Mathletes’ Greatest Secrets Finally Revealed
Henry
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| Screenshot from imo-official.com
If you make it all the way, your name ends up on this site. For better or for worse. Forever.
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Each year the Mathematics Olympiad Summer Camp selects and trains the Philippine Team for the International Mathematical Olympiad.
If you’re a high school senior, this will probably the last training-contest circuit you will be doing before entering university. Everybody else in your batch will have hung the gloves before you do. Know that whatever happens, you’ve been given the rare honor of staying in the ‘Math Games’ until the very end.
Format
DISCLAIMER
Of all my write-ups, this one is probably going to age the most quickly. MOSC is tied to many universities and organizations, so the venue of training can vary (recently it has been held within the campus of either UP or AdMU). The same goes with the training style; in the later phases when few remain, training will take into account your individual strengths and the general goal of the delegation.
Of all my write-ups, this one is probably going to age the most quickly. MOSC is tied to many universities and organizations, so the venue of training can vary (recently it has been held within the campus of either UP or AdMU). The same goes with the training style; in the later phases when few remain, training will take into account your individual strengths and the general goal of the delegation.
As of this writing, one can only qualify into MOSC by finishing among the top twenty in the PMO Area Finals.
The program consists of phases (usually three or four) of training. At the end of each phase (except the first), candidates are given what is called team selection tests (or TSTs). Whether one proceeds to the next phase depends largely on the result of the TST and to a smaller degree, one’s general performance in training.
The first is sort of a prelude into the actual summer camp, and is run by email during the school year. Every week one gets a worksheet with a discussion, and sends answers for the exercises therein. In my time, the topics in this phase strayed beyond Olympiad topics and into higher mathematics (think basic group and ring theory!). The general idea is less about teaching collegiate math, and more on evaluating how quickly you can pick up new topics – hence topics are deliberately chosen to be ones you have zero experience in; one year they replaced each term with a nonsense word, so we couldn’t Google the topics!
Sometime before the first phase ends, you will be invited to sit for APMO. Try your best to be available to take the test. It’s a chance to give the trainers info on how you write solutions in an actual Olympiad (see NOTE 1) , and also a fair shot at a credential-making medal before committing completely for IMO.
NOTE 1
It will be your trainers here who mark and score your work, subsequently sending them to the organizing country for verification; so weeks (or even days) after the test, they’ll know everyone’s respective strengths, and who’s likely to get medals.
In previous years the second phase would comprise a very intensive in-house training camp in a resort; lately this has been eschewed for a standard classroom-every-day setting, identical to the succeeding phases. A typical morning/afternoon session comprises a problem set around a certain theme, with discussion afterwards. At least once per week in the later phases, an Olympiad style mock test (often complete with enforced silence and signal cards) will be given in the morning; the problems will be autopsied in the afternoon.
It will be your trainers here who mark and score your work, subsequently sending them to the organizing country for verification; so weeks (or even days) after the test, they’ll know everyone’s respective strengths, and who’s likely to get medals.
In previous years the second phase would comprise a very intensive in-house training camp in a resort; lately this has been eschewed for a standard classroom-every-day setting, identical to the succeeding phases. A typical morning/afternoon session comprises a problem set around a certain theme, with discussion afterwards. At least once per week in the later phases, an Olympiad style mock test (often complete with enforced silence and signal cards) will be given in the morning; the problems will be autopsied in the afternoon.
Preparation
Generally, similar preparation as my section for PMO would suffice. Take national TSTs within level and keep abreast of what genres are popular; this changes from year to year.
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve probably developed a very effective – and very personalized – training system, so I can only advise you to have it your way, and enjoy the ride.
Tips
It can take quite a while to get used to extended, proving style questions . I think the best way to get accustomed to this is to start out from a young age - preferably, begin preparing in late grade school (see NOTE 2). If you really have PMO → MOSC → IMO in mind and you start early, you have an amazing chance!
NOTE 2
I will discussing more of this effect in an upcoming post, "The High School Gap."
I will discussing more of this effect in an upcoming post, "The High School Gap."
Decide properly.
Joining these extended summer programs can demand a lot of time and effort. If you are a high school junior or senior, this probably means sacrificing some juicy opportunities. This is a very important time in every student’s life, so I strongly recommend to give the decision the time it deserves.
In the later stages of the training, the lectures will be suited to the specific goals (say, get numbers 1, 4, 2, and 5 [see NOTE 3]) and to the particular strengths of the participants. Make the most of this rare opportunity of free, customized training.
NOTE 3
The difficulty of IMO questions is loosely in the order: 1 (easiest), 4, 2, 5, 3, 6 (hardest). It's an understandable goal to make sure the four easiest questions in the Olympiad are secured.
The difficulty of IMO questions is loosely in the order: 1 (easiest), 4, 2, 5, 3, 6 (hardest). It's an understandable goal to make sure the four easiest questions in the Olympiad are secured.
There’s the possibility of a withdrawal period after too many math contests – especially, I believe, for people who make it all the way. After a while, it does help to help other newbies into the community. It’s therapeutic!
Henry! I always enjoy reading your blog series! Very informative. I may not have a mathematically inclined daughter (how I wish she is!), but I am quite sure the mathematical "nerds" reading your blog will learn a tip or two. Keep it up!
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