Chemistry competitions contribute to the popularization of chemistry, as they provide motivation for further engagement in the field and can influence the choice of study and career paths. They also provide feedback to teachers, students, and those who organize the competition. An example of such an organization in Slovenia is the Slovenian Association for Technical Culture (ZOTKS), which organizes a chemistry knowledge competition for high school students for the Pregl Plaques. We conducted a three-part study. The first part was based on a quantitative research approach, where we analysed the achievements of approximately 10,036 students aged between 15 and 19 who participated in chemistry competitions during the school years 2021/22 and 2024/25. We analysed: (1) the proportion of Slovenian students who participated in chemistry competitions, (2) gender differences in performance, (3) which parts of the competition are challenging, (4) trends in the repetition of challenging content, and (5) the range of performance at the school and national levels. The second part was based on a qualitative approach, where we analysed 323 assessment sheets from the 2023/24 school year and identified common mistakes made by students. The third part of the research was conducted using a questionnaire after the completion of the competition part of the national competition for Pregl Plaques in the 2024/25 school year. It was completed by 305 competitors from all statistical regions in Slovenia. We found that students most often participate in competitions because they are interested in chemistry, have good grades in the subject, and are encouraged to do so by their teachers. Most students attend competition preparation classes at their school, but many prepare on their own with occasional help and guidance from their teachers and mentors. The majority of students who participated in the national chemistry competition (N = 270) plan to enrol in natural science studies after finishing secondary school. Most of the fourth-year students who participated in the competition would like to begin studying chemistry, physics, medicine, or pharmacy in the coming academic year.
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