General Advice

Each competition is different in kind. Problem solving styles must adjust accordingly if scoring high is the objective. However, some general advice can be offered.

• Like with any standardized test, it is best to focus on problems that you can handle rather than ones that are unfamiliar to you. The timing may vary, but if something feels hopeless, the chances are that you aren't prepared to work on it. Stick to your guns.
• Drink water and don't rush! Getting anxious or exhausted is bad in a competition setting of any kind, and your ability to focus for several hours is hard to keep up without some precautions for your health.
• There are generally no calculators allowed, so don't feel like you aren't allowed to check your sanity. No one will see your scratch work but you.
• Don't underestimate the amount of time needed to write up your work clearly. You generally won't know if you've lost points because something that was correct was unclear, but it doesn't hurt to play it safely.