Malaysia once again proved that they are an academic powerhouse. Just in 2020, the country bagged nine awards in the Math Olympiads held in Tokyo, proving that they place high in crafting globally-performing students and future professionals in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Shaping an Olympiad-level student does not follow one strict process. It rather boils down to having healthy study habits, rigorous learning, and immense exposure that challenge and encourage students to go beyond their limitations. This is simpler said than done. Most time, academic institutions are not enough to bring out your child’s potential, especially in Math which is rapidly proving its worth in modern society. Whether your child is just about to start this journey or already amidst it, every minute is crucial to crafting them toward their full potential, so leaving them to the right institution is extremely important. Given rightly-suited resources and practices, anyone can be Malaysia’s next Math Olympiad delegate and be the best Math wizard in the world.
Math Olympiad
Math Olympiad, in simple terms, is an Olympic game for academics. In ancient times, the Olympic games are comprised of competitions that challenge individuals in sports, music, and literature. In the present, this idea is revived through the regular conduct of Olympic games joined by countries all over the world. The academic field is nowhere left out.
Different academic subjects produce their own Olympiads, including Science, Biology, Chemistry, Astrology, and of course, Math. The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is a global Mathematical competition for primary and high school students. Through the sponsorship of members of the International Mathematical Olympiad Foundation (IMOF), the land of Romania witnessed the first IMO in 1959, and from then has been held annually and joined by representatives of more than 100 countries. In fact, in 2011, the monster company Google even donated €1 million to the IMO for “educational and scientific pursuits” and in recognition of Math’s contribution to the modernization of societies.
As such, IMO Malaysia has established the International Mathematical Olympiad National Selection Test (IMONST), an annual nationwide competition that’s goal is not only to find the cream-of-the-crop delegate for the country but also to encourage young Malaysians to chase academic excellence, especially Math that is rapidly becoming more relevant than ever. They also hold Olimpiad Matematik Kebangsaan (OMK), an annual math competition.
Who can join?
The IMO-Malaysia adheres that IMONST is “open to all everywhere: from primary school to pre-U students” as key criteria are only to be a Malaysian citizen, attending school in Malaysia, and be under 20 years old and not a university student at the time of the IMO 2023. The organization also shares sample papers for parents to gauge the difficulty of the competition and its suitability for their kids. While IMO recommends students who are 11 years old and above to join the competition, this age is no requisite for a kid who is destined to be Malaysia’s next Math wizard.
Why join?
Joining a competition like the IMO prompts students to challenge themselves on learning in an outstanding environment under the mentorship of elite teachers and experts. Exposure to such experience would drive their eagerness to learn and be at par with the level of excellence that they witness among others. It would not only push them to work harder but would also build their confidence as part of the best academic community in the country. When students gradually recognize their capabilities and interests, this is an important factor as they venture through their potential, test the waters on their interests, and decide on which path to pursue in the future.
In fact, the IMO-Malaysia noted that the 78 Malaysians who represented the country throughout the years are now on remarkable paths toward success. Many are current undergraduates in top universities in the world such as the University of Cambridge, University of Michigan, and the University of Oxford, studying various fields not only in STEM but also arts. Some are even successful professionals now, and all of them recommend joining the IMO as well.
The 6 Best Math Olympiad Coaching Classes in Malaysia
Ensuring that your child is equipped with the right foundation of learning and healthy study habit is already a big step towards making them an Olympiad-level student. To help them achieve this, here are the six best Math Olympiad coaching classes available in Malaysia:
Number: 012-9300563 / 03-41437672
Address: No. 102-2 Jalan 2/23A, Off Jalan Genting Klang, Taman Danau Kota, 53300 Setapak, Kuala Lumpur
Kangaroo Math specializes in training beginners for Mathematical competitions like Math Olympiads. They believe that school Math is not enough for people who have a genuine interest in the subject. They offer onsite programs that expose students to training and questions that are different and more challenging compared to that in regular schools. Their course teaches four topics: Number theory, Combinatorics, Algebra, and Geometry. This 2-day program costs RM150 per student and is conducted from 10 AM to 4 PM. Training dates are to be updated. They also hold Kangaroo Math, their own annual math competition for Malaysians which is set to begin in May 2023.
