Malaysia in IChO 2012

Almost forgotten that I haven't write about our results in the (not-so-)recent IChO 2012 held in Washington D.C. This time, we only manage to win a bronze medal (Ming Jeat FOO). Well... What will happen next year? Will we finally get better results? Will we get a gold medal? We'll have to wait and see.

All the Best Malaysian Team

In less than 5 hours, the team representing Malaysia to the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad will be departing to the United States from KLIA. The 44th Olympiad will be held at the University of Maryland at Washington D.C. With much interesting programs awaiting for them, I do hope that they enjoy themselves in the Olympiad. Of course, not to forget, I do hope that our representatives get to perform their best in the competition and achieve the best. I hope that they can bring back the first (and perhaps the second, third and fourth) Gold medal from the IChO! Praying hard for some medals! All the best!!!

Malaysian IChO Team to the States

After going through much obstacles in forming a team, we finally have one! Congratulations to the final 4 selected to represent our beloved country. Today, they are in the Ministry of Education for a ceremony. This is the first time an IChO team is recognised by the ministry. Of course, our hopes would be at least some medals with some breakthrough results perhaps. Well. Perhaps. Ok guys, it is all up to you all to prove that we can do better!

2012 Chemistry Olympiad Training is ON!

Unfortunately, training and selection has been much delayed this year... However, reliable intel told me that the training and selection for this year is on! And it is going to be soon! So, selected people, make sure you work hard and try your very best to get some medals this year... Look forward to seeing you guys! ^^

Plans in the pipeline...

We are coming up with a different approach to the selection of the Malaysian IChO team. It'll be announced soon after its confirmation and approval from the higher authority.

IChO 2011 Results

Maybe all of us who were involved in the training of the Malaysian team may feel upset on the achievement of the Malaysian team in the recent IChO. However, I think this is the right time for us to macroscopically and microscopically examine our training methodology. Maybe we have been not effective enough in our training, maybe we have been not thorough enough in our selection, maybe, maybe, maybe. Maybe it is just other participants who are now better? It is up to us to decide and to change. We hope that we'll be back better next year! Back to the basics again.

No updates yet from the official IChO website

Today is Day 4 of the IChO 2011, Ankara but we haven't have any updates on the official website. My blog have been having increased traffic due to many very interested people on the IChO but unfortunately I cannot provide any update as I myself is in Malaysia, not Ankara, Turkey. Judging from the given schedule, our young participants have just done their practical exam and is now out for sightseeing. Argh! That rekindles my jealousy for not being able to attend. Anyway, they have done best in one of the exam and is now resting while the mentors scratch their heads discussing and translating the problems for the theoretical exam. I wish the students all the best in the coming theoretical exam on Thursday and hope that they'll enjoy their trip after that. May their hard work be rewarded!

IChO 2011 Day 1

Its day 1 of IChO 2011 already... This is the day where participants arrive to the venue and start to get to know each other... Speaking of this, I can't wait to find out about the Malaysian team's experience when they arrive back in Malaysia... This also reminded me of my own experience 3 years back... It was such a great one and I hope all the participants of IChO 2011 will enjoy their 10 days together... Hoping to get to download the Catalyzer Issue No. 2 soon to read on the updates of our enthusiastic participants... Argh! How I wish I was there to see it for myself... Anyway, this is all for now... Will be updating more soon...

43rd IChO 2011 Ankara, Turkey is coming soon!

Oh my. It is finally coming in 2 weeks time. Our delegation this year is truly a 1Malaysia team. I hope that they can further showcase the Malaysian culture to the world. Besides that, hopefully they can outperform their predecessors with the best performance so far of a silver medal. I hereby wish them all the best and have fun in Ankara! ^^

Team Malaysia

Finally... The candidate for the final 4 was selected... I hope that they will try their best to prepare for it... I'm all ready to contribute whatever I can for them... Hope we'll have better achievements this year! ^^

Last Weekend

Once more, students from all over the country was called to attend the selection of the IChO Malaysian team. I felt so lucky to get to meet top students in Chemistry every year. These students possess talents that is yet to be sharpen. Hopefully, a gold medal winner will be nurtured this year. I get to share my experiences in Medicine and in IChO with them. It was a great weekend! Signing off... ^^

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)

Another Interesting Visitor

Found that my blog was visited by someone who had googled "universiti malaya icho letter 2011". I was very excited when I saw it and wonder who is that. I'm very interested in knowing this person and please feel free to contact me by commenting below. I'd be very delighted to get more information about the thing you googled for you. Look forward into knowing you soon! ^^

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