PASB Achieves Record Participation and Medalists in Math Kangaroo Olympiad 2024

This year, PASB celebrated an incredible milestone in the Brazil Math Kangaroo Olympiad, achieving a personal record number of participants and awardees. Our students brought home 6 gold medals, 11 silver medals, 11 bronze medals, and 12 honorable mentions — a testament to their dedication and passion for mathematics.

The Math Kangaroo Olympiad, open to students from Year 3 (Elementary School) to Year 12 (High School), challenges participants with thought-provoking math problems that develop not only logical reasoning and problem-solving skills but also essential soft skills like teamwork, resilience, discipline, and time management. These competitions offer students an opportunity to grow both academically and personally.

Roberta R., PASB’s Brazilian Program Director, explains that these math challenges play a crucial role in fostering a love for learning. “This competition sparks and enhances students’ interest in mathematics. The focus on memory, concentration, and strategic thinking strengthens their academic growth and supports lifelong learning—a skill that’s essential in our rapidly evolving world.”

The increasing participation in PASB’s olympiad programs reflects a growing commitment to education. “Our students are becoming more engaged in their learning journeys,” Roberta says. “This engagement can lead to improved academic results and a richer, more fulfilling school experience.”

Advice from Our Gold Medalists

Curious about how to succeed in a math olympiad? We asked two of PASB’s gold medal winners from the 2024 Math Kangaroo Competition — Maria Eduarda L. (Y12) and Luca M. (Y6) — to share their tips for preparation and success.

For Luca, preparing for the competition meant practicing with previous test papers. “It’s all about logical thinking,” he says. “You need to get familiar with the test format and pay close attention to what each question is asking before you begin solving it!”

As a seasoned competitor with a long history of success, Maria Eduarda loves the challenge math and science olympiads. “It isn’t just about finding the value of x; it’s about thinking creatively and exploring different ways to solve a problem,” she explains. Like Luca, Maria Eduarda recommends practicing with past exams. “You can find this material easily on each competition’s website and it’s really useful.” Maria also encourages students to explore other olympiads beyond math. “In Brazil, there are competitions on topics like medical science, rocket-building, and even AI. I advise anyone interested in participating to just go for it!”

A Growing Tradition of Excellence

The success in the 2024 Math Kangaroo Olympiad is just one of many examples of PASB’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded, motivated students. As more students get involved in these competitions, they not only develop their academic abilities but also grow as thinkers and problem-solvers ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.