Mathematical Competitions in Hungary: Promoting a Tradition of Excellence & Creativity

Abstract: Hungary has long been known for its outstanding production of mathematical talent. Extracurricular programs such as camps and competitions form a strong foundation within the Hungarian tradition. New types of competitions in recent years include team competitions, multiple choice competitions, and some exclusively for students who are not in a special mathematics class. This study explores some of the recent developments in Hungarian mathematics competitions and the potential implications these changes have for the very competition-driven system that currently exists. The founding of so many new competitions reflects a possible shift in the focus and purpose of competitions away from a strictly talent-search model to a more inclusive "enrichment" approach. However, it is clear that in Hungary, tradition itself remains a strong motivating factor and continues to stimulate the development of mathematically talented students. The involvement of the mathematical community in the identification and education of young talents helps perpetuate these traditions.Keywords: Hungary, mathematics education, mathematics competition, Olympiads, international comparative mathematics education, problem solving, creativity, mathematically talented students.(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae omitted.)IntroductionWorld-renowned for its system of special schools for mathematically talented students, Hungary also has a long tradition of extracurricular programs in mathematics. Extracurricular activities play an important role in the overall education of mathematically talented students (Koichu & Andzans, 2009). Some of the longeststanding extracurricular mathematics activities in Hungary can be traced back to the 1890s and the efforts of Lorand Eotvos (Weischenberg, 1984). The Bolyai Society continues to coordinate many of the traditional extracurricular programs established at the end of the 19th century, including the journal KoMaL and the Eotvos Competition (now called the Kurschak Competition), along with several new competitions and programs for mathematically talented students. This article focuses on mathematical competitions in Hungary and reviews recent developments, new competitions, and modifications to traditional offerings over the past twenty years.MethodsThis article is an excerpt from a larger study on the changes in the Hungarian mathematics education system for mathematically talented students over the past twenty years (Connelly, 2010). During the study a series of in-depth interviews were conducted with current Hungarian secondary school teachers, mathematicians, professors, and other educators. Interviews were conducted by the researcher in Budapest, Hungary, with the aid of a native-Hungarian-speaking research assistant when necessary. Commentary on the history, purpose, and impact of mathematics competitions was gathered through interviews with competition directors, organizing committee members, journal editors, and past participants. The interviewees will be referred to as respondents A-U in the remainder of the article.Historical background information was gathered from sources such as ministry of education publications, mathematical and pedagogical professional journals, and earlier dissertations in the field. Information on competition structures and rules was obtained primarily from each competition's official website and contest documentation. Example problems from a variety of Hungarian mathematics competitions are presentedthroughout. For larger compilations of Hungarian competition problems published in English, see Berzsenyi & Olah, 1999; Kurschak, 1963; Liu, 2001; and Szekely, 1995.Traditional CompetitionsOne of the most famous Hungarian mathematics competitions, the Eotvos Competition, is considered "the first mathematical Olympiad of the modern world" (Koichu & Andzans, 2009, p. 287). Founded in 1894, it was designed for students who had just graduated from secondary school; the competition consisted of three questions based on the mathematics of the secondary school curriculum. …