

  • A two-week Summer School with intensive lectures and problem-solving sessions
  • The Second Stage Exam features open-ended questions requiring advanced analytical thinking
  • National medals are awarded: typically 4 gold, 8 silver, and 12 bronze per subject

• Stage 3: Winter School and Team Selection

  • A two-week Winter School combining theoretical and practical training
  • National teams for international olympiads are selected based on performance
  • Selected team members attend additional team camps before the IChO

Eligibility

Open to Turkish citizens or Blue Card holders enrolled in schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education (MEB), in grades 8–11. Each student may compete in only one subject per year.

Student Outcomes

TÜBİTAK provides a tiered reward structure:

• National medalists receive an additional coefficient applied to their university entrance examination (YKS) scores, boosting their ranking
• International medalists may qualify for exam-free university placement outside standard quotas
• TÜBİTAK 2205 Undergraduate Scholarship provides financial support for medal winners enrolling in science and engineering programmes
• TÜBİTAK 2247-C Intern Researcher Scholarship offers early-career research funding for successful students

IChO Performance

The official IChO results database lists Turkey with 19 gold, 58 silver, and 44 bronze medals. Turkey is one of the stronger-performing nations, with several multi-gold medalists in its history.

History

• 1978: Turkey first participated in the IChO (10th IChO, Toruń, Poland).
• 1994: Turkey began sending teams regularly and continuously.
• 2020: Turkey hosted the 52nd IChO in Istanbul, organized by TÜBİTAK and hosted by Istanbul Technical University. Due to the global pandemic, it was conducted as a remote-access examination.
• 2000s–present: The national programme has been running for over 30 years, with the TÜBİTAK Science Olympiads covering all major science disciplines.