Comments from Teachers
“Thanks for continuing your high quality program and problems. The questions always offer great clues and are fair in asking for answers that test knowledge. They aren’t full of tricks or huge answers, but check for real understanding ..... This is the best maths program around.”
“Thank you for providing students with the opportunity to participate in the Maths Olympiad. We look forward to being involved again next year!”
“All team members have enjoyed this year's Olympiads. Our overall assessment was that the problems this year were easier than last year's, but just as satisfying to solve! Thank you for conducting this excellent program. We look forward to participating in next year's competition.”
“Thank you for a challenging and exciting competition. I believe all Year Six students at our school have gained much from participating in the Mathematics Olympiad.”
“I only see my kids once a week as I am a ‘special’ (teacher for the gifted and talented) and do this as an extension of my regular chores. I enjoy the challenge and have seen an improvement in my [emphasis added] understanding of maths since I have started to teach it.”
“I LOVE THIS PROGRAM! The questions are rich and help our kids think in ways that are not traditionally found in the classroom. Problems are great — I take the tests right along with the kids. … I learned a lot — too much to admit to! … Frankly, I wish _______ had problems like yours — maybe we’d produce more critical thinkers.”
“I enjoyed teaching and working with the Olympiad problems. It encouraged the children to think and apply concepts they've learned as well as to utilise a common sense approach to solving problems.”
“Olympiad problems are a wonderful boost to thinking in the primary school...most worthwhile and rewarding for both teachers and students alike.”
“Attendance at practices and enthusiasm never flagged. No one lost interest...I have enjoyed this second year of Maths Olympiads even more than the first. I'm looking forward to next year.”
Comments from Students
“The thing I liked best about this contest was that it gave me a chance to think things through and sort them out.”
“The Olympiads make me use the thinking part of my brain.”
“I have competed in the Maths Olympiads from the 5th to 8th grades. Through my years of participation in this program, I have developed a wide array of reasoning and problem solving skills that I use regularly. I highly recommend that any one with an opportunity to do this, should!!!”
“I think the program is good because you can learn things that you wouldn't have learned until 6th grade or later. The program has helped me do better with my normal maths work.”
“The Olympiads are an incredible experience for me... they teach me interesting problems that I never learned before.”
“I think the Olympiads help people - they help you to solve problems better.”
“I liked the Maths Olympiads because they gave me an opportunity to think and it was a real challenge. I liked the hard problems and realised that the more I did, the easier they became… Maths Olympiads are something I enjoy very much.”