Passion inherited from parents who are math specialists.

The 2024 International Mathematics and Science Olympiad (IMSO) for students under 13 years old worldwide took place from October 1st to 6th in Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China. The competition attracted 300 contestants from 18 countries, including a Vietnamese delegation of 24 students (evenly divided between Mathematics and Science).

Nguyen Phuong Thao, a 7th-grade student from Olympia Inter-level School in Hanoi , has excelled as one of the six Vietnamese contestants to win a Gold medal in Mathematics. Remarkably, last year Thao won a Silver medal in Science at this prestigious international competition.

Although she only had two weeks to prepare for IMSO 2024, achieving the highest possible score was a long and arduous process for Phuong Thao.

Nguyen Phuong Thao won a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad. Photo: Tao Nga

Speaking to a reporter from Dan Viet newspaper, Nguyen Phuong Thao said: "Last year I took the Science exam, so this year I wanted to change subjects and try my hand at Math. I love Math because it's an interesting subject, with many problems having fascinating solutions. I also want to gain more experience."

At IMSO 2024, Phuong Thao had to overcome two challenging rounds with exams conducted entirely in English. In Round 1, contestants took an online exam, and the top 20 in each subject (Mathematics and Science) advanced to Round 2. Round 2 involved a face-to-face exam and written essays, from which the top 12 in each subject became national representatives for the IMSO international competition.

The math exam at the IMSO consists of three parts: Multiple Choice (60 minutes), Essay (90 minutes), and Exploration (120 minutes), revolving around knowledge of algebra, geometry, and combinatorics. For Phuong Thao, part 3 was the most difficult because the questions required candidates to provide multiple solutions to a single problem. This encouraged students to think in multiple dimensions to find the best solution.

With two weeks to prepare, Phuong Thao planned her revision and practiced the fastest and most time-efficient methods for solving problems. Her secret to acing exams was to start with the easier problems. For those she couldn't solve, Phuong Thao reviewed them multiple times until she mastered them. In addition, at school, Thao received dedicated support from her teachers, who found more math problems and helped her with her revision.

Phuong Thao's passion for mathematics stems from her parents. Both of them were students specializing in mathematics, so whenever Thao encountered a difficult problem, they would guide her. Most importantly, her mother always encouraged her to explore new things, gain new knowledge, and discover her own interests.

It is known that during her primary school years, Phuong Thao was encouraged by her mother to participate in many famous math competitions and achieved many outstanding results.

"My mother lets me study the subjects I love and lets me experience new things. I really enjoy studying Computer Science, Science, and subjects related to economics and law. Besides that, I'm passionate about several musical instruments like piano, guitar, and traditional Vietnamese instruments, reading science fiction in English, and watching cartoons," Thảo said.

Thao and her assistant homeroom teacher. Photo: Tao Nga

Commenting on her young student, teacher Dang Ngoc My Anh, vice-homeroom teacher of class 7H3, said: "Phuong Thao is a cheerful and energetic student. She is always proactive in her studies, assesses her own abilities, and has a passion for mathematics."

During the learning process, I always proactively discuss any parts I don't understand with my teachers. I study not just to pass exams, but to improve myself. During class, I am enthusiastic about the assigned tasks and am not afraid to share my opinions to make the lesson even better. Thao is different from her classmates because she has participated in many exams, so her problem-solving skills are faster, she has more experience, and she can implement solutions more quickly and effectively than her peers.

When I received the news that my child had won the gold medal, I was very happy and proud. I hope this will be a great motivation for my child to continue pursuing their passion."

Source: https://danviet.vn/nu-sinh-lop-7-o-ha-noi-gianh-huy-chuong-vang-toan-quoc-te-dam-me-tu-bo-me-chuyen-toan-20241011104912903.htm