International Mathematical Olympiad

The Federal Republic of Germany and the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen hosted the 50th IMO, which took place at Jacobs University Bremen. It was the fourth time that the IMO was held in Germany, following Berlin in 1965, Erfurt in 1974 and Braunschweig in 1989.
Approximately 600 secondary school students from a hundred countries from all over the world participated in the contest. Together with the heads of delegation, the team guides and the organization team, this means that around 1000 people were involved in the event, which lasted almost two weeks.

The International Mathematical Olympiad is a top level mathematical competition for secondary school students. It is hosted by a different country every July. Participants may not be older than 20 years of age at the time of the contest and should not have begun university training. The examinations are held over two consecutive days. The candidates have four and a half hours to solve three challenging mathematical problems each day. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded. Selection contest for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)

Every year, the most talented young mathematicians test their skills at the International Mathematical Olympiad. The German team is selected through a selection contest for the International Mathematical Olympiad, which is sponsored by the BMBF.

WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SELECTION CONTEST FOR THE IMO?

As well as encouraging secondary school students with an interest in and an aptitude for mathematics, the selection contest for the IMO also provides participants with a platform for comparing their performance at a specialist level and for exchanges on a social level.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE IMO SELECTION CONTEST?

The first precondition for taking part is successful participation in the second round of the German National Mathematics Competition, the federal round of the German Mathematical Olympiad, or success in the field of mathematics at Länder level in the Young Researchers competition.
The second precondition for participation is that candidates must still attend school at the beginning of the selection contest and must fulfil the conditions of the IMO with regard to age. Participants may not be older than 20 years of age at the time of the contest and should not have begun university training.

WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR THE IMO SELECTION CONTEST?

The IMO selection contest begins with participation in two examinations to which invitations are issued via the schools. These examinations take place under the supervision of the respective school. The sixteen best candidates in the examinations are then invited to take part in five preparatory seminars which provide the necessary special knowledge and teach important strategies for solving problems. The candidates also sit further examinations. The final IMO team of six is selected on the basis of the results.

WHO ORGANIZES THE IMO SELECTION CONTEST?

Bildung und Begabung e.V.
Auswahlwettbewerb zur IMO
Wissenschaftszentrum
Ahrstraße 45
53175 Bonn

or:
Postfach 20 14 48
53144 Bonn

E-Mail:      info@bundeswettbewerb-mathematik.de (Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik, Auswahlwettbewerb zur IMO)
                 mo@mathe-wettbewerbe.de  (Mathematik-Olympiaden in Deutschland)

Internet:    http://www.bundeswettbewerb-mathematik.de/
                http://www.mathematik-olympiaden.de/
                http://www.imo2009.de/