Empowering Young Brilliant Minds Through Math Olympiad
Unlock the power of mathematical proofs.
Unlock the power of mathematical proofs.
With the support of Ray Chinese School, Max Gurinas and Haihui Niu from the IL Middle School Math Olympiad are excited to offer a class designed to prepare students for middle school math competitions during the 2023/2024 school year. Our class will emphasize the importance of mathematical proofs, setting us apart from other preparation courses. Tuition fees will cover administrative costs and classroom rental.
Register now at: www.raychineseschool.org
Founded in 2024, IL Middle School Math Olympiad is the only middle school math competition that asks students to write mathematical proofs. This competition promotes the importance of proofs to math, and intends to encourage interest in proof-based mathematics at an early age.
If you are a middle school student (8th grade of below) and live in the state of Illinois, you are welcome to apply. We'll invite the top applicants based on the score(s) of math competitions including Mathcounts, AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12. The application deadline has been extended to 5/15/2024, and all applicants will receive an email regarding their application status.
The inaugural Illinois Middle School Math Olympiad of 2024 will take place on Saturday, May 18, at 600 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60654. Free lunch is provided for all participants. Update: We had a successful competition on May 18, 2024, and all the exam papers have already been graded. Winners list is published in this website. Awards ceremony will be held on August 24, 2024.
Please reach us at info@ilmiddleschoolmo.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Max Gurinas, a junior in high school, founded this competition after realizing that mathematical proof plays a central role for developing critical reasoning, avoiding errors, and progress in mathematics. Having competed in math competitions since middle school, Max noticed the lack of proof problems in math contests. Determined to help change this, he had the idea to start the Illinois Middle School Math Olympiad. Max put together a group of enthusiastic volunteers with similar passions, without whom it would not even be possible to host such an event.
To be eligible to apply for Illinois Middle School Math Olympiad 2024, students must meet all of the following criteria:
. Mathcounts Chapter or Mathcounts State
. AMC 8
. AMC 10
. AMC 12
If you meet all these criteria, then we welcome you to fill out our online application. Please review the information in your application carefully. We ask for any of your score(s) on the competition exams that you took. If we find out that you intentionally reported a false score, you will be automatically disqualified and your school will be notified.
There is no cost for eligible students to participate in the event. Lunch and beverages will be provided on the day of the competition. All students are responsible for their transportation to and from the event and all related costs.
The Illinois Middle School Math Olympiad is a ten-question essay/proof exam that is split into separate morning and afternoon sessions lasting two hours each. The ten problems each has a perfect/maximum score of 10, for a possible total exam score of 100. You will be scored on your method of approach, clarity of reasoning, evidence of ingenuity, inventiveness, and general insight. In order to obtain full credit, all the claims in your solution must be PROVEN. When in doubt, you should include details rather than leave them out. Examination of special cases or generalizations may lead to fruitful ideas on how to begin a problem, and partial credit may be given for constructive progress toward a solution. An unusually elegant proof or a carefully-stated, non-trivial extension with proof may play a role in breaking an eventual tie. Your papers should be clear, concise, complete, and written darkly, for the avoidance of doubt. Evaluation will include mathematical clarity, good English and legibility. Points will be deducted for inadequate or poorly written explanations, as well as for incorrect mathematics.
The only instruments permitted are writing and drawing instruments (ruler and compass). No notes, headphones, cell phones, tablet computers, books, graph paper, protractors, slide rules, mathematical tables, calculators, or calculator watches are allowed during the exam.
Due to the nature of proof problems, the exams will require a longer period of grading. We estimate we will complete grading and announce winners on this webpage by mid-July.
Yes, we plan to give cash prizes to the top 10 winners of this competition.
1st Prize: $1,000
2nd Prize: $500
3rd, 4th and 5th Prize: $200
6th to 10th Prize: $100
Our awards ceremony will be held at the site of the competition on August 24, 2024.
600 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60654, United States
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