The U of I Mock Putnam Exam is a long-running local version of the infamous Putnam Exam, known as the "world's toughest math test". The exam consists of six challenging math problems, similar in nature to problems on Putnam contests, but a bit easier.
Meng Guo, a senior in Mathematics and consistent top performer on local contests, and Wenmian Hua, a sophomore in Electrical and Computer Engineering and relative newcomer to the local contest scene, tied for the highest score as co-winners. They will each receive $300 in prize money and be recognized as the 2011 U of I Mock Putnam Champions at the departmental awards ceremony next spring. Honorable Mention went to Danyang Zhuo, a junior in electrical engineering and co-winner of the 2011 U of I Undergraduate Math Contest, who placed third out of the 28 students who participated in this contest.
The U of I Freshman Math Contest is a new addition to the local math contest offerings. Somewhat easier than the Mock Putnam Exam, and restricted to Freshmen, it provides incoming students an opportunity to show their problem solving skills in direct competition against their peers. With 22 students taking on this challenge, the contest was an unqualified success and will likely become a mainstay among our contest offerings.
Ding Zhang, a freshman in Computer Science and Statistics, was the winner of this contest and the recipient of the $300 top prize. Honorable Mentions went to the second and third place finishers, Robert Weber, a freshman in Mathematics and Computer Science, and Fan Fei, a freshman in Mathematics.
The median scores on these two contests were 15, resp. 11, points out of 60; about two thirds of all participants received 10 or more points, the equivalent of solving one of the six problems correctly. For comparison, the median score on the Putnam Exam is usually 1 or 2 points out of 120, and solving a single one of the 12 problems on a Putnam Exam is typically enough to place in the top third of all contestants nationwide.
The contests were organized by Professor A.J. Hildebrand, with the assistance of graduate student M. Tip Phaovibul.
Contest problems and solutions are available at the links below.