No formal syllabus
Questions use GCSE chemistry as the launch point, then introduce fresh ideas in an accessible way.
Stretch your chemistry knowledge.
The Junior Chemistry Challenge is an in-school competition for pupils ready to apply GCSE chemistry to unfamiliar, elegant problems.
Competition window
25 Jan to 12 Feb 2027
Question style
10 multiple-choice, 2 extended-response
Recognition
Prizes and certificates
About
Built for curious chemists.
The Junior Chemistry Challenge is tailor-made for UK pupils in Years 9 to 11, aiming to ignite curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of chemistry.
It began at The Perse School, Cambridge in 2023. With support from the Royal Society of Chemistry Mid-Anglia Division, the 2024 challenge reached more than 400 pupils across the region. In 2025, it was launched nationally and now over 120 schools from across the UK and the world take part.
The paper is written and administered by chemistry teachers in the UK. Teachers register their school; pupils should ask their teacher to take part.
No mole calculations
The challenge avoids assumed prior teaching of moles, keeping entry fair for pupils at different stages.
Teacher-led
Schools receive the paper, run it under exam conditions, and submit pupil marks after the mark scheme is shared.
Past Papers
Try the challenge yourself.
Ten multiple-choice questions, followed by two 15-mark questions that develop chemistry beyond GCSE.
2026
Latest
Swimming pools and energy changes
Boundaries:
24
14
4
2025
Mass spectrometry and ammonium nitrate
Boundaries:
24
18
8
2024
Electrochemical cells and skeletal formulae
Boundaries:
25
17
7
2023
Heat capacity, bonding and the Contact Process
The original format: three longer ten-mark questions. Boundaries:
27
15
7
GCSE foundations, sharper thinking.
Assumed Knowledge
Simple formulae
Balancing equations
Atomic structure
Relative masses
Oxidation and reduction
Lab safety
Separation techniques
Bonding
Register
Register your school.
Complete this form if you would like to take part in the Junior Chemistry Challenge. We will use these details only to administer the challenge.
Registration closes
Sunday 17 January 2027
Schools run the challenge
25 January to 12 February 2027
Marks submitted
Teachers submit marks by Friday 5 March 2027
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions.
Who can take part?
The Junior Chemistry Challenge is aimed at pupils in Years 9 to 11. Pupils take part through their school. Pupils beyond year 11 are not eligible for the competition. Pupils in Year 8 and below can take part, but will be counted as Year 9 for the purposes of prizes.
Can schools outside the UK participate?
Yes, we have many international schools who take part. However, due to the funding of the prizes, pupils at international schools are unable to receive prizes should they win. But all pupils will still receive certificates.
Is there any charge to participate?
No, thanks to financial support from The Perse School there is no charge for schools to participate in the Junior Chemistry Challenge.
How is pupil achievement recognised?
All pupils receive a certificate for participating in the Junior Chemistry Challenge. Approximately, the top 15% of pupils receive a Gold certificate, the next 25% receive Silver, the following 45% receive Copper, and the rest get an Iron certificate.
In addition, the top pupils in each academic year receive a prize. In previous years, these have been book tokens. Details about these prizes will be communicated to participating schools when the paper is released.
How do you accommodate pupils with exam access arrangements?
Pupils who qualify for access arrangements for public exams can use them during the competition. If you need a modified version of the paper, please contact us once it's released.
How do you handle school and pupil data?
All data is handled in accordance with GDPR. Teacher contact information securely stored in a database is used solely for the purpose of the competition and is not shared with third parties.
Before pupil information is submitted, their names are encrypted in your browser. Therefore we never handle pupils' personal data directly.
Contact