by The International Mathematics Olympiad, also known as IMO, is a major mathematics exam held by the SOF (Science Olympiad Foundation) for students to provide a mathematical basis for future classes. By posing high-order thinking problems to students, IMO helps them improve their problem-solving ability and critical reasoning. They will be better prepared for future academic tests in future as a result of this. Participating in Maths Olympiad is fun to put one’s logical skills to the test and learn more about number tactics and processing. It’s also a never-ending source of discussion among mathematicians, and it’s not a simple issue to resolve.
Class 5 students can learn a lot by participating in the IMO exams, which can prepare them for their academic final exams. However, this exam is known for its difficulty level, as students are required to find their own solutions to questions by thinking analytically as the questions are out of the box. Good preparation is a must for students if they want to score high in their Math Olympiad exam. Sticking to a strict study routine and following it with perseverance should give enough time to the students to prepare the vast syllabus. Practising previous year’s question papers such as IMO Maths Olympiad Previous Year Question Paper Class 5 2013 can be highly useful. It will allow the students to recognise the paper pattern of the IMO exam and what to expect from it. Let’s discuss the study plan students can readily use for their preparation to ace their IMO exam.
Understand the entire syllabus
The students need to learn all the basics of every single chapter they have in their syllabus, so they do not lose marks if questions related to these topics are asked during their IMO exam. By going through the whole syllabus at least once, students will be able to distinguish between sections with more importance and have higher chances of being used for the question paper than others. Students can accordingly focus more on topics with more importance.
Plan study sessions
A study timetable will allow students to plan their everyday goals, which they can mark as done at the end of the day. A timetable makes everyday goals tangible for the students and makes them feel confident. Students can smartly divide and allocate their time to different chapters and topics according to their difficulty level. This will ensure they do not waste time and use it productively. This timetable should also consider small breaks during the long study sessions to keep the students fresh throughout the preparation. Weekly revision should also be a part of this timetable, where students will have to go over what they have studied during the week to track their progress.
Problem-solving-first approach
Students who approach the problem by problem-solving-first greatly exceed those who study the solutions first and then attempt to address the question using it. Students might more easily recognise the rationale underlying the problem and the procedures involved in addressing it if they first understood the problem before learning the answer. That is why, rather than remembering the procedure, the best approach to learning maths is to comprehend the principles and reasoning of each answer. IMO tests students’ knowledge of how they approach different questions. Hence, the approach to each question in the Mathematical Olympiad is important.
Make notes for important points
It is critical to comprehend the rationale behind all of the processes necessary to solve the mathematical problems. Students should understand each problem’s rationale, mathematical principles, and numerical logic. Students may benefit from rewriting their notes to recall all of the key information for a longer period. These notes must include all critical elements that students believe they need to review before their exam. Students can read through these notes at the end of their preparation to refresh their memory on key topics and theories.
Identify strengths and weaknesses
Maths is the subject in which students may encounter several difficulties in answering questions that they find difficult to comprehend. Students should note all the concepts and sums that they find particularly challenging while practising regularly. Students can devote more time to them later on.
Learn shortcuts and tricks to solve questions
While it is essential to acquire knowledge of specific concepts and topics in mathematics, it is also critical to build thinking and reasoning abilities. Students can excel in their IMO exams if they use easy shortcuts to help them comprehend mathematics. Students can save time and get accurate answers faster if they can address advanced problems with shortcuts.
Practise daily
Students get the practice they need and the incentive to keep learning when practice includes active thinking and reasoning. Students can develop a better comprehension of the things they need to learn by practising. Solving sample papers, question banks, and previous year’s question papers allows students to see what types of questions they can encounter throughout the test and prepare appropriately. Students can utilise mock tests while revising to track their progress to check if they can face the exam and how much they can score with their current preparation.
Time and accuracy
While giving mock tests, students should record the amount of time they use to solve the entire question paper. As IMO is a timed exam, solving the questions within the time limit with accuracy is important. If students spend too much time just going through the answer sheet, they may lose time and marks. Hence, they should actively practise increasing their speed.
Health matters
Lastly, students need to keep their health in check throughout their preparation to have a healthy and fit mind to study properly. They should keep themselves motivated by regularly asking themselves why they started their preparation in the first place. Eating healthy food and sleeping 6-7 hours every day is also important.
Conclusion
To sum up, anyone may succeed in the Mathematics Olympiad with sufficient preparation and dedication. Acing the IMO will provide students with well-deserved opportunities in the future. Thus, students should organise their study schedules using the tips given above for a successful outcome.
