International mathematical olympiad

International math olympiads are highly competitive endeavours that require exceptional mathematical skills and intensive preparation. Each year, over 100,000 students of the highest calibre participate from all around the world. They dedicate countless hours to studying, with preparation often involving specialised training programmes and personalised coaching. These ambitious and driven students deserve the best tools to elevate their mathematical skills to the level demanded of them. A deep inculcation of a critical problem-solving attitude at this high level should be able to help maximise their chances of success.

Sometimes, school maths has the tendency to become slightly repetitive, and despite the procedural fluency it helps students acquire, it does not fully prepare them for the expectations set by universities and future careers that require analytical thinking. The subject matter students are expected to study for international maths competitions ranges from topics covered in secondary and high school, including geometry, combinatorics, algebra, pre-calculus, functional equations, number theory and several theorems.

Mathematical Olympiads are competitive events where participants aim to complete a series of maths problems or a test. These tests may require multiple choice or numeric answers, or a detailed written solution or proof. In some countries the term ‘math olympiad’ refers to all maths competitions, while in others, including the United States, it refers only to proof-based maths competitions.