# How do I get started in the IMO ?

hello everyone, I always was good at maths and I'm the first in my city's olympiad (10th grade), but since I want to get to IMO and break the record, I need extra help. Is there anything I must learn that will help me improve my problem solving aptitude , or any rule that might be useful? is there any book I must read? thx

Note by Ali Talibi
5 years, 6 months ago

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El, judging by your level, I would suggest that you solidify your foundations. Review the problems that you are unable to answer, and read the solutions posted the week after and learn from how other students applied the Key Techniques to solve the problem.

Staff - 5 years, 6 months ago

wouuuah. I wish I could be in their team. :O

- 5 years, 6 months ago

Well,the record is a dream team from USA where all the six members got 42. :D

- 5 years, 6 months ago

What do you mean break the record? You are too old to break any record allready. You can still become the youngest person to win an Abel prize if it makes you happy.

But if you want to know about training material you can always read the books on aops. You can read George E Andrews on number theory. Cauchy Schwartz master class on inequalities and van lint on combinatorics. (the last book is really tough but it is also really good, i plan on reading it during the next semester.

Also, the imo has all of its exams online. So if you are feeling up to the challenge, you can try them out. Remember: mathematics is not a spectators sport.

- 5 years, 6 months ago

In competitions there are two aspects: maths and redaction. You have to be good at solving the problems, and for that the best thing to do is trying a lot of different problems, mainly problems of the competition you aim for. However, you must also be good at getting your ideas to paper, which can be rather difficult for some of us (I personally have trouble drawing understandable shapes when solving geometry problems), so you should also practice redacting your solutions. In this aspect, I suggest asking correctors/teachers how could you improve your redaction.

- 5 years, 6 months ago

Ya

- 5 years, 6 months ago

oki thx I'll check the books. and I already downloaded all the previous test and by breaking the record, I mean I want 42point .I think the top score untill nnow is 38 point

- 5 years, 6 months ago

ok thx. but is there any "key technique" that might be useful (I already studied key techniques that are in the blog)? or some book that may help? thx again

- 5 years, 6 months ago

I want to answer all IMO's questions correctly. But that's nearly impossible

- 5 years, 6 months ago

Well I m also tryin' for the same

- 5 years, 6 months ago