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: Gold 24, Silver 14, Copper 4, Iron 0.
Top Y11: 39/40
Top Y10: 39/40
Top Y9: 34/40
2025
Mass spectrometry and ammonium nitrate
Gold 24, Silver 18, Copper 8, Iron 0.
Top Y11: 39/40
Top Y10: 35/40
Top Y9: 32/40
2024
Electrochemical cells and skeletal formulae
Gold 25, Silver 17, Copper 7, Iron 0.
Top Y11: 39/40
Top Y10: 33/40
Top Y9: 27/40
2023
Heat capacity, bonding and the Contact Process
The original internal format: three longer ten-mark questions.
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.
Paper sent to schools
Monday 25 January 2027
Schools run the challenge
25 January to 12 February 2027
Marks submitted
Teachers submit marks by Friday 5 March 2027.
Contact