Mathematics & Science Competitions
Throughout the academic year, numerous competitions are held for students interested in pursuing their interests in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science. The competitions challenge students at a variety of levels of achievement in the different subjects. They may be administered at the local, provincial, national and international level. Beyond the challenges inherent in any competition, some of these activities are also opportunities to further apply the knowledge acquired in the courses of the program.
The main purpose of the competitions is to spur interest in science and mathematics and to develop students’ aptitude and ability through solving challenging problems. What happens before and after the competitions can have lasting educational value. Students' aptitudes are enhanced through practicing beforehand and most importantly, studying mathematics and science more intensely than one would normally do in school.
Most competitions are held during the winter semester. Below is a list of competitions currently available. Unless explicitly stated, all competitions can be taken by both first and second year cegep students.
Mathematics Competitions
To learn more, please contact Victor Gavrin, Coordinator.
1) Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge (COMC): This contest held in November is the only one administered in the fall term. Besides being an important competition in its own right, it also serves as a qualifying paper to many other competitions. Students receiving top scores in the COMC may be able to compete, by invitation only, in other competitions such as the CMO, APMO, USAMO and the IMO.
2) Concours de l'Association Mathématique du Québec (AMQ): This contest held in February is specifically targeted to Cégep students. Successful candidates are invited to a mathematics summer camp organized by a university.
3) American Mathematics Contest (AMC12): This contest is held in February. Successful candidates may receive some prizes, including plaques and pins, graphing calculators, math software and a subscription to Science Magazine. It is the qualifying paper for the AIME.
4) Euclid Contest: This contest held in April is administered by the University of Waterloo and may lead to an entrance scholarship at that university.
5) Canadian Mathematics Olympiad (CMO): Held in March, only by invitation based on the student's COMC result. It is considered an “honour” to be invited to write this competition, and hope to be invited to the USAMO and IMO.
6) Asia Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO): Held in March, only by invitation based on COMC result. It is considered an “honour” to be invited to write this competition, and hope to be invited to the USAMO and IMO.
7) American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME): Held in March, only by invitation based on AMC12 result. It is considered an “honour” to be invited to write this competition, and hope to be invited to the USAMO.
8) USA Mathematics Olympiad (USAMO): Held in April, this 9 hours long contest (four and a half hours on two consecutive days) is only given by invitation based on the AMC12/AIME results, or unofficially based on the COMC/CMO/APMO results. It is considered a “great honour” to be invited to write this competition, and hope to be invited to the IMO.
9) International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO): By invitation only, based on all of COMC/CMO/APMO/USAMO. Students are invited to form a national team and after a few weeks of training they are flown to the destination where the international competition will take place.
Physics Competitions
To learn more, please contact Jérémie Vinet, Coordinator.
1) Sir Isaac Newton Competition (SIN): This competition is usually held in the month of May. It may be a good idea to participate in this competition if you plan to apply for a scholarship in Physics at the University of Waterloo. It may also lead to an invitation to the IPhO.
2) Canadian Association of Physicists Competition (CAP): This competition is usually held in the month of April. A good result may yield an invitation to a Mathematics Summer Camp in Québec or to an invitation to the IPhO.
3) International Physics Olympiad (IPhO): By invitation only, based on the SIN and/or the CAP results. Students are invited to form a national team and after a few weeks of training they are flown to the destination where the international competition will take place.
Chemistry Competitions
To learn more, please contact Alex Vukov, Coordinator.
1) Québec Order of Chemists Competition (OCC): This competition is the qualifying paper for the IChO. It has two parts:
a) A set of multiple choice questions on General Chemistry I and II (college level).b) A set of development questions on various topics of General Chemistry I and
II and Organic Chemistry (college level).
2) Chem 13 Competition: A set of multiple choice questions on various aspects of General Chemistry (below college level) and on very basic Organic Chemistry (recognition of functional groups, simple reactions, etc.
3) International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO): By invitation only, based on the OCC result. A team is selected from the winners of the competition set by the Order of Chemists. This group will have challenging theoretical and experimental problems to solve.
Computer Science Competitions
To learn more, please contact George Fleischer, Coordinator.
Canadian Computing Competition (CCC): The contest is broken into 2 main contests:
Stage 1: Written at the College, typically at the end of February. This is a 3 hour contest composed of 5 questions (either at the Junior or Senior Level).
Stage 2: The top 20 (or so) Senior contestants from Stage 1 are invited to Stage 2, held at the University of Waterloo, in the early Spring (either April or May). This week-long event involves seminars, a contest (divided into two 3 hour components) as well as other extra-curricular activities.
The results of Stage 1 and Stage 2 are used to determine the Canadian Team members who participate in the International Olympiad of Informatics (IOI), held in a different country every year.
