TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Young Taiwanese mathematicians won two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2024, placing Taiwan 11th overall.

The IMO is an annual competition for pre-college students, testing their skills in a broad range of mathematical areas, including algebra, trigonometry, linear equations, limits and derivatives, and probability, according to the Science Olympiad Foundation. The 65th IMO was held in July in Bath, United Kingdom, per IMO2024.

Over 600 participants from 120 countries competed for top honors this year. Taiwan's team of six was selected from a pool of 855 students across the country, with a team of more than 20 university professors providing training and guidance to the team, per the Ministry of Education (MOE).

The MOE established preferential admission and scholarship programs to recognize such outstanding achievements in international mathematics and science competitions. Students who win gold, silver, or bronze medals at these competitions are eligible for direct admission or recommendation to any department or program at a university.

Additionally, medalists are awarded scholarships. Gold medalists receive NT$200,000 (US$6,085), silver medalists NT$100,000, and bronze medalists NT$50,000.

These awards aim to attract top talent to Taiwan's universities and nurture the next generation of scientists and mathematicians. They encourage students to strive for excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and gain recognition for their accomplishments on the global stage.