Chemistry student through to next round
A student in her final year of A level study has demonstrated that she is one of the most gifted in the country in the subject of chemistry.
For Anna Bui, 17, of Concord College is through to the final 30 in the Chemistry Olympiad, the leading chemistry competition for students in secondary education across the UK.
There were nearly 6,000 students in round one which comprised a two hour written paper testing their chemical knowledge based on ‘real world’ chemistry problems.
Now she is in the top 0.5 per cent of students in the country and the first from Concord College to ever compete in round two of the three stages of the Chemistry Olympiad.
Anna, who has accepted an offer to read natural sciences at Churchill College, Cambridge, has been invited to spend from April 5-8 experiencing lessons and demonstrations on new topics at the University of Cambridge.
Along with the 29 others through to round two, she will face the challenging new topics from respected academics, teachers and technicians as well as performing theoretical and practical tests.
The four top students in round two will represent the UK at the prestigious International Chemistry Olympiad.
Run annually by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Olympiad is an opportunity for teachers to challenge their chemistry students, helping them to develop problem solving skills and apply familiar knowledge in new and interesting contexts.
Dr Stuart Beech, head of chemistry at Concord College, said: “The Chemistry Olympiad is a very stiff test for sixth year students who sit an extremely challenging two hour exam and really have to work very quickly in that timescale.
“It is a challenging paper that tests even the best and Anna has proved she is amongst the best of the best.”
Anna, who joined Acton Burnell-based Concord in the sixth form, said she was very proud to be through to the final 30 which she hadn’t expected.
“It came as a real surprise to me – I didn’t expect it at all. I entered the competition for fun. I am very excited and looking forward to the second round at the University of Cambridge.”
In addition to chemistry, Anna is studying A level biology, maths, physics and an extended project which is physics related.