Number: +60 12-216 1877
Address: 3A-7 Dataran Pelengi Utama, Jalan Masjid, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Teacher Kuah Maths Olympiad Training Centre is a Malaysian-based teaching provider that offers programs to aspiring Math Olympiad competitors in countries like Malaysia, Australia, Hongkong, and Singapore. Under the leadership of its founder Teacher Kuah, a group of Math teachers works together to train students for the IMO and to equip teachers with the necessary skills and competencies of an effective IMO trainer. They also offer programs that focus on other competitions such as the Kangaroo Math Competition and Science Olympiads.
My Private Tutor is a third-party website that connects students to private tutors of their preference. This is also based in Malaysia and is perfect for those who are finding tutors in Kuala Lumpur. My Private Tutor has a pool of qualified teachers with outstanding credentials and experiences in their fields of expertise. You can also customize their search engine for Olympiad exam preparations.
My Eye Level provides two courses: basic arithmetic and critical thinking math. Their learning methods can be either offline or online, depending on the preferences of the students. Upon signing up on their website, applicants will also receive free learning materials. They also offer Eye Level Play Math, a program that helps preschoolers build their mathematical foundation at an early age. To register, you may find the nearest center on their website and contact them.
Website: http://www.anonymouschristian.org/
Address: Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Jonathan Ramachandran is a Malaysia-based freelance private tutor with expertise in primary and secondary Math Olympiad competitions. He started teaching Math to students in 2017, and until now continuously provides training to aspiring Math Olympiad delegates. He offers online weekly group classes for free. But he also offers paid one-on-one Zoom classes that use different and upgraded materials than the formerly mentioned one.
Brilliant is an online platform that offers high-quality training in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Their Math courses include basic mathematics, arithmetic, geometry, and others that are specifically designed to prepare students for competitions like the IMO and Mathematical Kangaroo. This platform caters to people of all ability levels, so they have simple equations that suit beginners and complex problems for advanced learners who wish to strengthen their reasoning and IQ further. This is an excellent way to prepare them for the extremely challenging questions in the Math Olympiads.
In Brilliant, parents may also opt to avail of Contest Math I, a 68-lesson course that consists of fundamental topics necessary for numerous math competitions. This includes Algebra, Geometry, Combinatorics, and Number Theory. It comes with bulks of practice tests that give students hands-on experience in guided problem-solving, which is essential for their holistic understanding of the topics at hand.
Each course follows a well-structured system starting with a diagnostic test to review the basic knowledge needed for the course. Then this is followed by quizzes that are strategically arranged to ignite Mathletes’, as the platform calls, interest in the said subject. Since Brilliant values students’ pacing, its courses are designed so Mathletes face questions one step harder than the previous. Such a technique encourages them to constantly aim for higher-level equations without losing the motivation to learn. At the end of this course, students are expected to be equipped with a top-notch grasp of foundational math lessons. After this, they can also move to the more advanced Contest Math II which exposes them to Olympiad-level equations rarely covered in schools and private academies.
Since this is an online platform, Brilliant gives students the conduciveness of learning at home and with their families. This platform also relieves parents’ concerns by ensuring that their kids receive an outstanding quality education. For a low price of RM45, your child can get one month of unlimited access to all courses in Brilliant. This can go lower to RM31 per month if availed through their annual premium package. They even offer a 7-day free trial so you can gauge its efficiency beforehand.
And there we have the six best Math Olympiad coaching classes in Malaysia. We hope you’ll have a good time going through them and deciding which platform works best for your child’s learning. Whether onsite or online, whether your child is only starting or already in the middle of this journey, at the end of the day, the best coaching class would be the one that succeeds to ignite your child’s interest in pursuing high-level holistic learning and opens the door towards making them qualify for Math Olympiads.
