Applications close 7/15/20

About Joining the Problem Writing Team 

 

Problem writing is so important to a good competition! We are looking for problem writers to write high-quality math problems for a spring 2021 competition. The same problems would be used for each chapter. You will work as a team with the other problem writers, reviewing and helping each other on the math problems that you write. Each problem writer might only write a few problems, but edit many. You can get SSL service hours. You can also be a problem writer while also being involved in a chapter -- just keep in mind your commitment level when filling out the application!
 

Your timeline: 

This is really open! We want some problem writers to write and do zoom writing sessions this summer, but others throughout the year. Currently, we plan to have mass meetings once or twice a month to check in.

 

Mid-Late July 2020 - Applications close; the selection process for the problem writing team begins

August 2020 - We will assign you committees, and you’ll start working on problems! We all have the most time during the summer, so we want to get as much done in August as possible

Dec/Jan 2020/21 - We will tell you if the competition live or virtual

March 2021 - Problems have to be finalized by March; however, we would like to finish much earlier!

April 2021 - (probably) the competition!! 

 

Here are things you will do: 

• Work together to write the problems

  • We will have individual rounds in algebra, geometry, number theory, and combinatorics for two divisions (middle school and high school)

  • Edit, test solve, and collaborate with the problem writing team (zoom problem writing sessions!)

• Meet as a group and with the inteGIRLS team

 

Requirements: 

• Must be rising high schooler, rising college freshman, or middle schooler (majority high school)

• Any gender (we will pick at least half female/non-binary) 

 

COMMITTEES (experience required; commitment level)

Committee 1: Problem writing for the competition:

• Level of experience

  • Preferably an AIME qualifier

  • Well-versed with the format of various math competitions

• Level of commitment

  • You’ll be expected to write at least four problems a week

  • You’ll also be required to WRITE UP SOLUTIONS and TEST SOLVE other problems

 

Committee 2: Problem writing/Test-solving for the FTW app (see section on FTW App for more information):

• Level of experience

  • Well-versed with the format of various math competitions; however, any level of experience is welcome!

• Level of commitment

  • We plan to have weekly check-ins and goals for you to meet (for example, 50 problems a week)

  • The weekly goals will depend on the size of the team

  • In general you’ll be expected to write many more problems than the members of committee 1, but you will have a lot more flexibility with the type of problem and the difficulty.

 

FTW App (what it is)

As some of you might know, Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) does an online activity called FTW. For those who are a bit more experienced with Mathcounts, it’s similar to the Countdown Round. In other words, the student is presented with a problem that should take ~45 seconds to solve. The time the student takes to solve the problem will be taken into account when awarding points. Students can choose to compete with others to see who can solve the problems faster, etc. For more information, see https://artofproblemsolving.com/ftw.

 

Email info@integirls.org if you have any questions!

​

​