All About Math Olympiad Training & Questions

[CoffeeCat]

HyperKiasu:

Any parent got any idea how the centre trains speed of doing MO? think spead is also an important factor.....

the most important fundamental skill is comfortable mental arithmetic skills. The student better knows his/her 12 by 12 times table. Accuracy is as important as knowing how to do because there is no partialmarks awarded for working unless it's the second round of certain competitions.

[HyperKiasu]

CoffeeCat:

HyperKiasu:

Any parent got any idea how the centre trains speed of doing MO? think spead is also an important factor.....

the most important fundamental skill is comfortable mental arithmetic skills. The student better knows his/her 12 by 12 times table. Accuracy is as important as knowing how to do because there is no partialmarks awarded for working unless it's the second round of certain competitions.

thanks CoffeeCat for this. i was clueless about how answer is marked in MO...

[chixchix]

what is the right age to enrol a child in a Maths Olympiad centre for training ?

[CoffeeCat]

chixchix:

what is the right age to enrol a child in a Maths Olympiad centre for training ?

Anytime you feel your child is ready! Children's brain develop at a different rate. Some parents very eager to start for their children as young as p2. I recommend at least p3 or ideal p4. If the child is \"certified\" gifted by moe then p3 might be good time to start training because p4 gep kids are allowed to take the NMOS along with p5.
I can only say that one must tread carefully for p2 and p3 because at such a tender age the training might backfire and cause them to dislike maths.

[chixchix]

ok so that means I have to wait till they are P2 before I can enrol them ? Will they be learning what they do in school ?

[CoffeeCat]

chixchix:

ok so that means I have to wait till they are P2 before I can enrol them ? Will they be learning what they do in school ?

Different centres follow different syllabus. Most don't cater to lower primary kids. For stuff like fractions yes they might cover p3 stuff but for those topics which are not within school syllabus then nope.

Anyway instead of thinking that there's nothing one can do for their kids before p2-3,
I can only say before p2 let the kids do activities like building Lego (exercise the brain's creativity) and mazes, recreational drawing (exercise spatial ability) and easy puzzles. This will greatly improve the development of their general reasoning skills.

[cchew]

chixchix:

ok so that means I have to wait till they are P2 before I can enrol them ? Will they be learning what they do in school ?

if they are interested in reading, you can get murderous maths series for them to read.
http://www.murderousmaths.co.uk/

[Pen88n]

cchew:

chixchix:

ok so that means I have to wait till they are P2 before I can enrol them ? Will they be learning what they do in school ?

if they are interested in reading, you can get murderous maths series for them to read.
http://www.murderousmaths.co.uk/

Unless kid is very gifted, this Murderous Maths series is definitely too \"chim\" for P2 kids. Don't scare them with that :!:

[HyperKiasu]

Pen88n:

cchew:

[quote=\"chixchix\"]ok so that means I have to wait till they are P2 before I can enrol them ? Will they be learning what they do in school ?

if they are interested in reading, you can get murderous maths series for them to read.
http://www.murderousmaths.co.uk/

Unless kid is very gifted, this Murderous Maths series is definitely too \"chim\" for P2 kids. Don't scare them with that :!:[/quote]hehe, that is why the title of the book is \"murderous\"

[optimistforum]

Hi


SAP Publications have published the Olympiad Maths Trainer Books; 1,2 and 3 now and 4, 5 and 6 later.

Book 1 says ages 7-8, does that make it a P1 or P2 book? Can anyone clarify.

I ask this as DS1, here in UK, is in Year 2, which is same as your P1. In UK, Year 2 is ages 6 to 7. School finishes in two weeks, when DS1 will also be 7.

In September he starts Year 3 (ages 7 to 8 ), the equivalent of your P2, I think.

Quick answer would be much appreciated.