Canadian Mathematical Olympiad

The Canadian Mathematical Olympiad (CMO), is, as the name suggests, Canada's top mathematical problem-solving competition. It is run by the Canadian Mathematical Society and sponsored by Sun Life Financial. The Olympiad plays several roles in Canadian mathematics competitions, most notably being Canada's main team selection process for the International Mathematical Olympiad.

Approximately 70 to 80 people qualify for and are invited to write the CMO each year. Students must not have written the Putnam Competition and must meet age, full-time school enrollment, and Canadian Citizenship (or permanent residency) requirements. Students do not have to be living in Canada, as long as they are Canadian citizens (although only those in Canada are eligible for cash prizes and the championship cup - 2016 change).

Participants are invited to write the CMO usually because of excellent results at the Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge (COMC). Approximately the top 50 students from the COMC earn invitations to the CMO. A Qualifying Repêchage (CMOQR) is offered as a "second chance" for the next highest 50 - 75 students from the COMC. About 10-15 students are chosen from the Repêchage and are then invited to the CMO.

Top students in certain other top Canadian competitions may also be considered for invitations. The organizing committee may also invite participants based on their earlier CMO experience or their performance at APMO or USAMO competitions.

The competition is three hours long. There are five questions on the CMO, each worth seven marks, for a total of 35 points. Each problem is graded the same way as it is on the IMO.

From 1969 to 1972, the CMO was ten questions long. In the 1970s, the exam length changed a number of times before finally stabilizing to five questions in 1979.

The CMS does not formally disclose its marking procedure, however in the past the following model was used:

There are several different types of rewards for doing well on the CMO:

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