Canadian Mathematical Olympiad

The Canadian Mathematical Olympiad[1] (CMO) is Canada's top mathematical problem-solving competition. It is run by the Canadian Mathematical Society. The Olympiad plays several roles in Canadian mathematics competitions, most notably being Canada's main team selection process for the International Mathematical Olympiad.

Qualification

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Approximately 70–80 people qualify for and are invited to write the CMO each year. Students must not have written the Putnam Competition and must meet age, full-time school enrollment, and Canadian Citizenship (or permanent residency) requirements. Students do not have to be living in Canada, as long as they are Canadian citizens.

Participants are invited to write the CMO usually because of excellent results at the Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge (COMC).[2] Approximately the top 50 students from the COMC earn invitations to the CMO. A Qualifying Repêchage[3] (CMOQR) is offered as a "second chance" for the next highest 50–75 students from the COMC. Approximately 20–25 students are chosen from the Repêchage and are then invited to the CMO.

Top students in certain other top Canadian competitions may also be considered for invitations. The organizing committee may also invite participants based on their earlier CMO experience or their performance at APMO or USAMO competitions.

Competition Layout

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The competition is three hours long. There are five questions on the CMO, each worth seven marks, for a total of 35 points. Each problem is graded the same way as it is on the IMO.

From 1969 to 1972, the CMO was ten questions long. In the 1970s, the exam length changed a number of times before finally stabilizing to five questions in 1979.

The CMS does not formally disclose its marking procedure, however in the past the following model was used:

  • Two graders grade the questions. If there is a dispute between the graders by more than one point, they will reconsider the problem until a consensus is reached.
  • If no work was done or very insignificant progress was made, the answer is graded zero.
  • If significant progress is made, marks of 1, 2, or 3 will be given, depending on the amount progress toward solving the problem.
  • Marks of 4 or 5 are given for answers that are essentially correct, but are poorly presented or lack showing of work in some areas.
  • If the solution has a minor error that can be trivially fixed, it is given a 6.
  • An absolutely perfect solution is awarded a mark of 7. This might be given if there is an error in the writing that does not affect the solution in any meaningful way.

Awards

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There are several different types of rewards for doing well on the CMO:

  • Six to eight of the top CMO participants are selected each year for Math Team Canada[4] They are trained and sent to represent Canada at the International Mathematical Olympiad, the pinnacle of high school mathematical competition.
  • For students who write in Canada, cash prizes are awarded to the top performers. If there are no "ties", then $2000 goes to 1st place, $1500 to 2nd, $1000 to 3rd, and $500 for Honourable Mention (typically there are up to six people receiving Honourable Mention). When there are ties, prize money is pooled upwards (e.g. a tie for first means the co-winners share $3500 and no one gets "2nd").
  • The top student in Canada is recognized as the CMO Champion and his or her name is engraved on the CMO Championship Cup.
  • Top students are identified on the official web site to certify their high performance

Winners

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Year Winner City School
2024 Warren Bei West Vancouver, BC Rockridge Secondary School
2023 Warren Bei West Vancouver, BC Rockridge Secondary School
2022 Zixiang Zhou London, ON London Central Secondary School
2021 Warren Bei Vancouver, BC Homeschooled
2020 Thomas Guo Exeter, NH Phillips Exeter Academy
2019 William Zhao Richmond Hill, ON Richmond Hill High School
2018 Victor Rong Toronto, ON Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute
2017 Thomas Guo Markham, ON William Berczy Public School
2016 Kai Sun London, ON A.B. Lucas Secondary School
2015 Alexander Whatley Spring, TX North Houston Academy of Science and Mathematics
2014 Zhuoqun (Alex) Song Exeter, NH Phillips Exeter Academy
2013 Calvin Deng Cary, NC NC School of Science & Math
2012 Calvin Deng Cary, NC NC School of Science & Math
2011 Mariya Sardarli Edmonton, AB Strathcona Composite High School
2010 Alex Song Windsor, ON Vincent Massey Secondary School
2009 Jonathan Schneider Toronto, ON University of Toronto Schools
2008 Chen Sun London, ON A.B. Lucas Secondary School
2007 Yan Li Scarborough, ON Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute
2006 Dong Uk (David) Rhee Edmonton, AB McNally Composite High School
2005 Peng Shi Agincourt, ON Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate Institute
2004 Yufei Zhao Don Mills, ON Don Mills Collegiate Institute
2003 János Kramár Toronto, ON University of Toronto Schools
2002 Tianyi Han Toronto, ON Woburn Collegiate Institute
2001 Daniel Brox West Vancouver, BC Sentinel Secondary School
2000 Daniel Brox West Vancouver, BC Sentinel Secondary School
1999 Jimmy Chui North York, ON Earl Haig Secondary School
1998 Adrian Chan Toronto, ON Upper Canada College
1997 Sabin Cautis North York, ON Earl Haig Secondary School
1996 Byung-Kyu Chun Edmonton, AB Harry Ainlay Composite High School
1995 Donny Cheung Winnipeg, MB St. John's-Ravenscourt School
1994 Kevin Purbhoo Toronto, ON Northern Secondary School
1993 Naoki Sato Toronto, ON University of Toronto Schools
1992 J.P. Grossman Toronto, ON Northern Secondary School
1991 Ian Goldberg (tie) Toronto, ON University of Toronto Schools
J.P. Grossman (tie) Toronto, ON Northern Secondary School
1990 J.P. Grossman Toronto, ON Northern Secondary School
1989 Eli Michael Lapell Scarborough, ON Woburn Collegiate Institute
1988 Gurraj Sangha Windsor, ON Hon.W.C. Kennedy Collegiate Institute
1987 Ravi D. Vakil Etobicoke, ON Martingrove Collegiate Institute
1986 Ravi D. Vakil Etobicoke, ON Martingrove Collegiate Institute
1985 Minh Tue Vo Montréal, QC École Secondaire St-Luc
1984 Minh Tue Vo Montréal, QC École Secondaire St-Luc
1983 William James Rucklidge Toronto, ON Toronto French School
1982 Alastair Rucklidge Toronto, ON Toronto French School
1981 David W. Ash Thunder Bay, ON Fort William Collegiate Institute
1980 John J. Chew, III Toronto, ON University of Toronto Schools
1979 W. Ross Brown Gloucester, ON Ashbury College
1978 Michael Albert Penetanguishene, ON Penetanguishene Secondary School
1977 Igor Rivin Windsor, ON Vincent Massey Secondary School
1976 Rajiv Gupta Thunder Bay, ON Sir Winston Churchill C.V.I.
1975 Patrick Smith (tie) Montreal, QC Monkland High School
James Williams (tie) Ottawa, ON Merivale High School
1974 James Williams Ottawa, ON Merivale High School
1973 Alan Listoe (tie) Saskatoon, SK Aden Bowman Collegiate
Luc St-Louis (tie) Montréal, QC CEGEP de Maisonneuve
1972 Donald T. Kersey Hamilton, ON Hill Park Secondary School
1971 Bruce Neilson Vancouver, BC Point Grey Secondary School
1970 John Spouge Vancouver, BC St. George's School
1969 Karl Morin-Strom (né Karl Strom) Sault Ste-Marie, ON Sir James Dunn Secondary School

See also

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References

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