Course Preparation
- AP Chemistry
- AP Biology
- IBET/Honor Biology
- Honor/TJ Summer Chemistry
Test Preparation
- AP Chemistry
- AP Biology
Olympiad Preparation
- US Biology Olympiad (USABO)
- US Medicine and Disease Olympiad (USMDO)
My core goal is to foster academic success, one student at a time.
My extensive background, including BS/MS degrees in Chemistry and a PhD in Biochemistry, combined with my professional experience as a scientist in biochemistry, cell biology, and molecular biology, provides a strong foundation for effective teaching. For two decades, I have dedicated myself to providing exceptional tutoring for students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), focusing on AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, IBET, and Olympiad preparation. My students have consistently achieved outstanding results, including high grades, perfect AP exam scores, and success in Bio/Chem Olympiad competitions.
I advocate for early and continuous preparation for AP Exams, recommending summer previews and ongoing tutoring through May. This proactive strategy mitigates the risk of GPA declines often seen when students delay seeking assistance until after receiving poor first-semester grades. While self-study is valuable, it can be time-consuming and inefficient. My students consistently report that my tutoring significantly improves their study efficiency and time management, enabling them to balance their academic pursuits with other activities. This efficiency has contributed to their successful admissions to prestigious universities like Yale, Princeton, Harvard, and MIT.
Currently, tutoring is conducted via Zoom. My teaching approach emphasizes clear, concise summaries and targeted practice problems, recognizing problem-solving as the most effective method for deep comprehension.
Picture of my class in 2019. Now, all by Zoom internet class
Biology Olympiad (USABO) Tutoring: 2025-2026 for February 2026 Exam
Class Schedule:
Weekly Sessions: Fridays, 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM (EST), from February 14, 2025, to the end of November (2-hour sessions).
Review Sessions: 11 sessions from Friday, December 5th to Friday, January 30th, with additional Sunday sessions at 4:30 PM.
Target Audience:
This class is open to students nationwide, including those at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST).
Recommended for current 8th, 9th, and 10th graders, starting February 14, 2025.
Even advanced 6th graders have also successfully participated.
Proven Results:
Consistent success in preparing students for the USABO Open Exam.
2018: 3 out of 4 TJ freshmen passed, with high scores.
2019: 9 students passed, including freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.
2020: 9 passed Students from TX achieved the highest open-exam score in the nation.
2021: 11 students passed, with 6 scoring over 30. One student passed the finalist round
2022: 8 students passed, with 4 scoring between 30 and 40. One student got 40 (the second best in the nation). Two students became the finalists.
2023: 8 passed. Strong conceptual understanding enabled students to excel despite challenging problem structures.
2024: 7 students passed, with 4 scoring over 30. Students scoring
2025: 12 students passed, with three students achieving scores of 40, 38, and 36. Success achieved after one year of prep/even freshmen, but not for all. One sophomore achieved honorable mention one year, and passed the next. One Junior passed this year after a science fair took his focus in prior years. His grand prize in a science fair was assisted by taking/understanding my chem/USABO classes very well.
Comprehensive Biology Olympiad Preparation (2025-2026)
OPEN EXAM: Campbell Biology Mastery (Feb 2025 - Feb 2026)
Target Audience: Non-TJ students nationwide (via Zoom).
Content: Thorough coverage of the 1,300-page, 56-chapter Campbell Biology textbook, supplemented with advanced content and problem-solving.
Instruction:
Sessions will exceed 2 hours to ensure detailed understanding.
Total instruction time will surpass 90 hours (72 hours is insufficient for comprehensive coverage).
Emphasis on solving released USABO Open Exam problems.
Classes are recorded for flexible access; late attendees can catch up.
Focus: Building a strong foundation for the USABO Open Exam.
FINAL EXAM: Advanced Biology Preparation (February/March 2026 onwards, if sufficient enrollment)
Target Audience: Semifinalist tudents and will-be semifnalist
Content: In-depth study of college-level texts: Plant Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, Animal Physiology, Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology.
Methodology: Primarily focused on solving past USABO final Exam problems.
Motivation: Inspired by past students' success, including MIT acceptances. They love the finalists. All my finalists were accepted by MIT.
USMDO (US Medicine and Disease Olympiad) Preparation:
USABO curriculum (Units I, II, III, and VII) covers USMDO content.
Biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, and Human physiology content in the USABO Semifinal Exam preparation further enhances USMDO readiness.
Students have achieved high levels of success in USMDO after taking the USABO course. So, I finish the four units before August USMDO exam and the rest after USMDO
Exceptional Student Achievement:
1. A 6th-grade student who participated in USABO and AP Chemistry classes has demonstrated exceptional talent. In 7th and 8th grade, this student won the 2023/2024 National Science Bee Championship and multiple other national competitions, consistently answering chemistry and biology questions faster than peers.
2. One 9 years old boy came to AP bioclass and got SATII 800 and AP 5. Went to MIT at age 15.
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pre-USABO and IBET (TJ 9th grade honor biology) class
for rising 6, 7, 8, 9th graders in 2025-2026
This course covers IBET biology textbook and ~85% of Campbell AP biology book. Many smart students are not satisfied with middle school science and there are not great teaching places for them. This class helps smart young students understand biology earlier and them prepare for the science Olympiad and USA Biology Olympiad. The teaching covers about ~85% of each chapter in AP biology book and is connected to USA Biology Olympiad in high school. Since no honor biology book is good for smart students, I use Campbell Biology In Focus book and cover TJ honor biology-level parts. This way, students get used to Campbell book, understand biology systematically and feel easy to study AP Campbell biology book for Biology Olympiad. After this course, students join USABO class that starts Feb 2026. USABO class covers 100% of the USABO book and a lot of extra topics for USABO exam because USABO exam content is more than Campbell AP bio book.
The class starts from April 6, 2025, and ends Nov 2025. Every Sun, 430-630 pm EST. If join the class late, students can review the recorded videos.
AP Bio/AP Chem for May/2025 exam
If there are enough students, the class will start from mid-Feb.
Total ~22 hours.
AP Bio/AP Chem During Summer
If there are enough students, the class will start from mid-June to mid Aug.
Total ~50 hours (25 sessions). 2-3 classes a week
Contact:
Bio & Chem Preparation Academy
Charles Lee
10617 Jones St Fairfax VA 22030
(Near the Fairfax Court House)
E-mail: Charles22033@yahoo.com and the following emails
pre-USABO/IBET, Chemistry: usaboexam@gmail.com
USABO: usaboexam@gmail.com
(Please, send to both address, just in case it is delivered to a spam)
I am working at a pharmaceutical company. Due to heavy amount of work, I stopped servicing AP environmental Science, AP BIO, AP chem and honor chem. I will come back for these classes later.
For AP chem/Honor chem, TJ summer chem can cover them.
For AP Bio, students can take some part of USABO class.
When you email, please fill out followings. These are optional, not mandatory. Please, give me some info.
Student name/email:
Grade.
State.
School.
Parent name/email
Phone number.
Have read Campbell biology book?
Any prior class(es) for chem and bio?
Class is done via Zoom.
I will invite students by sending a link through email. Once the class starts, students can click the site and join.