Mathematics Olympiad

This Olympiad is organised by the South African Mathematics Foundation, in conjunction with the South African Mathematical Society, Association for Mathematics Education of South Africa and the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns and is sponsored by Harmony Gold Mining Co. Ltd and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

First round, 19 March, 1 hour paper
The junior division consists of separate papers for grades 8 and 9 and the senior division of one paper for grades 10 to 12. Each paper consists of 20 questions with multiple-choice answers and learners have one hour to complete the paper. Learners who enter the competition receive a first round certificate.

Marking: The teachers themselves mark the answers. Each school is provided with the solutions. This ensures immediate feedback.

Second round, 23 May, 14:00 to 16:00
Learners who attain 50% and higher in the first round qualify for the second round. If nobody in a school obtained 50%, the best learner of a school will advance to the second round, providing that the learner(s) scored at least 40% in the first round. There are separate papers for the juniors and seniors. The grade 8 and 9 learners write the same paper. The learners have two hours to complete 20 questions with multiple-choice answers. Learners who participate in the second round receive a certificate.

Marking:The answers are marked by computer, in the SAMO office.

Third round, 6 September, 9:00 to 13:00
The 100 best senior and 100 best junior learners from the previous round qualify for the third round. There are separate papers for the juniors and seniors. Learners who participate in the third round receive a bronze medal and certificate. The best 10 learners per division receive their prizes at the annual award function.

Why should we enter?
• Mathematics competitions generate a lot of enthusiasm and curiosity for the subject.
• Learners will be exposed to problems that will test and improve their thinking, discovering, and validating of problem solving methods. In short, they will become better mathematicians.
• The Maths Olympiad is recognised as one of the best vehicles to identify the most talented learners in the country.
• Participation will result in a better quality of product from the schools and will put their learners in a position to reap higher achievement levels at university.
• The type of problems is similar to those used by universities as part of their entry level testing and therefore especially the grade 12 learners will gain valuable experience.

BURSARIES:
• Promising grade 12 learners from historically disadvantaged communities, who comply with at least the minimum requirements can apply for a bursary.