Curriculum
Course Syllabi
Exactly what your student learns, week by week. Every level runs the same three-module arc — Structures & Properties, Chemical Principles, and Orgo & Laboratory — at a depth matched to their competition goal. Pick a level and module below.
Module 1
late Aug - mid Oct
Module 2
mid Oct - mid Dec
Module 3
early Jan - late Feb
Level 2
Local PrepBuild a rock-solid foundation and excel at the USNCO Local Exam
Who it's for
Goal
Live schedule
Learning objectives
Module 1: Structures & Properties
late Aug - mid Oct · 8 weeksAtomic structure, periodicity, bonding, molecular geometry, intermolecular forces, and gases — the structural backbone of every USNCO exam.
| #Session | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bohr's Atomic Model |
| 2 | Orbitals and Electron Configurations |
| 3 | Advanced Periodic Trends |
| 4 | Bond Types and Lewis Structures |
| 5 | Resonance and the VSEPR Model |
| 6 | Intermolecular Forces and Phase Changes |
| 7 | Gas Laws |
| 8 | Module Review & Local-style Practice |
Level 2
Local PrepBuild a rock-solid foundation and excel at the USNCO Local Exam
Who it's for
Goal
Live schedule
Learning objectives
Module 2: Chemical Principles
mid Oct - mid Dec · 8 weeksThermochemistry, kinetics, and the full arc of equilibrium chemistry — from Le Chatelier to buffers, titrations, and solubility.
| #Session | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Thermochemistry |
| 2 | Chemical Kinetics 1 |
| 3 | Chemical Kinetics 2 |
| 4 | Chemical Equilibria and Le Chatelier's Principle |
| 5 | Acid-Base Equilibria |
| 6 | Buffers and Titrations |
| 7 | Solubility and Complex-Ion Equilibria |
| 8 | Module Review & Local-style Practice |
Level 2
Local PrepBuild a rock-solid foundation and excel at the USNCO Local Exam
Who it's for
Goal
Live schedule
Learning objectives
Module 3: Orgo & Laboratory
early Jan - late Feb · 8 weeksElectrochemistry, thermodynamics, fundamental organic chemistry, and the descriptive/laboratory topics that decide Local Exam scores — finishing right before the Local Exam with mock practice.
| #Session | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Redox Reactions and Galvanic Cells |
| 2 | Nernst Equation and Electrolysis |
| 3 | Spontaneity, Entropy, and Free Energy |
| 4 | Applications of Thermodynamics |
| 5 | Fundamental Organic Chemistry 1 |
| 6 | Fundamental Organic Chemistry 2 |
| 7 | Descriptive Chemistry & Laboratory 1 |
| 8 | Descriptive Chemistry & Laboratory 2 |
Level 3
Nat'l PrepAdvance beyond AP and compete at the national level
Who it's for
Goal
Live schedule
Learning objectives
Module 1: Structures & Properties
late Aug - mid Oct · 8 weeksAdvanced structures beyond AP: orbital nodes, periodic exceptions, Bent's rule, molecular orbital theory, solid models, and coordination compounds.
| #Session | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Advanced Atomic Structures |
| 2 | Periodic Trends, Exceptions, and Nuclear Chemistry |
| 3 | Advanced Molecular Structures and Bonding |
| 4 | Hybridization and Molecular Orbital Theory |
| 5 | Solutions and Solid Models |
| 6 | Isomerism and Crystal Field Theory of Coordination Compounds |
| 7 | Laboratory and Reactions |
| 8 | Module Review & National-style Practice |
Level 3
Nat'l PrepAdvance beyond AP and compete at the national level
Who it's for
Goal
Live schedule
Learning objectives
Module 2: Chemical Principles
mid Oct - mid Dec · 8 weeksIntegrated chemical principles at National depth — kinetics, equilibrium, electrochemistry, and thermodynamics as they appear in National Part I and II.
