Young Mathematician Triumphs at International Olympiad

Prior to securing a gold medal in Mathematics at this year’s International Mathematics and Science Olympiad (IMSO), Nguyen Phuong Thao had already earned a silver medal in Science at the same event last year.

IMSO is an international competition for students under 13 focused on Mathematics and Science. In this year’s contest, Vietnam sent a team of 24 students, comprising 12 participants in both subjects. Among them was Thao, a 7th grader from Olympia Schools, who was one of just six Vietnamese to achieve a gold medal in Mathematics. This marked Thao’s second medal at the Olympiad.

“While I regret some of my geometry answers, I’m thrilled to have upgraded my medal,” Thao reflected.

From a young age, Thao exhibited a natural aptitude for learning and a strong curiosity for new subjects. Her parents nurtured her diverse interests, encouraging participation in various competitions to build her confidence and enhance her knowledge.

As she explored her preferences, Thao discovered a keen interest in Mathematics. “Math has so many intriguing facets. I enjoy contemplating different approaches to solve complex problems. Moreover, it’s relevant to real-life situations, like calculating bank interest,” she shared.

Thao’s passion drove her to engage in numerous international Math contests throughout her primary education, consistently winning medals. Her father played an essential role in her Math journey.

“My dad studied Math, so we often tackle challenging problems together. Having him around makes learning Math even more enjoyable,” she said.

Despite her love for Mathematics, Thao ventured into Science at last year’s IMSO for new challenges, earning a silver medal but feeling slightly let down. This year, she returned to Math, confident in her skills and eager to change her medal’s color.

Due to the IMSO being scheduled two months earlier than usual, Thao’s preparation was intense and brief—only five weeks for the national level and two for the international stage. Dang Ngoc My Anh, Thao’s coach and vice headteacher of her class, noted their shared determination to excel in the competition.

Geometry was particularly challenging for Thao, so My Anh assisted her not only in algebra techniques but also in overcoming hurdles in geometry.

Following her success in the national round, Thao was selected to represent Vietnam in the international competition in China. During the two weeks of rigorous preparation, she received help from three additional Math teachers. Every evening, Thao dedicated 3-4 hours to self-study, often working into the early hours.

During her preparation, Thao particularly enjoyed the emotional highs and lows that came with solving difficult problems. “It’s exhilarating to face a great challenge with multiple solutions, or the relief when finally solving a tough problem,” she expressed.

Thao felt a similar mix of emotions during the international contest. The Math exam at IMSO was divided into three parts: multiple-choice (60 minutes), written answers (90 minutes), and exploration (120 minutes), with topics including algebra, geometry, and combinatorics.

Thao found the third section particularly hard, as it required contestants to come up with several solutions for a single problem, fostering multi-faceted thinking.

Not overly confident about her performance, it wasn’t until she stood on the podium to receive her gold medal that she could finally relax, feeling proud of her accomplishments.

My Anh, who supported Thao throughout the preparation, believed in her potential to secure a medal. When she found out Thao had the highest score, the young instructor was filled with joy.

My Anh highlighted Thao’s competition experience that has helped develop her quick thinking and problem-solving skills. “Thao quickly generates solutions, willingly takes on assignments, and proactively adheres to teacher plans. For instance, she times herself while practicing and reflects on her abilities. When feeling unsure about a topic, she asks her teachers for additional problems to strengthen her grasp,” My Anh commented.

With these impressive results, My Anh hopes that Thao will continue to pursue her love for Mathematics in the future.

Vietnam has participated in IMSO since 2014. The 21st IMSO was held from October 1 to 6 in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, bringing together 300 contestants from 18 countries.

This year, all 24 Vietnamese student participants won awards, with nine of them securing gold medals, placing Vietnam second overall, just behind Singapore. In Mathematics, Vietnam earned a shared first place with Singapore, while in Science, they secured second place after the same country.

Thuy Nga