School Olympics: 6 strategies to prepare for competitions

School Olympiads go beyond simple assessments — they are doors that open to universes of knowledge, recognition and opportunities that can transform students’ academic lives. These competitions cover areas such as mathematics, science, astronomy, technology and languages, stimulating learning, creativity and a spirit of overcoming.

One of the greatest examples of this reach is the Brazilian Public School Mathematics Olympiad (OBMEP), which in its 20th edition brought together more than 57 thousand schools and involved more than 18 million students across the country. These impressive numbers reveal the potential of these disputes to identify talents, awaken vocations and connect young people with communities passionate about knowledge.

However, achieving significant results in these competitions requires method, consistent dedication and well-defined preparation strategies. For Lucas Gualberto, coordinating professor at the Fliegen Institute, the most common mistake is still treating the Olympics as common school exams. “The knowledge Olympics require their own logic. The student needs to learn to think strategically, not just reproduce content”, he states.

With this in mind, the educator lists below valuable guidelines that will help you structure an efficient routine and maximize your potential in academic disputes. Continue reading and turn your preparation into achievements!

1. The Olympics is not a school test: those who memorize lose, those who think advance

In the knowledge Olympics, memorizing formulas is not enough. The questions require interpretationcreativity and construction of reasoning. “The student needs to understand the problem, explore possible paths and justify their choices. This change in mentality is decisive”, explains professor Lucas Gualberto.

2. What “falls” in the test is in previous editions and almost never changes that much

According to Lucas Gualberto, each Olympics has clear collection standards. For him, “solving old tests allows us to identify recurring types of problems and the level of depth required. When the student recognizes these patterns, the study stops being generic and becomes much more efficient.”

In competitions such as the Brazilian Astronomy and Astronautics Olympiad (OBA), for example, questions related to everyday life, reading graphs and understanding phenomena are common, much more than long calculations.

3. Interpretation, strategy and persistence are worth as much as content

According to the professional, “many students master the content, but make mistakes due to hurried reading or lack of strategy. The Olympics require interpretation of text and data, organization of time and persistence to test different solutions. These are skills that make a difference inside and outside the race.”

Reviewing your own mistakes is essential to have good results in school Olympics Image: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A | Shutterstock

4. Solving as a common exercise is the number one mistake of those just starting out

According to the professional, “among the most frequent mistakes are just looking for the final answer, giving up quickly when encountering difficulties and not reviewing one’s own mistakes. The construction of reasoning is as important as the result and ignoring this greatly limits performance.”

5. Make mistakes, analyze carefully and don’t repeat: the invisible method of good results

For Lucas Gualberto, “errors are one of the most powerful tools in Olympic preparation. By reviewing where they went wrong, whether it was interpretation, concept or strategy, the student evolves more consistently. Those who analyze their own mistakes expand the repertoire and avoid repeating the same patterns”, he explains.

6. Constancy beats intensity: how to study without becoming a hostage to the test

For the teacher, regardless of the result, preparing for knowledge olympiads leaves an important academic legacy. “Even when students do not win medals, they develop intellectual autonomy, critical thinking and academic maturity, skills that remain throughout their entire career. school life“, says Lucas Gualberto.

As for consistency, for the professional, “it is not necessary to study hours a day. Regularity is the key factor. Three to five weekly sessions, lasting 40 to 60 minutes, alternating theory, problem solving and reviewing errors, already bring concrete results”, concludes the educator.

By Maria Fernanda Benedet