| #Session | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Advanced Thermochemistry and Kinetics 1 |
| 2 | Advanced Kinetics 2 |
| 3 | Advanced Topics in Equilibrium 1 |
| 4 | Advanced Topics in Equilibrium 2 |
| 5 | Advanced Topics in Electrochemistry 1 |
| 6 | Advanced Topics in Electrochemistry 2 |
| 7 | Advanced Topics in Thermodynamics |
| 8 | Module Review & Integrated Practice |
Level 3
Nat'l PrepAdvance beyond AP and compete at the national level
Who it's for
Goal
Live schedule
Learning objectives
Module 3: Orgo & Laboratory
early Jan - late Feb · 8 weeksApplications of thermodynamics, descriptive & laboratory chemistry as tested on USNCO, and a three-stage organic sequence from fundamentals to advanced structures and reactivities.
| #Session | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Applications of Thermodynamics 1 |
| 2 | Applications of Thermodynamics 2 |
| 3 | Descriptive Chemistry & Laboratory 1 |
| 4 | Descriptive Chemistry & Laboratory 2 |
| 5 | Fundamental Organic Chemistry |
| 6 | Intermediate Organic Chemistry |
| 7 | Advanced Organic Chemistry |
| 8 | Module Review & National-style Practice |
Level 4
Camp PrepReach for High Honors, Study Camp, and international competition
Who it's for
Goal
Live schedule
Learning objectives
Module 1: Structures & Properties
late Aug - mid Oct · 8 weeksCoordination chemistry, analytical chemistry, reaction writing, and explanation questions — the free-response skills National Part II demands.
| #Session | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Advanced Atomic Structures and Periodicity |
| 2 | Advanced Molecular Structures and Bonding |
| 3 | Molecular Orbital Theory |
| 4 | Coordination Chemistry |
| 5 | Descriptive Chemistry and Laboratory |
| 6 | Summary of Reactions |
| 7 | Reaction Writing |
| 8 | Module Review |
Level 4
Camp PrepReach for High Honors, Study Camp, and international competition
Who it's for
Goal
Live schedule
Learning objectives
Module 2: Chemical Principles
mid Oct - mid Dec · 8 weeksIChO-level chemical principles with a relentless focus on problem solving — every session is integrated practice across kinetics, equilibrium, electrochemistry, and thermodynamics.
| #Session | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Integrated Problem Solving in Kinetics 1 |
| 2 | Integrated Problem Solving in Kinetics 2 |
| 3 | Integrated Problem Solving in Equilibrium 1 |
| 4 | Integrated Problem Solving in Equilibrium 2 |
| 5 | Integrated Problem Solving in Electrochemistry 1 |
| 6 | Integrated Problem Solving in Electrochemistry 2 |
| 7 | Integrated Problem Solving in Thermodynamics 1 |
| 8 | Integrated Problem Solving in Thermodynamics 2 |
Level 4
Camp PrepReach for High Honors, Study Camp, and international competition
Who it's for
Goal
Live schedule
Learning objectives
Module 3: Orgo & Laboratory
early Jan - late Feb · 8 weeksIChO-level integrated organic chemistry — a systematic tour of reaction chemistry from substitutions and eliminations through enolates, conjugate additions, and SNAr.
| #Session | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Advanced Topics in Thermodynamics |
| 2 | Review and Extension of Fundamental Organic Chemistry |
| 3 | Nucleophilic Substitutions and Eliminations |
| 4 | Chemistry of Alkenes and Alkynes |
| 5 | Advanced Topics in Aromatic Substitutions |
| 6 | Nucleophilic Substitution at C=O: Carboxylic Acid Derivatives |
| 7 | Chemistry of Enols and Enolates |
| 8 | Conjugate Addition and SNAr |
8 weekly sessions
Each module runs 8 weeks with one 90-minute live class per week, taught by Dr. Chen.
Problem-solving sessions
A separate weekly 60-minute staff-led session works through the problem sets together.
Weekly problem sets
Curated USNCO-style problem sets with full solutions after every session.
Everything in one place
Recordings, lecture notes, problem sets, and solutions organized in Google Classroom.
Session order and emphasis may be fine-tuned during the year based on class progress and the latest USNCO exams. Exact class dates are published to enrolled families in the student dashboard. Can't make the live times? Every session is recorded — recording enrollment includes 1-year access to recordings, lecture notes, problem sets, and solutions.