Should You Participate in Math Olympiad?

If you’re interested in mathematics, you may have heard of the prestigious Math Olympiad. Since 1959, students from all over the world have competed in the International Mathematical Olympiad. These high school students represent the best young mathematical minds in the world, and qualifying for the competition is an outstanding achievement.

But is participating in Math Olympiad right for you? What exactly is Math Olympiad, and how do you qualify? In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know about Math Olympiad, including the benefits you’ll experience and similar math clubs and competitions worth joining. If Math Olympiad aligns with your talents, passions, and goals, it’s definitely worth exploring!

What Is Math Olympiad?

The Math Olympiads program was founded in 1977 to foster interest in math and improve the mathematical skills of students in elementary, middle, and high school.

At the elementary and middle school level, teams of students compete remotely in monthly math contests. Winning teams receive certificates, plaques, or trophies.

In high school, qualifying students can compete in the U.S. Math Olympiad. The twelve top scorers at the U.S. Math Olympiad are invited to the Mathematical Association of America’s Olympiad summer program, and the top six qualify to represent the U.S. in the International Mathematical Olympiad.

The International Mathematical Olympiad is an annual global competition of high school students representing more than 100 countries. The competition is held in a different country every year.

How to Participate in Math Olympiad

Some high schools have Math Olympiad Clubs that practice Math Olympiad-style challenges and problem-solving strategies. Many high schools have other types of math clubs that compete in smaller competitions, which can help you prepare for Math Olympiad. But you don’t have to be in a club to participate in Math Olympiad.

To qualify, start by taking the Mathematical Association of America (MAA)’s 20-question AMC 10 or AMC 12 exams. The MAA recommends that ninth and tenth graders take the AMC 10, and eleventh and twelfth graders take the AMC 12 exam. You have 75 minutes for the exam, and you receive six points per question.

If you’re in the top 5% of scorers on the AMC 12 or the top 2.5% of scorers on the AMC 10, you qualify to take the American Invitation Mathematics Examination (AIME). You can take the AMC 10 and/or the AMC 12 multiple times.

The AIME is a 15-question, three-hour exam that’s offered once a year. Regardless of which AMC test you took to qualify, everyone takes the same AIME. Your AIME score is multiplied by 10 and added to your AMC score to determine whether you qualify for the U.S. Mathematical Olympiad.

The cutoff score changes each year, but only the top 260-270 students qualify for Math Olympiad. If you took the AMC 10, you’ll compete in the USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad. Students who took the AMC 12 compete in the USA Mathematical Olympiad.

As mentioned above, top scorers from the U.S. Math Olympiad train to compete in the International Mathematical Olympiad. It’s a long process, and very few students qualify, but the journey itself is highly rewarding and beneficial.

Benefits of Math Olympiad

The process of competing in Math Olympiad builds both mathematical and life skills, introduces you to new friends and unique opportunities, and can enhance your competitiveness for colleges and even qualify you for scholarships.

Building Math Skills

Building your math skills is an obvious benefit of joining Math Olympiad. If you’re interested in studying a major and/or pursuing a career related to mathematics, Math Olympiad is excellent preparation.

You’ll broaden your talent for mathematics in new and interesting ways. Competitions like Math Olympiad don’t ask your standard (some might say “boring”) math questions; you’ll encounter math that is far more interesting, creative, and challenging than what you typically see in math class.

Math Olympiad alumni say that the program has taught them how to think, how to learn, and how to consider mathematics on a deeper level. Some even compare this level of mathematics to philosophy.

So, you’ll improve your math skills, but Math Olympiad requires you to dive deeper. You’ll master advanced, brain-stretching, and imaginative mathematical techniques that challenge you and foster intellectual growth. And if you’re passionate about math, you’ll find genuine joy in unlocking the solutions to tricky Math Olympiad questions.

Building Life Skills

As you build your ability to solve problems, think critically, and reason logically, you’ll also develop important life skills.

You’ll learn to practice patience and persistence, understanding when to work harder and when to ask for help. You will work with a team and develop your capacity for both collaboration and leadership. As you train for the highest level of Math Olympiad competitions, you’ll build independence and improve your study skills. You’ll also improve your ability to organize and communicate your thoughts.

Each of these skills is essential for success in the future, both in college and in your career.

New Friends

Math Olympiad gives you the opportunity to meet students who are similarly passionate about math. If you compete at the national or the international level, you’ll meet gifted, like-minded students from all over the country and around the world.

Alumni say that being part of the math contest community is like having access to the peer group at a top-tier university, but several years earlier. Rather than a cutthroat competitive atmosphere, they say that Math Olympiad is collaborative and supportive. They look forward to the group chats and long bus rides almost as much as the math itself.

