About BAMO
BAMO exam questions and scoring criteria are authorized for use by the Bay Area Math Olympiad (BAMO). BAMO is a highly renowned math competition in the San Francisco Bay Area, co-founded by Zvezdelina Stankova and Paul Zeitz of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI), and organized jointly by the Berkeley Math Circle (BMC) and other math organizations. Known for its depth and challenge, BAMO attracts many Olympiad contestants and Math Circle participants. The competition covers middle and high school levels, with two divisions: BAMO-8 and BAMO-12, each consisting of 7 problems to be solved within a 4-hour time frame. It typically takes place on the last Tuesday or Wednesday of February each year and serves as the annual highlight of mathematical activities in the Bay Area's middle and high schools. This competition often attracts numerous Olympiad math contestants, making achieving good results in this competition a goal for many math enthusiasts. TWMC's invitation to participate in BAMO is a significant honor. Our aim is to provide Taiwanese students with the opportunity to interact with other math enthusiasts in the United States. As this competition is frequently attended by Olympiad math contestants, it can also serve as a pre-competition for challenging the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). We hope that students who enjoy tackling challenging problems and Math Circle participants will have the opportunity to challenge themselves alongside top American math enthusiasts at this prestigious event, BAMO.
Rules of BAMO
Group:
There are two categories: BAMO-8 and BAMO-12.
Both exams consist of 7 questions to be completed within a time limit of 4 hours. Questions in BAMO-8 are labeled A, B, C, D, E in increasing order of difficulty. BAMO-12 questions are numbered 1-5, also in increasing order of difficulty. Generally, the last three questions of BAMO-8 overlap with the first three questions of BAMO-12, meaning that problems C, D, and E in BAMO-8 correspond to questions 1, 2, and 3 in BAMO-12.
Grade Requirements:
· BAMO-8: Middle school second grade and below.
· BAMO-12: High school second grade and below.
Eligibility and Fees:
※ Registration Requirements: (Choose one)
School Setting Examination Centers:
Schools set up examination centers and appoint invigilators. Participation fee is NT$2000 per person.
Individual Registration: NT$3600 per person.
Membership in TWMC is required, accompanied by a personal academic resume (for TWMC membership rules, please refer to this link).
Recognition in other mathematics competitions (proof required).
Fee waivers are available upon request. Please contact TWMC for details.
TWMC members receive a reduced fee of NT$2800 per person.
Subsidies for disadvantaged students: Fee waivers are available upon school recommendation or with proof of need. Please contact TWMC for details.
Cancellation Policy:
If participants need to cancel their registration during the registration period, please contact TWMC Association by phone at least one month in advance (Phone: 04-2243-1519) to complete the cancellation procedure and ensure the protection of rights.
No refunds will be given for last-minute cancellations after the registration deadline.
Competition Details:
Each question is worth 7 points, with a maximum total score of 35 points for each exam. The median scores for BAMO-8 and BAMO-12 are 13 and 15 points, respectively. The first two tables show the distribution of scores for each question, and the third table shows the corresponding rankings for given scores. For example, in BAMO-8, 123 people scored above 15 points.
Exam Regulations:
All mobile phones must be turned off and placed out of sight.
All calculators must be placed out of sight.
Photography is strictly prohibited inside the exam venue except by designated photographers.
Discussion during the exam is prohibited.
Passing of papers during the exam is not allowed.
Invigilators must remain within the area they are monitoring during the exam.
Invigilators are not permitted to answer any technical questions. If there are any questions regarding the exam, invigilators are only responsible for providing scratch paper and pencils, distributing exam papers, and collecting answer sheets.
Exam Content:
BAMO-8 questions include logic, basic geometry, fundamental counting, and some algebra problems. BAMO-12 questions may involve more advanced algebra, such as complex numbers, possibly trigonometry, and more advanced geometric and combinatorial (formally, combinatorial) concepts. The use or involvement of calculus is not a problem.
BMO Q&A
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BAMO Exam Content:
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BAMO-8 exam content includes questions from logic, simple geometry, basic counting, and some algebra.
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BAMO-12 exam content includes advanced algebra and geometry.
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Difficulty of the Questions:
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The key word is "questions." Unlike exercises, BAMO emphasizes math problems that require thinking and willingness to solve. We aim for BAMO to include challenging and interesting questions. While some questions may be difficult at first, many participants make significant progress once they solve the first question.
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Scoring Method:
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Each question is worth 7 points, with a maximum total score of 35 points. Perfect scores are rare; perhaps one or two participants achieve this. Typically, students score around 7 points per question.
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Why Participate If the Exam Is So Difficult and I Won't Win?
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"Winning" is not the focus! BAMO is an enjoyable challenge. Spending four hours deeply thinking about math, even for those who love math, is a new experience. You will meet others who share your interests.
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How to Prepare for the BAMO Competition?
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I am a complete beginner. How can I perform as well as others?
There's both good news and bad news. The bad news is that, like any meaningful endeavor, mastering problem-solving in mathematics takes time and effort. The good news is that all you need is a passion for mathematics; there are plenty of resources available to help you learn more, such as Math Circles.
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Tell me more about Math Circles! Math Circles are special mathematics clubs that provide problem-solving courses in a friendly, inclusive environment, usually led by mathematicians who are passionate about math. There are hundreds of Math Circles across the United States, with the Berkeley Math Circle (BMC) being the most famous, featuring instructors mostly from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). BMC members not only help establish Math Circles in many universities in the US, but also assist in establishing many Math Circles abroad, with Taiwan Math/Science Circle (TWMC) being one of BMC's members assisting Taiwan.
Members of Math Circles typically engage in activities and exchange ideas with members of other Math Circles. The BAMO exam is jointly created with the Berkeley Math Circle, thus attracting many Math Circle members to participate. However, this doesn't mean that the Berkeley Math Circle or any other Math Circle particularly emphasizes competitions. Different Math Circles have different cultures, but they all share a common love for mathematics and collaboration in problem-solving.
How to sign up for BAMO
Registration Methods
On-site Registration: Taiwan Math/Science Circle Association (TWMC) Registration Office in Taichung: 2F, No. 390, Beitun Road, Beitun District, Taichung City, Taiwan Phone: (04) 2243-1519
Postal Registration: Taiwan Math/Science Circle Association (TWMC) Phone Registration: (04) 2243-1519
LINE Registration: Search for TWMC official LINE ID: @386uvkfn
Online Form Registration: Please click here to access the registration form: https://forms.gle/oNPSysYZoz4fGX7n9
School Registration: Please use the group registration form. Click here to download the group registration form. After filling it out, please fax or email it to TWMC for record-keeping. Fax: 04-2243-4727 Email: twmc.adm@gmail.com If you have any questions, please contact the Taiwan Math/Science Circle Association (TWMC) at (04) 2243-1519. Contact person: Ms. Wang.
Reminder: After completing the online registration form, please verify your successful registration by contacting TWMC's LINE service line (LINE ID: 0422434986). Thank you.
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