FIS takes on the World at Berkeley Math Tournament in Beijing
A challenging math competition organised by students from Berkeley
Fifteen of our brightest young minds recently embarked on an exciting academic adventure, travelling to Beijing to compete in the prestigious Berkeley Math Tournament (BMT). As Walter aptly described, "BMT is a maths competition where some rounds you collaborate with your team and some rounds where you challenge your own maths skills."
Organised by students from the renowned University of California, Berkeley (though this competition was held in China), the BMT is a challenging international competition that tests students' mathematical prowess across a wide range of disciplines.
The competition featured three main rounds:
The individual round, where students could choose a general round or two focus rounds (covering topics such as algebra, calculus, discrete mathematics, and geometry)
The team-based Power round, requiring collaborative problem-solving; as Rin explained, "The Power round consists of mostly proof questions based on the theme presented on that year"
And the exhilarating Guts round, a set-based challenge where teams progress through increasingly difficult questions.
Our team achieved impressive results!
Participants included talented Year 11 and Year 12 students, many from the Maths Analysis and Approaches Higher Level (AA HL) and Additional Mathematics classes.
- Walter, Ying, Terry, Rin, Sarah, and Leo secured a top 40% finish in the Guts round.
- Rin excelled in the General round, achieving a top 25% ranking
- Walter truly shone, securing a top 10% position (tied for 4th place in China and 9th globally) in the Calculus Focus round and a commendable top 40% result in Algebra.
An enriching and unforgettable experience
The BMT provided a valuable learning experience for all participants. As Alice shared, "We were quite depressed from solving problems and feeling beaten up by better teams, but we all enjoyed the hot pot meal on the first day." This poignant observation highlights the importance of perseverance and the ability to find joy in the learning process, even amidst setbacks.
Indeed, all students expressed a strong desire to participate again next year, highlighting the positive and engaging nature of the competition. As Rin noted, "We were all motivated into trying to win some medals and overall found the event fun."
The competition also offered valuable pedagogical insights. As Rin explained, "Some of the objectives of this trip were to reinforce our mathematical abilities through answering tough questions, it also helped us to think about how to approach certain problems differently and enhance our collaboration skills (through the team rounds)."
The trip was not without its lighter moments. Walter, with characteristic wit, "proved" that 9+10=21 (of course, it was a playful demonstration of a faulty mathematical proof). This lighthearted anecdote highlights the spirit of intellectual curiosity and playful exploration that characterised the BMT experience.
Furthermore, our school team brought an immensely lively spirit of sportsmanship to the closing ceremony, which was so well-received that we have been invited to return next year to continue to promote this exciting atmosphere!
Overall, the BMT Beijing expedition was an enriching and unforgettable experience for our students. It provided a unique opportunity for personal and academic growth, fostering a deeper understanding of mathematics and cultivating valuable life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and a global perspective.