Unique Experiences

Students who participate in Math Olympiad benefit from a wide variety of rare experiences. The math problems you’ll solve are uniquely challenging, and the opportunity to travel the country or even the world participating in math competitions is far from common.

Recent International Math Olympiad competitions have been held in Melbourne, Australia; Bath, England; Chiba, Japan; Oslo, Norway; Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Hong Kong, China; and Cape Town, South Africa.

Enhanced College Opportunities

Very few students make it all the way to the national or international Math Olympiad, but even taking the AIME can set you apart when you apply to colleges. Some foundations also award scholarships based on students’ AMC and AIME scores.

Both MIT and Caltech have entry blanks on their application forms for applicants to enter their best AMC and AIME scores. Other top-tier schools, like Stanford, ask for AMC and AIME scores in their supplements to the Common Application. Good scores on these exams will greatly enhance your application to top colleges.

Of course, if you do qualify for the U.S. Math Olympiad or the International Math Olympiad, it signals to colleges that you have elite talent in mathematics. Because very few students make it to the national or international level of the competition, doing so will make you stand out from the crowd.

Other Math Competitions for High School Students

Participating in other math organizations and math competitions in high school can prepare you for the Math Olympiad. And because the Math Olympiad is so difficult to qualify for, joining other math organizations gives you more opportunities to let your mathematical abilities shine.

Other popular, well-regarded math competitions for high school students include:

•         American Regions Math League (ARML): The ARML is a national math competition held annually at the University of Iowa, Penn State, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Students compete in teams of 15 with two coaches, and top teams receive both prestige and monetary awards.
•         Math League: Over one million students compete in Math League contests every year. High school contests take places six times per year, and students compete as both individuals and school-wide teams. Competitions are held at the local and national level, and problems involve geometry, algebra, trigonometry, logarithms, probability, and more.
•         MathWorks Math Modeling (M3) Challenge: Eleventh and twelfth graders can compete in the M3 Challenge, which gives high school students a sense of the challenges faced by professional mathematicians in the real world. Teams of three to five students and a teacher-coach compete to solve a practical problem under time and resource constraints. The six finalist teams present their work in New York City and are eligible for cash awards up to $20,000.
•         MathCON: Over 200,000 students in grades 4-12 have competed in MathCON since 2008. No cash prizes are awarded, but the annual competition and the preparation leading up to it enhances mathematical education and skills for participants.
•         Mathletes: Many high schools have Mathletes Clubs, designed to challenge and entertain mathematically talented students and prepare them to compete in high-quality math competitions. These competitions may be at the local, state, or national level, and some Mathlete Clubs help students prepare for the AMC, AIME, and Math Olympiad competitions.
•         Modeling the Future (MFT) Challenge: Students conduct a research project that models real-world data to analyze risks and make recommendations to companies, industry groups, governments, or other organizations. MTF provides $60,000 in awards and a $25,000 first place college scholarship. Finalist teams receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to participate in the Modeling the Future Symposium and meet with professional actuaries to learn how they can apply math to their future careers.

Not only will these competitions improve your Math Olympiad skills, but they also offer similar benefits. You’ll hone mathematical and life skills, meet other gifted students with an interest in math, travel for math competitions, and boost your college and scholarship applications. If you’re interested in a career in mathematics, joining math clubs and participating math competitions will prepare you to excel in the future.

Final Thoughts: Should I Join Math Olympiad?

If you have an interest and aptitude for mathematics, preparing for the AMC and AIME is certainly worthwhile. Ultimately, the goal is to qualify for the United States Math Olympiad and the International Math Olympiad, but the process itself offers many benefits.

You’ll challenge yourself and build advanced math skills while also developing life skills like teamwork, leadership, creative problem-solving, persistence, independence, and more. In addition, you’ll befriend other students who are passionate about mathematics. If you qualify for competitions, you’ll travel the country and the globe competing with the world’s most talented young mathematical minds.

Qualifying for national and international Math Olympiads, and even performing well on the AMC and AIME, will enhance the competitiveness of your college applications. Some organizations also award scholarships to students with excellent AMC and AIME scores.

In addition to Math Olympiad, there’s a wide variety of math clubs and competitions that offer similar benefits and can prepare you to qualify for the Olympiad. The best news is that you don’t have to choose just one; you can join as many clubs and participate in as many competitions as your schedule allows, giving you more chances to let your mathematical talent shine.

So, if mathematics is your forte and will be part of your future, we recommend taking the AMC and AIME to try qualifying for the Math Olympiad. You’ll impress college admissions teams, prepare for your future, and enjoy exciting, unique opportunities along the way.