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Toronto Math Students Tackle Putnam Competition Amid Nerves and Determination

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, December 7th 2025 at 14:46 GMT by Toronto Star

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Toronto’s math hopefuls take on the Putnam Competition: a test of skill, endurance and camaraderie

When the winter sun finally broke through the clouds over Princeton University in early February, a small group of Canadian mathematics students walked onto the campus with a mixture of nerves, excitement and a strong sense of purpose. They were heading into the University of Pennsylvania’s famed Putnam Competition, an annual challenge that has, for more than a century, been a rite of passage for the brightest mathematical minds in North America. The article in The Toronto Star chronicles this journey – from the students’ meticulous preparation and the grueling six‑hour exam itself to the unspoken bonds that form when strangers sit side‑by‑side solving the same perplexing problems.

The Putnam: a brief backdrop

The Putnam Competition – formally the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition – was established in 1939 by the American Mathematical Society and the Johns Hopkins University. Its purpose was to provide a platform for the best undergraduates in the United States and Canada to challenge each other’s creativity and problem‑solving acumen. The test itself is famously unforgiving: ten problems, ten hours, a strict no‑computer policy, and a scoring system that rewards not only speed but deep insight.

The Toronto Star article notes that, unlike many other academic contests, the Putnam places a premium on “pure, elegant solutions” over computational tricks. In the words of a seasoned coach, “the Putnam is as much a test of imagination as it is of algebraic manipulation.” This tradition of valuing originality has long made the competition a coveted accolade for Canadian students, who must also compete against the best of their U.S. counterparts.

The team that made the trip

The Canadian contingent that the article follows is a cross‑section of the region’s brightest minds: a mix of university undergraduates from Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Among them is 19‑year‑old Daniel Liu, a sophomore from the University of Toronto’s mathematics program, who has been training for months, balancing classes with hours of private tutoring. His teammate, 20‑year‑old Maya Patel from the University of British Columbia, highlights the importance of mental stamina: “You’re not just solving equations—you’re fighting fatigue and the pressure of time.”

Beyond the individual, the article underlines the collaborative ethos that permeates the Canadian representation. The group trained together, shared resources, and visited past Putnam solutions in order to understand the contest’s evolving style. “We’re like a family,” says Liu. “When one of us struggles with a problem, we all pull together. That support was crucial on the day of the test.”

The test day: a 6‑hour marathon

While the official format of the competition is ten hours, the Toronto Star report focuses on the first six‑hour segment – the “main bulk” that the authors describe as a “gruelling six‑hour math exam.” This is a reference to the fact that the Putnam is divided into two five‑hour sessions with a 30‑minute break in between. In this particular edition, the Canadian team entered the first session with a sense of calm that quickly shifted into tension as the clock ticked. The article recounts how the students’ strategies evolved: some started with the seemingly simpler combinatorics problems, while others dove straight into the most daunting calculus challenges.

A significant part of the article delves into the emotional roller‑coaster of the test day. The author notes how the first hours were marked by a flurry of frantic scribbling, followed by a lull as the students mentally prepared for the second session. “It felt like we were all walking a tightrope,” recalls Patel. “One wrong step, and you could lose a lot of time.” The report describes how the students found moments of respite in small acts of camaraderie—sharing notes, exchanging encouraging smiles, and occasionally debating the best approach to a particular problem.

The article also provides context from past Putnam competitions, drawing a comparison with the performance of Canadian students in previous years. While the competition remains highly challenging, recent years have seen a steady increase in Canadian scores. The Toronto Star quotes a former Putnam champion, Dr. Sarah Thompson of McGill University, who reflects on how the Canadian math community has evolved. “We’ve gone from a handful of students to a structured program that identifies talent early and supports it through coaching,” Thompson notes. “The results speak for themselves.”

After the exam: reflections and future plans

When the final bell rang, the team was exhausted but elated. The article highlights the sense of relief that washes over competitors after a hard day, coupled with a newfound appreciation for the complexity of the problems. Although the competition is anonymous—scores are not released until weeks later—the students found meaning in their experience, noting that it had sharpened their problem‑solving abilities and given them a taste of what it means to compete on the world stage.

Beyond the Putnam itself, the article explores how this experience is part of a larger narrative for Canadian mathematics education. The author links to a follow‑up piece on The Toronto Star about the Canadian Mathematical Society’s initiatives to nurture future talent, including summer camps and mentorship programs. It is clear that the Putnam is not merely a one‑off event; it is a catalyst for long‑term academic growth and international collaboration.

Takeaway

The Toronto Star’s article is a vivid snapshot of what it means for Canadian students to participate in the Putnam Competition. It underscores the combination of rigorous preparation, intellectual resilience, and a supportive community that turns a grueling six‑hour exam into an exhilarating experience. Through its balanced coverage of the students’ personal stories and the broader context of the competition, the piece invites readers to appreciate the dedication and passion that fuels Canada’s mathematical future.