The INChO exam paper consists of 80 multiple-choice questions (MOQs). Four given options accompany each question, and you need to choose one correct answer. The medium of the INChO exam language is English. The INChO exam duration will be 3 hours. Keep in mind that the National Standard Examination does not emphasize on parrot-fashion memory, but the comprehension of the structure. Every candidate who qualifies to appear for the INChO exam gets a merit certificate from the IAPT (NSEC conducting body).
The 3hours of INChO examination is usually held in January or the 1st week of February each year. The date and time of the INChO exam are generally given out on HBCSE official site in the 1st week of January every year. However, you will get the tentative date and time of the INChO 2021 examination before January. Also, the confirmed schedule for INChO Olympiad 2021 will be hosted on the HBCSE site and the same will also be communicated to the eligible students by post. This is done to ensure that no participant misses out this crucial information. Also, students who appear for the INChO exam paper are entitled to Travel Allowance and Dearness Allowance according to the program’s norms.
As for National Standard Examination in Chemistry, the syllabus for Indian National Chemistry Olympiad is also based approximately on the school syllabus of grade 9 and 10 (CBSE board). That said, the syllabus of higher secondary school is only a broad recommendation. The problems in NSEC are generally non-conventional and of really high difficulty level, as compared to ICHO.
Based on scores achieved in INChO, the top 35 students in the merit list are selected for the 3rd Stage: Orientation Cum Selection Camp in chemistry (OCSC). In the event of a tie at the last position, each student with the same marks at this last position will stand eligible for OCSC. There will be no other parameter or provision for selection to OCSC. Students who qualify for PDT will appear for ICHO Olympiad. This includes a 4-trained student member team, 2 mentor teachers, and 1 scientific controller authorizing the delegation to represent India at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO).
Q1. What Opportunities are Open After Clearing INChO?
Ans: INChO is the 2nd stage examination and NSE is divided into 5 5stages. Clearing INChO opens your gateway to one of the coveted international level competition i.e. ICHO. Let’s see the different stages the Chemistry Olympiad typically consists of:
Stages in the Chemistry Olympiad
Stage | Name |
Stage I | National Standard Examination in Chemistry (NSEC) |
Stage II | Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO) |
Stage III | Orientation cum Selection Camp in the subject of chemistry (OCSC) |
Stage IV | Pre-departure Training Camp for ICHO (PDT) |
Stage V | Participation in International Chemistry Olympiad (ICHO) |
Note: A special award is granted to the student who achieves the highest score overall in the 5th stage i.e. ICHO. Two separate special awards are granted to the students who obtain the best score in the practical and theoretical examinations.
Q2. Are INChO and ICHO Similar in Terms of Difficulty Level?
Ans: The Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO) organized by HBCSE is not typically similar or comparable to the International Chemistry Olympiad (ICHO) formerly developed by Czechoslovakia. For the ICHO exam, the student requires to have an advanced level of conceptual thinking, problem-solving skills, and even more in-depth knowledge than INChO for Chemistry. ICHO exam papers are comparatively lengthy and even JEE advanced seems simpler in front of this beast of an exam. ICHO is highly competitive as well and the event is also an outstanding opportunity for the students to meet people from all around the world who share similar interests. For ICHO organic and inorganic chemistry and its sub-division are the main components, so study them well up till the university level.
Q3. How will I Benefit From the ICHO Exam?
Ans: As the aim of the Olympiad establishes the ICHO competitions help to boost cordial connections among young minds from different countries. The participating students meet distinguished scientists and chemistry enthusiasts from around the world, thus encouraging cooperation and international understanding. The main thing is that each participant is ranked on the basis of their individual scores and no official team scores are given. The top 10% of the students are awarded gold medals, 20% are awarded silver medals and approximately 30% of students are bestowed with bronze medals. More so, honorable mentions are granted to the next top 10% of the participants that do not win a medal.
Q4. How to Prepare for INChO?
Ans: There are separate books for Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Practical Chemistry and Biochemistry. You can refer to books like Organic Chemistry, 6th Edition by Morrison & Boyd, Concise Inorganic Chemistry, 5th Edition by Lee (published by ELBS with Chapman & Hall), Analytical Chemistry, 5th Edition by Christian(published by John Wiley & Sons Inc). These suggested books contain complete theory and practical problems exactly on the INChO exam pattern as well as NSEC exam pattern. You will find ample number of solved examples devised as per the level and pattern of the Indian National Olympiads. Check Vedantu.com for further information on INCho olympiad exam pattern and structure 2020.
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