The Asian Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO) is a one-day exam consisting of 5 problems to be solved within 4 hours. The problems in APMO differ somewhat from those in the IMO (International Mathematical Olympiad), as they are usually of similar difficulty levels across all five questions.
How I Prepared
To prepare for the APMO, I started by solving past problems on the APMO Official . These problems cover various topics and difficulties, helping students develop problem-solving skills in various areas. However, the biggest challenge of APMO is completing all five problems within the 4-hour time limit, which is quite demanding given the number of problems.
Award Structure
APMO awards are unique compared to other math competitions. Each country has a fixed number of awards:
- 1 gold medal
- 2 silver medals
- 3 bronze medals
- 3 honorable mentions
The awards are determined based on minimum score requirements set each year. For example, a student must score above a certain threshold for a gold medal, a slightly lower threshold for silver, and so on.
My Experience
I participated in the APMO three times, winning two honorable mentions and one bronze medal. While these achievements made me proud, I realized that my preparation wasn’t as thorough as it could have been, particularly in time management. Completing all five problems within the limited time requires strong time management skills, which can only be developed through consistent practice with a variety of problems.
Another challenge with APMO is the unpredictability of the problems each year. The questions vary significantly in topics and formats, making it hard to predict what will appear on the exam. It’s crucial to prepare broadly and practice a wide range of problems to succeed. This approach improves your ability to handle unexpected questions and increases your chances of performing well in the competition.