Of K3M and IChO Selection

Recently, I realised the flaws of K3M as a benchmark for the preliminary selection of IChO candidates. This is because K3M consists of 40 MCQs only. The usage of MCQs as a screening test is very unreliable. This is because it is not very sensitive and neither is it specific in identifying students who are really good in Chemistry. A set of more extensive and structured questions are in my opinion more sensitive and specific for that purpose. However, I do not have the statistics to prove my arguments and all of this is merely based on personal experience. I do hope that the IChO selection and training committee will look into this problem and come out with a better solution.

International Chemistry Olympiad - Malaysian Selection

Heard that the candidates for the selection have been contacted few days ago. To all selected candidates out there, you must be looking hard for info about this olympiad. As usual, the selection will be carried out in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya. Look, I'm here to help. Please leave a comment! Cheers! ^^

P.S. I can provide some information that you all might want to know. Not here on the worldwide web but privately on private messages.

Preparatory Questions for 43rd IChO 2011 is Out!!!

Saw a few visits logged with the referral term as preparatory questions for 43 IChO 2011... So, I decided to just check it out on the official website... To my excitement, it is out! Click the link below to download! Enjoy! :)

Preparatory Question (43rd IChO 2011)

Official Website (43rd IChO 2011)

Chemistry?

Hey there. This idea pop up in my head after recent increase in traffic in my blog which was mainly due to searches of terms like "Kuiz Kimia Kebangsaan Malaysia" and "Pertandingan Fizik Kebangsaan". I would like to invite all chemistry lovers currently doing STPM, A-Levels or other Pre-U courses around the Klang valley and places nearby to keep in touch with me. Why? If you hadn't heard about the IChO, then find out more about it from me. Work hard and you might qualify yourself in representing our country! I don't have a say on whom to represent our country, but I can try to advice you how to at least get into the selection! Cheers! ^^

Kuiz Kimia Kebangsaan Malaysia (K3M) Results

Following recent interest about the results of K3M, I decided to link it to my blog. Below is the link:

Kuiz Kimia Kebangsaan Malaysia (K3M) Results

Usually, the top 20 scorers of this quiz will be invited to the University of Malaya for a selection early 2011. Successful candidates will have the chance to represent our country to the 43 International Chemistry Olympiad in Ankara, Turkey. Update me if you're called up to come over to UM. I'll advice you on the stuffs you need to prepare. Cheers. :)

Kuiz Kimia Kebangsaan Malaysia (K3M)

Suddenly thought of posting this because many are still in dark about this Kuiz Kimia Kebangsaan Malaysia (K3M). Kuiz Kimia Kebangsaan Malaysia (K3M) is a chemistry quiz opened to all students studying in Malaysian secondary schools. There are 2 levels namely the ordinary level and the advanced level. The ordinary or asas level is for students currently in fifth form and the advanced level is obviously for upper sixth formers. The quiz consists of 50 multiple choice questions. Questions are similar to those you'll get during SPM and STPM.

Now, here is the hidden agenda. Those participating in the advanced level of Kuiz Kimia Kebangsaan Malaysia (K3M) has a chance of being chosen to represent our country, Malaysia to the International Chemistry Olympiad or better known as the IChO. Annually, the IChO Malaysian training committee will call the top scorers in Kuiz Kimia Kebangsaan Malaysia (K3M) to participate in a selection camp in the University of Malaya. The selected candidates will be sent all expenses paid to the IChO. So, it is a real fantastic reward for those advanced level students. Should you have any doubt, please leave a comment in this blog. I'll get back to you soon. Or, you can get me by posting at the ReCom forum for Kuiz Kimia Kebangsaan Malaysia (K3M) 2010. Hope to hear from you all real soon. ^^

IChO

One of the search on Google that lead to my blog was "can IChO for university students?". I would like to answer this person's question and the answer is NO. IChO is open to all students below the age of 20 who hadn't receive any university education.

By the way, here is the link to the 42nd Olympiad's Theoretical and Practical questions if you're interested in going through them. Enjoy!

Problem 23

Problems 3 & 4

Problem 2

Problem 1(c)

Malaysian IChO Selection and Interview

I heard that the selection is around the corner. Anyone was invited? Post your comment here so that we can discuss about it and maybe we'll meet on the day. :)

Problem 1(b)

Problem 1(a)

Preparatory Problems for IChO Japan

The prep probs for IChO Japan is out! Chemistry enthusiasts and those who are interested in joining the IChO can have a look at the probs. Scanning through the questions, I feel like it is somehow like IChO Russia. Maybe it is just as similar to other IChOs. Anyway, I'll try out the questions. Who is with me? Let us try them together and discuss it!

