In early August, while world-famous athletes were battling for places on the podium in the French capital, a much smaller European city was also hosting an Olympiad: Blagoevgrad in Bulgaria was the venue for the 2024 International Mathematics Competition for University Students – and the Brazilian representatives also took home medals.

The team fielded by Fundação Getulio Vargas’ School of Applied Mathematics (FGV EMAp) was made up of students Pablo Andrade, Jairon Henrique Batista, Luis Felipe Marques, Cleyton Vinicius dos Santos, João Pedro Viana Costa, João Vitor Alves Ferreira, Ramyro Correa and team leader Rodrigo Ribeiro, a master’s student. The team took three medals: a gold, won by Pablo, a silver, won by Jairon, and a bronze, won by Luis Felipe. Honorable mentions went to Cleyton, João Pedro, João Vitor and Ramyro.

The competition, which took place from August 6 to 11, is the largest international university mathematics Olympiad, attracting students from many renowned institutions around the world. This year, there were 401 participants, and there were 102 gold medalists, 82 silver medalists and 86 bronze medalists.

Tests

To receive a gold, silver or bronze medal, or an honorable mention, you need to do well in the two tests held at the event. The tests are held on two consecutive days, each containing five questions and lasting five hours. Each question asks you to demonstrate a statement or come up with the right answer. 

In general, the questions are in order of difficulty: the first ones are quicker and simpler, while the last ones are very complex and can take a long time to solve. In some cases, the most difficult question is solved completely by just one or two people. Each item is worth 10 points, and you can get any mark that is an integer between 0 and 10. Participants are divided into medalists (gold, silver and bronze), those who receive honorable mentions and those who receive a certificate of participation, according to the marks they get. For gold, you need to score 55% in the test, while for silver you need 43%, for bronze you need 33% and for an honorable mention you need 15%. 

In addition to academic achievements, the International Mathematics Competition for University Students also lets participants interact with high-profile corporate sponsors, such as Huawei, Pinely and Jane Street, which offer job and internship opportunities to outstanding students.

Students’ experience

Cleyton Vinicius dos Santos highlighted the importance of the classes, practice tests and group problem-solving sessions held with the collaboration of professors from FGV EMAp and other institutions. “I feel a sense of privilege and great responsibility. It’s a privilege to be able to represent an institution like FGV at a world mathematics competition,” he said, adding that participating in the competition was useful for his academic and professional training.

Luis Felipe Marques, a medal winner in the competition, emphasized the crucial role of the Olympic Club, created by FGV EMAp to intensify the students’ preparation. “Our preparation schedule was very intense. Last year, the school set up the Olympic Club, which was essential for preparing students from both FGV EMAp itself and other universities in Rio de Janeiro,” he said.

About the International Mathematics Competition for University Students 

The International Mathematics Competition for University Students is a global content aimed at university mathematics students, offering a unique opportunity to get involved in high-level mathematical challenges. Held annually, the event brings together students from all over the world to compete in areas such as algebra, analysis, geometry and combinatorics. As well as promoting academic excellence, the event highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion, creating a welcoming and respectful environment for all participants, regardless of their background or beliefs.