Olympiad Preparation
- US Biology Olympiad (USABO)
- US Medicine and Disease Olympiad (USMDO)
Test Preparation
- AP Chemistry
- AP Biology
Course Preparation
- AP Chemistry
- AP Biology
- IBET/Honor Biology
- Honor Physics
- Honor/TJ Summer Chemistry
Prospective 7/8th Grader (even 5th/6th)
a) Students who are interested in Bio/Chem Olympiad:
If you want to do the Science Olympiad, you must start now. Most international winners start from middle school. You may know that China, Korea, India and many other countries operate Olympiad academies from middle school for international competitions.
My chem/bio TJ students usually started from 10th grade when they learn AP chem/AP bio. I could help them win 1st round chem/bio Olympiad competitions, but it is hard for them to beat students who start from an early age. Therefore, I started teaching science-oriented 8th graders from 2013. So, from 2014 I could help students pass biology Olympiad even in 9th grade and become the finalists.
By starting early, they can have a better chance.
Students could finish the AP Bio Book in 9th grade. The AP Bio Book is a good start for the first round of Bio Olympiad. After that, I continue Cell Biology, Anatomy, Biochemistry, Genetics, Plant Biology and Ecology, which are required for the second round USA Bio Olympiad (USABO) and International Biology Olympiad (IBO). In addition, students can take the Univ. of Toronto Exam every April.
If students are more interested in chemistry, I can support them to finish honor chemistry (or TJ summer chemistry) to finish early. Most students pass the first round of the US National Chem Olympiad (USNCO) competition in their junior years. But by starting early, students can pass the USNCO in sophomore year.
Students in other state can attend.
The 1st round cutoff of USNCO depends on States. Competitive areas like DC/VA/MD area cutoff is mid 50 or higher. But some other state's cutoff is 40 or a little less. So, it is worth to try it.
A short Introduction to USA Biology Olympiad (USABO);
1st selection
~6,000 high school students annually take the 1st round exam mid-Feb, called the open exam which was named because the exam is opened to all students. 500-600 students in the nation, called semifinalists, are selected after the first round exam. It is about 10% of test-takers. TJ usually have 25 to 30. No limit per school (chem Olympiad has a limitation, 2/school).
2nd selection:
The semifinalists are entitled to take the second round exam, called the semifinal exam because only semifinalists can take it. 20 in the second round in the nation becomes the finalist. MIT loves these students. All my students who won this got an admission from MIT. MIT loves the finalists.
3rd selection:
The finalist has 2 weeks of training in a college in June. Four are selected and can attend IBO (International Biology Olympiad). I am strongly willing to help my students be IBO gold medalists. The winner can go to any colleges in USA if win in IBO.
STUDENTS JOINED LATER could pass. IF JOIN LATE, they can study the recorded video and continue the on-going class. Even not pass in 9th, they can pass in 10th/11th and write the result in his/her resume for college application. Passing in 9th grade may be 30-50 (my pure guess). Mostly 11th graders.
2014: One freshman and two sophomores won the first round USABO exam
2015: Two freshmen and four sophomores passed the first round USABO exam. One passed the second round USABO exam.
2016: One freshman, two sophomores and two juniors passed the first round USABO exam. Two passed the second round USABO exam.
2017: three sophomores and five juniors in the first round
2018: 2018 exam results: Taught 4 TJ freshmen, 3 freshmen scored as high as 28. (The fourth student joined Nov and had one point below the cut-off, 21). more sophomores and juniors.
2019 exam results: a total of 9 students passed, 1 freshman, 4 sophomores, 4 junior/senior (can be more, 29 in VA, 25 in TJ, 592 in the nation)
2020 exam results: 2 Freshmen, 2 Sophomores, 5 Juniors. One freshman took Skype session in NJ and one sophomore in TX who got the highest score in the 2020 open exam)
2021 exam results: total 11 passed and 6 students got over 30 score including students in NJ, TX and CA. One student passed the second round and became the finalist and another student ranked in the top 50. They took both 1st and 2nd round classes.
2022 exam results: Total 8 passed. 3 students got 30 to 35. One student got 40 (2nd best in the nation). Two of 20 finalists are my students from VA and NJ.
2023 exam results: 9 students who attended 2022-2023 class took the exam and 8 passed. 6 previous students reported to pass. This year's exam used shorter sentences in the most of problems and so it looked easy but as hard as the previous one (24 is cutoff). Since students understood basic concepts well, they could solve confidently regardless of problem types.
* A middle school student is taking the current USABO class and won the 2023 National Science Bee Champion and also got the 1st place on the National Biology Exam.
