A more elite group of about 30 Australian students is also awarded medals at a national ceremony. Of these some even manage to achieve a perfect score. During the years of the competition the number of Australian students with perfect scores has normally been at least one and no more than ten per year, a remarkable tribute to the experience of the problems committee. All students, irrespective of performance, receive at least a certificate of participation. Each student receives a report on their performance, showing their responses for each problem and their assessment.
Students can also compare their results with the average scores in their state or country.
Whereas the competition has serious educational objectives, the student has nothing to lose in participating because it is not normally part of the formal assessment. As a result this is an activity which many of the students enjoy. The certificates they can earn as a result are also of considerable value. These certificates are well recognised and valued by employers and invariably form part of the student's reference folio when applying later for employment. For details on the Awards Criteria, press here .