K Gan
For those who do not know what it is, it is a two-hour-long maths paper with 16 questions, split into 2 sections. Section A has 10 questions that require only a simple answer. Section B, which has 6 questions and requires full, neat solutions.
I enjoyed the experience of taking the Olympiad. The test was to be taken from 9:00 to 11:00, and I quickly made my way to the room to be punctual. At first, the questions seemed intimidating. As I started working on the first few questions, I got more confident and worked steadily. As I got to the end of the A section, I realised I was racing against time.
The B section was much more difficult than I had predicted, and I panicked a little. However, my courage did not fail as I tackled the questions on the paper. One by one, I tried solving and explaining. My tactic was to solve the easier questions first, so I did not solve the questions in order and only managed to answer 5 of the 6 questions. I recall only having 15 minutes to solve and write out the solutions for B3 (that was the last question I answered).
My palms were sweaty and I, at one point, gave up hope, as I did not seem to be able to find the answer. After solving it, I only had 4 or 5 minutes left, so I proceeded to hastily write down my solution. I was shivering and dreaded the end of the test. Miraculously, I was able to finish in time, with a few seconds to spare. My hands shaking from anxiety, I handed the paper to the adjudicator. Heading off to my break, I was still shivering but relieved that I had completed it.
I am proud of myself for participating in the Olympiad and pleased with my score, receiving a Certificate of Merit. Overall, it was a fun experience and one that I recommend people participate in.