TVU – The 2nd Chemistry Olympiad Competition in 2023 at Tra Vinh University attracted 48 teams from high schools in the provinces of Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Soc Trang, and Vinh Long, with 192 students and nearly 60 teachers participating. The competition was held on the morning of April 9th, 2023 at Tra Vinh University, aimed at grade 11 and 12 students currently studying in high schools within and outside of Tra Vinh province.
In her opening speech, Dr. Thach Thi Dan, Vice-Rector of Tra Vinh University, stated that the Chemistry Olympiad Competition is an academic playground for students and teachers from high schools within and outside of Tra Vinh province, as well as for lecturers from Tra Vinh University to exchange knowledge, specialized expertise, and learning experiences in the field of chemistry. Additionally, the competition aims to support career guidance for students to choose suitable career paths for their future.
The Vice-Rector hopes that the logical and structured thinking skills gained from the competition will not only assist students in excelling in the subject of chemistry but also in other specialized subjects with chemical applications. Furthermore, it is expected that students will be able to effectively apply and creatively implement their chemical knowledge in their future endeavors.
This year’s competition attracted 24 high schools from 4 provinces in the Mekong Delta region, including Ben Tre, Soc Trang, Vinh Long, and Tra Vinh. The participating schools are: Ethnic Boarding Middle and High Schools in Tra Cu district, Luong Hoa A High School, Tran De Middle and High School, Cau Quan High School, Hieu Tu High School, Huynh Tan Phat High School, Nguyen Dang High School, Nguyen Dinh Chieu High School, Nguyen Trai High School, Phan Van Tri High School, Phong Phu High School, Tam Ngai High School, Tan Quoi High School, Tra On High School, Vo Van Kiet High School, Vu Dinh Lieu High School, Hoang Dieu High School, Provincial Specialized High School-Trà Vinh, Hoa Binh High School, Cau Ngang B High School, Huu Thanh High School, Vinh Xuan High School, Pedagogical Practice School, and Nguyen Van Hai High School.
Dr. Nguyen Tan Tai, Head of the Department of Applied Chemistry at Tra Vinh University, explained that according to regulations, each participating school must send at least one team consisting of four students, including two students competing in the individual theoretical test and two students (as a team) competing in the practical test. The competition consists of two parts: the theoretical and practical tests, which are conducted simultaneously.
The theoretical test includes 40 multiple-choice questions (80%) and 1 essay question (20%), with a total time limit of 75 minutes. The practical test consists of 10 multiple-choice questions related to laboratory working principles and basic techniques, as well as 2 experimental tasks selected by the organizing committee, with a total time limit of 75 minutes. The answer key is based on a 20-point scale.
Ms. Vo Thi Dang Linh, a teacher from Hoang Dieu High School in Soc Trang province, said: “Our school’s students have been participating in Tra Vinh University’s annual Chemistry Olympiad Competition for many years. After learning about this year’s competition, the school selected and trained three teams consisting of 12 students to compete.
Sharing her experience of this year’s Chemistry Olympiad Competition, Huynh Kim Thuan, a student from Tra Vinh Ethnic Boarding High School said: “My classmates and I had a plan to prepare for the competition. I focused on practicing different types of exercises and reviewing basic knowledge because understanding the fundamentals is essential before solving more advanced problems.
Nguyen Khoa Dien, a student from Phan Van Tri High School in Ben Tre who won first prize in the practical test, said: “During the preparation process, I encountered some challenging problems. If I couldn’t solve them, I would seek help from my teachers to gain insights and valuable experiences.”
After two years of organizing, the Chemistry Olympiad Competition has become a prestigious intellectual playground eagerly anticipated by high school students interested in chemistry in the Mekong Delta region.
In addition to the competition, high school students participated in various cultural exchange activities, team-building games, and had the opportunity to visit and experience the learning environment at Tra Vinh University.
At the end of the competition, the organizing committee awarded 2 first prizes, 2 second prizes, 2 third prizes, and 40 encouragement prizes for both theoretical and practical tests. They also gave one first prize, one second prize, and one third prize to the unit with the most outstanding performers in the competition.
Truong Minh Khoa, a student from Vo Van Kiet High School in Vinh Long won the first prize in the theoretical test. The team consisting of Nguyen Khoa Dien and Huynh Mai Vy, students from Phan Van Tri High School in Ben Tre, won the first prize in the practical test. Hoang Dieu High School in Soc Trang was awarded the first prize for the school with the most outstanding performances in the competition.
Nguyen Thien Toan, a student from Nguyen Dinh Chieu High School in Ben Tre won the second prize in the theoretical test. The group consisting of Thach Xuan Hau and Tieu Binh Vy from Ethnic Boarding Middle and High Schools in Tra Cu district, Tra Vinh province won the second prize in the practical test, and Vo Van Kiet High School in Vinh Long won the second prize for the school with the most outstanding performances in the competition.
Mai Phuc Dien, a student from Cau Ngang B High School in Tra Vinh won the third prize in the theoretical test. A group consisting of Vo Duy Khang and Ngo Thi Anh Tuyet from Ethnic Boarding Middle and High Schools in Tra Cu district, Tra Vinh province, won the third prize in the practical test, and Nguyen Van Hai High School in Tra Vinh was awarded the third prize for the school with the most outstanding performances in the competition.
By TD
