Mathematics
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Singapore International School Mathematics Competition (SISMC) 2005 Contributed by Peck Yang, HS Student As participants of the first annual Singapore International School Mathematics Competition (SISMC) found out, math competitions require more than brains. With techno music blasting out of the speakers, the “energizer” team round of the competition found competitors sprinting in circles to the scoring desk and back frantically trying to answer 25 questions in 40 minutes — truly “energizing” the competitors. However, this exciting spectacle was merely a part of the four-hour event on November 12th where sixty-four students from eight various international schools in Singapore gathered at SAS for SISMC 2005.
From L-R: Shashank Bharadwaj, Jong Chan Kim, Zubin Chand, Chris Chee, Hyun Soo Kim, Si Hyun Kim, Joon Park, Yun Hoi Koo
SISMC is an off-shoot of the larger SouthEast Asian Math Competition (SEAMC), an event which schools around South East Asia, including SAS, attend. Jointly organized by SAS and UWCSEA, SISMC was organised by SAS math teacher Dr. Kett, UWC teachers and student volunteers. In fact, SAS Math Club members created all of the problems for the individual round and the relay round; likewise, UWC students submitted the team round questions. SISMC contained three rounds: a team relay round, an individual round, and a team “energizer round.” Much of it student run, the event saw the vigorous SAS student volunteers transformed into graders and runners. But there were bumps in the road during the competition. Jason Zaman, Math Club President, noted that “there were a few last minute problems but in the end all worked out.”
SISMC culminated in an awards ceremony where prizes were bountiful. Over 34 prizes were given out! Ranging from math books to TI-84 calculators, the prizes were perfect for this inquisitive group of young mathematicians. In the end, the SAS High School team emerged as the overall winner followed by a UWC team and the SAS Middle School team. Congratulations to the SAS participants: Joon Park, Hyun Soo Kim, Shashank Bharadwaj, Zubin Chand, Chris Chee, Jong Chan Kim, Si Hyun Kim, Yun Hoi Koo! Hyun Soo Kim, the top individual scorer, remarked, “I liked it how all the international schools in Singapore came together to compete in math.” It is hoped in the future that SISMC will become an annual event where young mathematicians can showcase their skills in a competitive environment.
SAS Places 21st in National Math Contest SAS has some of the best high school mathematicians, as demonstrated by their 21st place finish in the 2005 Fall Startup Event, a national (U.S.) mathematics contest administered by National Assessment and Testing. SAS math teacher, James Kett, prepared the student for the competition, in which they worked furiously for thirty minutes, racing to answer one hundreds problems in a variety of mathematical topics. With so many questions and so little time, competitors must not only have strong mathematical skills, but also be able to quickly decide which problems to solve and which to skip. SAS high school student, Leon Li placed 23rd in the 12th grade division. Other top SAS students were Eng Seng Ng, Ji Young Choi and Ashley Xu who along with Leon Li contributed to the SAS finishing 21st place overall.