2026
ASOC 2026
Competition date
Saturday, 17 Oct 2026
Eligible students
NZ Years 11-13
New Zealand time
2:15 pm – 4:30 pm
Delivery
Remote online
Competition completed
Registration is no longer available.
Australia
• Completed
Australian Science Olympiads — Chemistry (ASOC)
An advanced high-school chemistry competition that challenges students to apply chemical reasoning, quantitative skills and scientific logic to unfamiliar problems.
CHEMISTRY
Australian Science Olympiads — Chemistry (ASOC)
Competition Overview
Academic Value / Why Participate
ASOC gives students an opportunity to:
extend their chemistry beyond routine classroom exercises;
develop rigorous chemical reasoning;
strengthen multi-step quantitative problem solving;
learn to apply known principles to unfamiliar chemical systems;
practise interpreting experimental and theoretical information;
develop clear written scientific explanations;
benchmark themselves through an Olympiad-level chemistry examination;
identify whether they are ready for more advanced chemistry study; and
receive formal recognition of their performance.
It is particularly valuable because the written section rewards the reasoning process as well as the final result, making it a stronger test of genuine chemical understanding than a purely multiple-choice assessment.
Who It Suits
ASOC is well suited to students who:
perform strongly in secondary-school chemistry;
enjoy quantitative and analytical problem solving;
are confident manipulating equations and chemical quantities;
prefer understanding why chemical processes occur rather than memorising reactions;
enjoy multi-step written problems;
are comfortable applying information supplied within a question;
are interested in chemistry, medicine, pharmacy, chemical engineering, materials science or related fields; or
want to experience advanced Olympiad-style science.
The official Australian programme is primarily aimed at high-school students in approximately Years 9–12, with teachers encouraged to use their judgement when deciding whether younger students are ready.
Prerequisites and Readiness
ASOC does not require students to pass a separate qualifying competition before entering the examination.
However, students are expected to possess a strong secondary-school chemistry foundation. The official syllabus assumes familiarity with concepts normally encountered by approximately the penultimate year of high-school chemistry.
Students should be comfortable with:
algebraic manipulation;
scientific notation and units;
chemical equations;
mole calculations;
interpreting tables and graphs;
explaining chemical reasoning in writing; and
completing multi-step calculations accurately.
Previous Olympiad experience is not compulsory.
Eligibility varies by regional administration. The official ASI Australian examination is currently restricted to students enrolled in Australian schools or accredited home schools, while international partner versions may have separate entry conditions.
ROUND 1
Open Round
Exam Date & Time
14:15-16:30, Sat 17 Oct 2026
Registration Deadline
Friday, 2 October 2026
FURTHER ROUNDS & PROGRESSION
Explore the later stages of the competition. Progression is subject to the organiser's current qualification requirements.
Semifinal Round
The Semifinal Round builds on the earlier stage with more advanced questions and deeper application.
Exam Date & Time
Saturday, 16 May 2026 · 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (NZT)
Registration Deadline
Friday, 1 May 2026 · 11:59 pm (NZT)
Semifinal Round
The Semifinal Round builds on the earlier stage with more advanced questions and deeper application.
Exam Date & Time
Saturday, 16 May 2026 · 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (NZT)
Registration Deadline
Friday, 1 May 2026 · 11:59 pm (NZT)
Semifinal Round
The Semifinal Round builds on the earlier stage with more advanced questions and deeper application.
Exam Date & Time
Saturday, 16 May 2026 · 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (NZT)
Registration Deadline
Friday, 1 May 2026 · 11:59 pm (NZT)
Semifinal Round
The Semifinal Round builds on the earlier stage with more advanced questions and deeper application.
Exam Date & Time
Saturday, 16 May 2026 · 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (NZT)
Registration Deadline
Friday, 1 May 2026 · 11:59 pm (NZT)
All resources
Past Papers
Guide
Rules and
Exam Instructions
A GOOD PLACE TO BEGIN
RESOURCES & PAST PAPERS
Find available practice, curriculum guidance and competition rules.
Practice
No resources found for these filters.
THE RIGHT SUPPORT. AT YOUR STAGE
PREPARATION COURSES
Explore the programme, choose a teaching format and review the full tuition before enrolling.
CLASS
Placement for Advanced Class is confirmed after consultation.
STAGE
REGULAR CLASS · OPEN ROUND PREPARATION
Open Round Preparation
Build neuroscience knowledge, then apply it to research figures, experimental evidence and unfamiliar questions.
