- #1: Work Through Practice Problems. Putnam math exam questions aren’t quite like any other math questions. …
- #2: Take High-Level Math Classes. …
- #3: Participate in Practice Putnams. …
- #4: Create a Study Group.
How hard is the Putnam test?
The Putnam Competition is widely regarded as
one of the most difficult mathematics competitions in the world
. This year’s competition was taken by 4,638 students, of whom 1,145 achieved a score of zero out of a possible 120 points, and only 1,274 students scored more than 10 points.
Is Putnam difficult?
It’s the William Lowell Putnam Competition, a grueling six hour mathematics exam with
extremely difficult conceptual problems
in which the top math students at the world’s best universities compete in. The six hour exam is split into two sections, A and B both with six questions ranked easiest to hardest.
Is Putnam proof based?
A: It would be a very good idea to have taken MATH 2200 (Proofs) before attempting these problems, since
the entire Putnam exam is proof-based
. In the past, students without this course have often had trouble formally expressing their ideas.
What math is needed for Putnam?
The topics cover a range of material in undergraduate mathematics, but most problems require only
calculus
(MAT 295-296-397), linear algebra (MAT 331), and discrete mathematics (MAT 375).
Why is Putnam so difficult?
Putnam problems are expected to be hard in a particular way: they
should require ingenuity and insight
, but not the knowledge of any advanced material beyond the first or occasionally second year of undergraduate studies, and there should be a short solution so that, in principle, an infinitely clever person could …
Has anyone got a perfect score on Putnam?
The 2019 Putnam Fellows, listed in alphabetical order, are seniors Ashwin Sah and Kevin Sun, junior Yuan Yao, sophomore Shengtong Zhang, and first-year Daniel Zhu. … This is only the fifth time in Putnam’s history that a test
-taker
received a perfect score. Competitors were also ranked by participating institution.
What is the average Putnam score?
Summary of statistics: 4296 students took the exam, with an average score of
11.2
and a median score of 2, the highest these statistics have been for the past 10 years. The cutoffs were: Fellow: 101-120, N1: 92-99, N2: 85-91, H: 61-83, I: 60, II: 48.5-59, Top 500: 31-48.
How many times can you take the Putnam?
Please note, a student may participate in the official Putnam Competition at
most four times
. Generally, we discourage high school students from exhausting their eligibility. If you are not regularly enrolled as an undergraduate at an institution of higher education, then you are ineligible.
Is calculator allowed in Putnam?
Since
calculators are not allowed on the Putnam exam
, you should try to refrain from using one as much as possible for solving the homework problems. Although you may use a calculator to satisfy an idle curiosity here and there.
Who makes the Putnam exam?
The William Lowell Putnam Mathematics Competition is a North American math contest for college students, organized by
the Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
. Each year on the first Saturday in December, several thousand US and Canadian students spend 6 hours (in two sittings) trying to solve 12 problems.
What is the highest score on the Putnam?
The highest score on the six-hour exam was
114 out of a possible 120 points
. Cash prizes are awarded to the Putnam Fellows, the Elizabeth Lowell Putnam Prize winner, and the mathematics departments and student members of the highest ranked teams.
What is a good score on the Putnam exam?
The average score is
usually between 2 and 8
(1 problem completely corrrect = 10 points), and the top scorers often get 100+ points of 120 – which is ridiculously hard to do. The cutoff for the top 500 is usually between 20 and 40 points, judging by recent data.
What is the hardest math test in the world?
- The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) Remember the Maths Challenge? …
- The All Soul’s College Fellowship Examination. It’s tough getting into Oxford. …
- ‘Gaokao’, the Chinese National College Entrance Exam.
How do I get better at Putnam problems?
Putnam problems are expected to be hard in a particular way: they
should require ingenuity and insight
, but not the knowledge of any advanced material beyond the first or occasionally second year of undergraduate studies, and there should be a short solution so that, in principle, an infinitely clever person could …