Live Stream for 2025 USABO exam: from Feb 2nd, 2024, I have a live stream via Skype, so students in non-TJ school or in other states can take my session. Fri 830-1030pm EST.
If start from 8th, there are three chances to be successful in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
If start late, I will provide the recorded teachings that include writing and speaking.
A short introduction to Chem Olympiad (USNCO); 19-20 in DC area and ~950 in the nation are selected after the first round exam. Maximum 2 per school.
Then, both Bio/Chem Societies select the final 20 in the nation after the second round exam.
Students will have 2 weeks of training in a college, and four students are qualified to attend the international Olympiad.
These top 20 students have a greater chance in their applications to top-notch colleges. A gold or silver medal in the international Olympiad is an even more appealing accomplishment.
b) Middle Schoolers
If a super smart 6th/7th grader your son/daughter is, I would recommend to start as early as possible.
Please, look how many students took AP exams in middle school in the table below.
Prepare as early as possible. You can prepare for May 2024/2025 AP Exam now
2016 statistics
Middle School Students Freshmen Sophomore
Grade Number % Grade Number % Grade Number %
5 1,032 16.44 5 11,952 11.11 5 59,310 12.67
4 1,365 21.75 4 18,826 17.49 4 85,681 18.3
3 1,444 23.01 3 23,047 21.42 3 126,843 27.09
2 1,377 21.94 2 23,326 21.68 2 108,264 23.13
1 1,058 16.86 1 30,461 28.31 1 88,067 18.81
Total 6,276 100 Total 107,612 100 Total 468,165 100
c) Chem and Bio for 6/7/8th graders
If students start early, they have a better chance to win in many competitions and get a higher GPA. Some talented young students may have a hard time finding a good place to fulfill their knowledge of chemistry and biology.
pre-USABO class, Honor biology, for rising 7, 8, 9th graders for 2024-2025
The class will start from April, 2024 to Dec, 2024.
This helps young students understand biology earlier and prepare for the science Olympiad and USA Biology Olympiad. The teaching focuses on advanced honor biology level but all teaching is connected to USA Biology Olympiad in high school. Parents demand higher-level teaching in middle school but it is not easy to find what they want. This is the course that parents want.
Since no honor biology book is good for smart students, I use Campbell AP Biology book and Campbell biology on focus and cover the honor biology-level parts. The content is above TJ IBET and other school honor biology and almost same as AP biology (except statistical part). This way, students get used to Campbell book, understand biology systematically and feel easy to study AP book for Biology Olympiad.
Starts from mid-June.
Super smart and self-motivated 6/7th:
One 7th grader joined my USABO class but she enrolled in another school even though she passed TJ. She could understand like 10th graders. There will be students like her.
My youngest student was 9 years old boy (not 9th grade) who understood AP bio book very well and I helped him get 5 in AP exam and 800 in SATII. The following year, AP chem was taught and he got 5 in AP exam and 800 in SATII. He came to me because his parents could not find a place that could satisfy him. The parents told me that he did not want to go other places and so came to my class and satisfied. He started TJ and was admitted to MIT. At age 18 (2021), he is taking a PhD course at Harvard.
This year (2022), I allowed a 6th grader to take USABO class after talking and is doing very well. He may pass 1st and 2nd round USABO in 9th grade.
The education programs for middle school students at colleges like C.T.Y. could not be helpful for super smart kids although it helps average students boost their interest. Once they can understand basic chem/ap bio book, I can accelerate them to start early, which will definitely be the key to success.
Students who are not interested in Olympiad but want to preview IBET:
IBET does not cover the whole chapters. The biology class from May to Jan teaches more than school IBET program in biology.
d) Possible Planning
(Not offer ap chem/ap bio. If take TJ summer chem, I will provide ap chem exam materials. If take USABO, I will provide ap bio exam materials.)
7th grade: take pre-USABO/TJ Bio course and/or TJ summer chemistry
in 8th grade, continue USABO and/or TJ summer chemistry
in 9th grade, continue USABO II and/or TJ summer chemistry
in 10th grade, continue USABO II
in 11th grade, continue USABO II
8th grade: take pre-USABO/TJ Bio or USABO. TJ summer chem
in 9th grade, continue USABO or USABO II. and/or TJ summer chem
in 10th grade, continue USABO II
in 11th grade, continue USABO II
9th grade: take pre-USABO/TJ Bio or USABO. TJ summer chem
in 10th grade, continue USABO or USABO II.
in 11th grade, continue USABO or USABO II.
10th grade: USABO and/or USABO II.
in 11th grade, USABO II
11th grade: USABO and/or USABO II
This plan just a rough plan. You can be adjusted it. If want to a customized plan, please contact me.
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