Chemistry Race
Chemistry competition for teams of sixth-form students
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Competition details

What is the Chemistry Race?
The Chemistry Race is a new chemistry competition for teams of 3-5 sixth-form students organised by students at the University of Cambridge and Rugby School. The teams race against each other in solving chemistry problems; whoever gets the most points within the time limit wins!
Where and when?
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The seventh Chemistry Race will be held on Saturday 7th February 2026 at the Departments of Chemistry at University of Cambridge and at Rugby School.

How to sign up

Registration for Chemistry Race 2026 is now open – please fill out this form. The registration form will be live until 12:00 (midday) on Sunday 7th Dec 2025. After registration closes, teams will be drawn by a random ballot. Schools that unsuccessfully applied last year will have higher priority in the ballot, but not a guaranteed chance of being selected.

You can sign up to our mailing list here to receive updates about the competition, and follow us on social media (Facebook, X, Instagram).

 

What do we need to bring?

Apart from writing utensils, you should definitely not forget your favourite calculator (ideally one for each member of your team). Some questions may require you to read data of graphs. Therefore, we also recommend bringing rulers. In addition, you are allowed to bring any paper literature, notes or handouts that you think could be useful. No electronic devices, apart from dedicated calculators (not calculators on mobile phones, tablets or computers) are allowed.

How to get here
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If you are competing in Cambridge, the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry can be reached on foot from Cambridge City Centre bus station (15 minutes) and Cambridge Railway Station (20 minutes). If your team wishes to bring a vehicle, parking at the Department is available.

 

If you are competing in Rugby, Rugby School can be reached on foot from the Rugby Railway Station (20 minutes). If your team wishes to bring a vehicle, parking at the venue is available.

Finance

Participation in the competition is free. Travel costs are not reimbursed.

FAQ and example questions

You can find the FAQ and complete rules of the competition here. Past questions can be found in the Documents section.

2023
Oxford joins Chemistry Race 2023
10/11/2022 By admin_adam

The Fourth Chemistry Race is returning on Saturday 4th of February 2023 and it’s bigger and better than ever! We are happy to share that we are expanding the Chemistry Race to the University of Oxford which will not only allow more teams to participate this year, but should make travelling much easier for students […]

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2022
Chemistry Race 2022 returns in-person!
11/03/2022 By admin_adam

The Third Chemistry Race returned in-person this February when we had the pleasure to welcome over 50 teams of bright sixth-form students to Cambridge. For two hours, the lecture theatres were buzzing with sharp pupils, discussing challenging problems and rushing to the marking posts to submit their solutions. The students have done incredibly well this […]

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2020
A new team chemistry competition for sixth-form students organised at the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge
03/12/2019 By admin_adam

On Saturday 15 Feb 2020, the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge will be hosting a new chemistry competition called the Cambridge Chemistry Race. Teams of 3-5 sixth-form students will compete in solving chemistry-related problems in real time. The goal of each team is to answer as many questions as they can within the two-hour […]

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