Download the preparatory problems here.

Corrections to errata on the preparatory problems:
Correction 1
Correction 2
Correction 3
Correction 4

41st International Chemistry Olympiad

The 41st IChO is over. It was a 10-days event from 18th to 27th of July 2009. Too bad that this year, Malaysia did not send her team due to influenza A(H1N1) pandemic control. However, I'm proud of the candidates who had been trained and the academicians training them for carrying on with the training until the final verdict was announced. Good luck to all the candidates in their future undertakings. Will update soon.

Official Website of the 41st IChO

Youtube Channel of the 41st IChO

Malaysian IChO Team Official Website

I had forgotten to introduce the official website for the Malaysian IChO Team. Below is a link to the website. It contains information about our teams since we first participated 3 years ago in 2006. Also, it has information of the current IChO to help our team (the Malaysian team) members to orientate themselves. Do surf the website to get to know about the Malaysian IChO team. I am proud to be one of them!

Malaysian IChO Team Official Website

IChO Pre-Final Selection

The IChO Pre-Final Selection for the Malaysian Team started today. 40 participants consisting 25 boys and 15 girls are expected to check-in Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah Residential College at 6 p.m. yesterday. Today, there will be a series of lectures and also a test. Tomorrow will be the interview session. The students are expected to depart on Sunday. More updates to come!


The selection is over! Managed to get to know some new friends especially Ching Koon. Ching Koon is my predecessor in IChO as he participated in the Korean 38th IChO 2006. I am so lucky to get to know him as he is such a knowledgable person. Hope that I can meet him more in the future. Also, I manage to sit into the interviews and ruin some of the participant's life by bombarding them with questions. Overall, I feel that this year's team will outdo the previous teams. Hope to see them in the future.

40th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) - The Official Report

11 July 2008 – Departure to Budapest, Hungary
At around 9.30 pm, the contingent of Malaysia to the Olympiad gathered at KLIA before the departure to Budapest, Hungary. The family of the participants was also there to give them moral support before the departure.


12 July 2008 – Arrival at Ferihegy Airport, Budapest
Arriving at Ferihegy Airport, we were greeted by our guide, Bálint Balázs. We were then brought to the hotel where the mentors stayed for registration. We had the rest of the day free.


13 July 2008 – Opening Ceremony
It is a custom for the opening ceremony to be held on the second day of the Olympiad with a welcome reception and a city tour after the ceremony. The ceremony was splendid.



14 July 2008 – Excursion to Balatonfüred
We had an excursion to Balatonfüred, a lake in Hungary but it is called the ‘Hungarian Sea’ by the Hungarians. We get to taste traditional Hungarian dishes like Goulash in a traditional restaurant.


15 July 2008 – Practical Examination and Tour to the Parliament of Hungary
It is the practical exam today and we spent 5 hours in the lab. Later of the day, we visited the Parliament of Hungary. It is really a magnificent building.


16 July 2008 – Team Building Games
We get to play some games before the Theoretical Examination on the next day. This is the drawing drawn by the Malaysian team and participants from other countries on the Lake Balaton.


17 July 2008 – Theoretical Examination and Reunion Party
We had an intense 5 hour theoretical exam. Everyone was relieved after the exam. However, it is time we meet our mentors. We had our reunion party on the ship ‘Europa’.


18 and 19 July 2008 – Excursion to Visegrád and Egar
Here, we get to experience the life of Hungarian kings. We get to enjoy the imperial feast in the Renaissance Restaurant.


20 July 2008 – Closing Ceremony and Farewell Banquet Our country managed to get 2 Bronze Medals and an Honorary Mention. We had our Farewell Banquet at the Railway Museum.

40th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) - The Homecoming

Well, after some rest, I decided to just pen something short for the time being as I still need more rest. This is the outcome, Malaysian Team manage to win 2 Bronze medals and 1 Honorary Mention. This achievement though not very good when compared to past years thought us lessons the painful way. Now on, we know more about our weaknesses and hopefully this can help change the future. Anyway, stay tuned for more updates. For the time being, indulge in some of these websites:
Official Site of the 40th IChO
Official Photographer's Flickr Page
The US Team Journalist's Blog