With the start of a new year, the International Mathematics Olympiad is an excellent opportunity for a class 9 student to grab. The olympiad follows the same syllabus as the schools. Therefore the student can participate in an international level of competition while still preparing for the end of the year school exams. Here are ten essential tips and pointers to prepare a 9th-grade student for the Maths Olympiad preparation.
- Time management
The first and the most crucial step to prepping for any competitive exam is establishing a well-developed schedule. It is essential to manage your day-to-day academics with the extra studying you will engage yourself. In addition to keeping up with homework, regular tests, and other school assignments, it is also essential to work in some time for leisure and physical activities in the schedule.
- Start early
Lakhs of students from India participate in the International Mathematics Olympiad every year, even more internationally. Therefore, the key to being amongst the top scorers in this olympiad is to start early and give yourself ample time to cover the syllabus and practice all sorts of questions. Summer vacations offered by the school are the most suitable time to start prepping for this maths exam. It not only provides an edge over other students since you would have covered a lot more syllabus than them but also gives you plenty of time later for revision.
- Utilize the correct resources
There are many fake information and materials available online that can derail a student from the path of achieving their goal by creating distractions. Hence, it is essential to research and follow authentic websites when referring to any updates and check the syllabus and the paper pattern. It relates to the previous year’s question papers to fully understand the type and design of problems. Students can refer to the class 9 IMO question paper 2014 for checking the paper pattern. Almost every situation in the Math Olympics requires students to use their expertise. Other benefits of these assessments include providing pupils with a complete grasp of the problem.
- Revision and self-evaluation
The key to being a top scorer in competitive exams and time management is effective revision. Not only is it essential to cover all topics, but it is equally necessary to keep revising the previously covered syllabus from time to time. It would be unfortunate to mix up or forget the topics covered early on during the preparation during the final day of the olympiad. Another essential tip to keep in mind while preparing for an examination like the International Mathematics Olympiad is to conduct self-evaluation in short periods. This method, which involves analyzing how well you are doing in practice tests and remembering past topics, can help boost your confidence and highlight the areas that need more time and revision.
- Regular practice
It is essential to take regular breaks now and then, but it is equally important to set a goal and achieve it every day. Common practice is the way to crack even the most difficult of the exams and gain success. Even if 10 to 15 problems are solved every day, it encourages the student to build confidence about the subject and also helps to revise formulas and methods of solving a question every day. Regular practice makes it easier for the student to remember the syllabus effectively for a long time.
- Ask for help!
While preparing for competitive exams like the International Mathematics Olympiad, it is natural to come across a specific topic or sum that may seem unsolvable. In situations like these, instead of giving up after being frustrated, it is advised to seek help from your school or tuition teachers who can quickly help you out. Sometimes, answers to specific complex problems can even be available on the internet. If a particular topic is proving to be challenging to understand, a teacher or parent can be a great help to get you out of the slump.
- Take a break
While practicing daily and hard work is essential to ace the class 9 maths olympiad, taking time out of self-development through leisure activities and sports is also necessary. Only when the body is fit can the mind work effortlessly and effectively. Once in a while, taking a walk when stuck on a question or taking a nap after a long study session can help refresh the brain and help you dive right back into hard studying quickly and more productive.
- Solve question papers
nothing beats the knowledge you gain by solving a past question paper and getting acquainted with the patterns and techniques to set an exam paper. It also gives you the confidence to know how well you will fare in the actual test. Practice papers also provide an understanding of where you stand amidst your competitors.
- Have the right attitude
To begin the Maths Olympiad preparation, the first task you should check off from your to-do list is to set your goal and determine why you are entering the International Maths Olympiad. When the dreams become infinitely easier to focus on them with the right attitude of achieving success. Negative feelings that may emerge during failures can also drag you down, and it is essential to know how to manage them and streamline the losses towards achieving your aim.
- Think outside the box
The problems and questions in the International Mathematics Olympiad are known to be slightly trickier than the average NCERT questions that students practice for their academic school exams. Hence, from the beginning, it is advised to focus more on the HOTS (High Order Thinking Skills) questions and facing the problems with a comprehensive perspective, and not limiting the thinking to the textbook. And, like mentioned earlier, if a student gets stuck on any issue or topic, the help of teachers or parents can prove extremely useful. Students are indirectly preparing for much the same series of questionnaires they could play in school, but differently. The problem framing for National competitions is distinct since it assesses students’ mastery of basics. The examination is open for all students of classes 1 to 12.