Module 2 runs through Dec 20 · Levels 2, 3 & 4 — join live now, or start from session 1 on recordings
Join nowIChO 2026: 3 of the 4 U.S. team members were our students — Ethan Cho and Alex Dong won gold, and Enzhi Chen won silver.
USNCO 2026: 43 national awards — 17 High Honors (including 9 selected for Study Camp) and 26 Honors.
Our Level 4 small class saw nearly every student awarded, with close to half advancing to Study Camp. All four Team USA members joined us live on July 25, and the full session recording is available to watch.
Join the program behind 10+ IChO Medalists — where every student gets personal attention and knows exactly where they stand.
Your Teacher
Founder of Dr. Chen's Academy, PhD in Chemistry, 15+ years coaching USNCO and IChO. He teaches every weekly class himself, alongside AP Chemistry at a U.S. private high school, and leads the ACS USNCO Exam Annotation Project.
More about Dr. Chen →Programs
Programs designed for every level of chemistry olympiad preparation
Build a strong foundation in general chemistry for the USNCO Local Exam.
For students with one year of solid chemistry experience
Dr. Chen: Fridays, 8:30–10 pm ET
Staff: Saturdays, 7:30–8:30 pm ET
Advanced topics and problem-solving strategies for the National Exam.
For students with a strong mastery of AP Chemistry or an equivalent
Dr. Chen: Saturdays, 8:30–10 pm ET
Staff: Sundays, 7:30–8:30 pm ET
Intensive preparation for winning National and Study Camp selection.
For advanced students targeting High Honors and Study Camp
Dr. Chen: Sundays, 8:00–10 pm ET
Staff: Fridays, 7:30–8:30 pm ET
2 Live Modules
3 Live Modules
Live classes: full refund (minus $15 fee) before the 2nd session. View full refund policy
Join live now, or start with recording packets anytime
Live classes are running: join the current module live, and catch up from the recordings if you start partway through. Recording packets let you begin any module at your own pace, with progress tracked on our mock exam platform.
Student Reviews
Surveys go to every enrolled student at the end of each program, ask for criticism explicitly, and are published whole. So far they cover the 2026 summer intensives.
average recommendation, by program
post-class survey responses
I can sit a test and finish it in 50 minutes.When Dr. Chen covered how to recognize when to use the Clausius–Clapeyron equation, afterwards every time I saw two temperatures and two pressures, or a mention of the enthalpy of vaporization, the equation immediately came to mind.Doing the exams forced you to think accurately and quickly. It left almost no time to wander and overthink. Sitting down and reviewing the questions I got wrong really benefited me because it allowed me to connect ideas between topics.Two complementary ways to find your right starting point — start with the wizard for a personalized recommendation and study plan, then confirm with the official placement test.
Answer a few short questions (~2 min) and get a personalized level recommendation plus full study plan for the 2026-27 USNCO cycle. Bilingual: English / 中文.
Take the wizardTake the official online test to confirm readiness for the recommended level. Passcode: DChO2026
Still unsure? Contact Dr. Chen directly.
Why We're Different
One lesson for everyone leaves gaps. We place students by level and check their work every week.
Placed by level, plus a weekly problem-solving session and scored problem sets — so your study plan targets your gaps.
10+ authentic exams with detailed analytics: topic breakdown, percentile ranking, and time analysis.
Real-time tracking of attendance, homework, and test scores. See gaps instantly — not after competition.
Every feature converges on one goal: helping you reach your potential.
See How It WorksEvery feature converges on one goal: helping you reach your potential.
See How It WorksYour Journey
From your first class to the international stage — we guide every step
Top ~1000 advance
Late Feb – early Mar
Intensive mocks & review
Mar - Apr
Sign-up opens after the Local Exam
Top ~200 awarded
Mid April
Top 20 nationally
June
Whether you're aiming for Local, National, or Study Camp — every milestone is an achievement, and we'll help you reach yours.
Common Questions
Students are placed by level, so every class is pitched at what they are ready for — and every week, they work problems, not just listen to them. Each week includes a 90-minute lecture session with Dr. Chen covering core USNCO topics, plus a 60-minute problem-solving session with staff. Classes are held via Zoom with recordings available for review. Live classes run from late August through late February (3 modules), with a National Exam Bootcamp in March-April.
All recording packets come with 1-year access from the date of purchase. You can watch the lectures as many times as you want during that period. This gives you plenty of time to work through the material at your own pace, even if you're balancing a busy school schedule.
Absolutely. Our recording packets are specifically designed for self-paced study. You choose which modules to purchase, watch lectures on your own schedule, and work through problem sets at whatever speed works best for you. Many of our students combine recordings with our mock exam platform to track their progress independently.
Students are placed by level instead of sitting one-size-fits-all lectures, and every week adds a problem-solving session on that week's set. Our dashboard tracks each student's progress weekly, and we offer 10+ authentic mock exams a year. If your child benefits from personalized attention and clear progress tracking, we're likely a good fit.
Not at all. We support students at all levels with our tiered program structure. Level 2 (Local Prep) is designed for students with one year of solid chemistry experience. Whether your child is aiming for their first Local Exam qualification or targeting Study Camp, we build a path specifically for their goal and current level.
We recommend self-studying before joining Level 2. Start with Introductory Chemistry by Nivaldo Tro — an accessible textbook that builds foundational concepts from scratch (see our Textbooks page for details). Pair it with Khan Academy's free High School Chemistry coursefor video explanations and practice. Once they've covered the basics, they'll be ready to join our Level 2 program and begin their USNCO journey.
No. Most of our students see significant improvement in just one year — many qualify for and win Nationals in their first year with us. That said, students who stay for 2 years often achieve High Honors or qualify for Study Camp. Our structured curriculum works for both quick wins and long-term goals.
Absolutely not! Many of our most successful students started in 10th or 11th grade. Unlike programs that require years of preparation from middle school, our curriculum is designed for efficient, focused learning. We've had students join in October of their junior year and still win Nationals. It's never too late to start — what matters is your dedication and the right guidance.
Choose your level, pick your modules, and begin your path to USNCO excellence.
Enroll Now