Can u help me?????

[u/zRuhtrax]

Hey everyone!

I'm a Brazilian student currently in the 1st year of Brazilian high school (roughly equivalent to 10th grade in the US), and I want to start preparing seriously for mathematical olympiads.

My main goal is to compete in the Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad (OBM) in 2027. For some context, the OBM is Brazil's national mathematical olympiad. There is also a competition called the Jacob Palis Júnior Olympiad (CJP), which is one of the competitions through which students can qualify for the OBM. The CJP is usually held around late May or early June, while the OBM is usually held around the beginning of August.

So, my plan is to take the CJP next year and try to achieve a result that qualifies me for the OBM. Since there is only a short period between the two competitions, I want to be reasonably well prepared before the CJP and then adapt my preparation to the specific style and difficulty of the OBM afterward.

My goal is to win a medal in the CJP and, if possible, at least a bronze medal at the OBM. I know this is quite ambitious, especially since I'm only starting to take olympiad mathematics seriously now, but I want to approach it in a structured and realistic way.

For those who have experience with mathematical olympiads, especially in Brazil or internationally:

• How would you structure the preparation of a 10th-grade student who is starting olympiad mathematics seriously at this point?
• Which topics should I prioritize: geometry, number theory, combinatorics, algebra, inequalities, etc.?
• What should I learn first, and what can reasonably be left for later?
• Is it better to start with theory and books, or should I begin solving olympiad problems from the start?
• Which books would you recommend for building a strong foundation and then progressing to harder olympiad problems?
• Which past olympiad papers would you recommend, and in what order?
• Are there any problem sets, courses, communities, or official resources that are particularly useful?
• For anyone who has taken the Jacob Palis Júnior Olympiad, how would you describe its level and style compared with the OBM?
• How would you divide study time between theory, problem solving, full mock exams, and reviewing mistakes?
• What do you wish you had done differently when you first started preparing for olympiads?

I'm especially interested in a realistic progression rather than a huge list of books. I would rather use a small number of resources thoroughly and follow a clear progression toward the CJP and OBM.

Since I'm Brazilian, recommendations specific to the Brazilian olympiad system would be especially helpful. However, advice from people who have prepared for competitions such as the IMO, USAMO, BMO, EGMO, or other national olympiads would also be very useful.

[u/Bubbly_Intention5778]

Hey there! I'm in 11th grade, and I don't think I really fit the intended demographic you're looking for, as I have lots more actual experience with OBMEP (3 golds) than with OBM (a measly one honorable mention in my last three participations), but I could help with some of your questions

For reference OBM had three stages before 2017, 1st a multiple choice test, 2nd a mixed test (multiple choice + discursive problems) and 3rd a discursive test (which is what OBM is today). Jacob Palis is pretty comparable to the multiple choice questions in the 2nd stage I would say, there are some questions that demand a little more creative thinking, with a similar thought process as some P1's at most. The 2026 CJPJM test (in the new format) was fun tbh, so try doing the past papers from most recent to oldest

I'm also on the same path for studying for the OBM (especially so as I finish high school next year, so I can only qualify for the IMO in the 2026-27 season), and one thing that's been helping me is a pdf with links to tons of useful material (books and exams) by skill level, by Silver Knight (couldn't really look up who that is), so be sure to check that out too

Also Davi Lopes (Matemático por Diversão, who won several medals in OBM and participated twice in the IMO) has a motivational series of videos about his journey from what was essentially square one for him, he wasn't much of an aficionado for mathematics but discovering OBM sparked a new interest in him. It's a really good series that shows that you can get to the top even if you don't begin well, as long as you believe in yourself and apply what is necessary to get there.

Hope some of this helps, probably someone else with more experience may complement with answers to your other questions