16 hours total
8 x 2-hour lessons
· Connect neural structures with function and disease.
· Intepret graphs, experiments and research extracts.
· Complete an Open Round-style mock with an individual error review.
Session 1 — Foundations
……Session 2 — Core concepts
……Session 3 — Problem solving
……
Choose your teaching format
Small-group preparation with up to 3 students, offering structured teaching, guided practice and personalised feedback.
16 hours · 8 × 2-hour sessions
NZ$1,060
per student · full programme
Focused preparation for two students learning together, with guided teaching, targeted practice and personalised feedback.
16 hours · 8 × 2-hour sessions
NZ$1,280
per student · full programme
Fully personalised one-to-one preparation with teaching, practice and feedback tailored to the student's needs.
16 hours · 8 × 2-hour sessions
NZ$1,840
per student · full programme
Select a teaching format to view tuition, lesson format and enrolment details.
Competition Gallery
Submission and Confirmation
Please check your email address carefully before submitting the registration form.
Once you submit the form, you will receive a confirmation email automatically.
All other important communications (including the Exam Instructions, Results and Certificates, etc) will be sent to the email address you submitted to us. Please check your email inbox and junk mail / spam folder regularly!
What Happens Next?
1
2
3
4
Registration Received
We will send you a confirmation email
We may review your registration if required
Eligibility Review
You will receive the Exam Instructions closer to the date
Exam Instructions
Participate and do your best!
Competition Day
Competition Overview
Australian Science Olympiads — Chemistry (ASOC)
Australian Science Olympiads – Chemistry (ASOC) is the Chemistry discipline of the Australian Science Olympiads programme, run by Australian Science Innovations (ASI).
The examination is designed to test much more than the recall of chemical facts. Students are expected to approach unfamiliar scenarios logically, identify the relevant chemical principles and construct solutions using both qualitative reasoning and quantitative calculations.
The assumed knowledge is largely drawn from material encountered by the penultimate year of secondary-school chemistry, including atomic structure, bonding, periodic trends, stoichiometry, kinetics, redox chemistry, and acids and bases. Written questions may then introduce unfamiliar chemistry and provide students with information that they must interpret and apply.
Within Australia, the examination also serves as the first stage of the pathway towards the Australian Science Olympiad Summer School and potential selection for Australia's International Chemistry Olympiad team.
ASOC gives students an opportunity to:
extend their chemistry beyond routine classroom exercises;
develop rigorous chemical reasoning;
strengthen multi-step quantitative problem solving;
learn to apply known principles to unfamiliar chemical systems;
practise interpreting experimental and theoretical information;
develop clear written scientific explanations;
benchmark themselves through an Olympiad-level chemistry examination;
identify whether they are ready for more advanced chemistry study; and
receive formal recognition of their performance.
It is particularly valuable because the written section rewards the reasoning process as well as the final result, making it a stronger test of genuine chemical understanding than a purely multiple-choice assessment.
ASOC is well suited to students who:
perform strongly in secondary-school chemistry;
enjoy quantitative and analytical problem solving;
are confident manipulating equations and chemical quantities;
prefer understanding why chemical processes occur rather than memorising reactions;
enjoy multi-step written problems;
are comfortable applying information supplied within a question;
are interested in chemistry, medicine, pharmacy, chemical engineering, materials science or related fields; or
want to experience advanced Olympiad-style science.
The official Australian programme is primarily aimed at high-school students in approximately Years 9–12, with teachers encouraged to use their judgement when deciding whether younger students are ready.
Participants receive a certificate indicating their achievement.
International partner-delivered versions commonly recognise results using:
High Distinction
Distinction
Credit
These award levels are generally determined using Australian score thresholds rather than fixed percentages, meaning the required raw score can vary between competition years.
The precise award structure should therefore be confirmed for each competition cycle.
For eligible Australian students, ASOC is the entry point to the Australian Chemistry Olympiad selection pathway.
Approximately 24 top eligible Chemistry students may be invited to attend the two-week Australian Science Olympiad Summer School at the Australian National University.
Students undertake accelerated university-level learning, practical laboratory work and further examinations. Following Summer School and subsequent selection and training, four students are chosen to represent Australia at the International Chemistry Olympiad.
This progression pathway is subject to Australian citizenship, residency, age and schooling requirements.
Students taking ASOC through an overseas partner should not assume that their result provides eligibility for Australia's Summer School or national team. For international participants, the examination should instead be regarded as a challenging chemistry competition and academic achievement in its own right.