Cornell Math Competitions Information

If you are interested in receiving competition information, please send an email to math-putnam-l-request@cornell.edu with subject join.

Practice Sessions

During the fall semester we have practice sessions to help students learn to solve competition problems and write up their solutions cleanly. These take place
Wednesdays, 4:45-6pm, in Malott 532 (the math lounge).
These are for students of all levels, so no previous problem solving experience is necessary, and there will be COOKIES!

Putnam registration for Cornell students. You must register with your Cornell email address.

Competitions

There are two mathematics competitions that Cornell students participate in:

  1. The most famous of these is the Putnam Competition, administered by the MAA. This competition is a national 6-hour, 12-problem competition. This year it will be on December 3rd, 10am-6pm. There are two three-hour sessions along with a two-hour break. (If you cannot attend this time, please contact us; there is an accommodation available.) To register for the Putnam this year, go here: Cornell student Putnam registration. You must register with your Cornell email address. The exam will be in-person, in Malott, but solution submission will be online (precise logistics TBD).
     
  2. The other is the First-Year Prize Exam. This is a two-hour four-problem compeititon, available only to first years at Cornell. The exam takes place in mid-to-late April. Please contact us if you are interested in participating. The competition will also be announced on the mailing list.

Resources

  1. Sign up to the email list to get reminders about practice sessions, registration for competitions, and any other information.
  2. Putnam practice sessions: fall semester, Tuesdays 4:45-6 in Malott 532. A collection of handouts from previous practice sessions is here.
  3. A collection of old Putnam exams and solutions is here.
  4. Old first-year prize exams are here.