Introduction

The Cambridge Chemistry Challenge (C3L6) is a global challenge for high school students co-sponsored by the Department of Chemistry and St Catharine’s College at the University of Cambridge. It is officially recommended by the University of Cambridge as a high school academic program. C3L6 is a highly valued chemistry challenge for UK high schools, with over 10,000 students participating each year, and is often used as a pre-test for the UKChO (UK Chemistry Olympiad). It is aimed at high school students up to Year 11 and designed to extend chemistry knowledge in a challenging but fun way.

C3L6 is based on A-level chemistry knowledge, but is more diffcult than A-level and examines students’ ability to apply their A-level chemistry knowledge in a flexible way. It is a highly rewarding challenge for students who want to explore the field of Chemistry further and its results are highly sought after by the world’s leading universities. In the UK, the C3L6 invites no more than 60 top students each year to a residential camp at the University of Cambridge. Designed and taught by Cambridge professors, the camp aims to enhance the academic ability of young elites in Chemistry and to encourage and help outstanding students to understand and choose to study at Cambridge in the future.

One of most prestigious Chemistry competition in the world

+10,000 students

attending each year with over 60% winning rate

Highly recommended

super-curricular for high school students by University of Cambridge

Hosted by

the Department of Chemistry and St. Catherine’s College, University of Cambridge

UK Chemistry Olympiad

is the continuation competition of C3L6

Essential

to application for the UK top universities

Rules

Language: English

Date: Dec. 8, 2025 (Mon.) 90 mins

Location: Online

Format: Individual test

Content: Test papers consists of 2-3 general chemistry questions with a dozen related sub-questions

Topics: A-Level Chemistry Course 

Award

Awards

• Roentgenium Award

• Gold Award

• Silver Award

• Copper Award

Grading

All papers will be sent back to the University of Cambridge for assessment, with marks set by the University of Cambridge and results expected to be issued within 60 days after the exam

C3L6 Asia Camp

Language: English

Date: Aug 2025

Location: China

Eligibility: The Roentgenium Award / Global Award students in C3L6 2024

registration form

Includes the exam, grading, proctor fee, past-papers, certificates. 

registration deadline

2 weeks before the competition