Spoiler: there’s no magic button that turns you into an olympiad genius. There’s a ladder. And today we’re showing you the whole thing, step by step.
The Logic Behind the Ladder
At Mathletas we don’t throw everyone into the same class and hope the beginner keeps pace with someone who’s already competed three times. That’s why we built a progression of Basic → Intermediate → Advanced, each split into two modules, and each with a Junior and Senior version depending on age.
Nobody skips steps. Nobody gets bored repeating what they already know. Every level leaves you exactly where you need to be for the next one.
Basic 1 and 2
This is where the foundations get laid: mathematical reasoning, first algebra tools, number theory, and combinatorics, always with competition problems (not textbook exercises). If your starting point is “I know school math but never saw an olympiad problem,” this is your spot.
Intermediate 1 and 2
We’re not playing around anymore. Here problems start requiring you to combine several ideas at once, and techniques show up that school flat-out doesn’t teach (classic inequalities, geometry with transformations, finer combinatorial arguments). This is the level where most students start feeling like “okay, this is for real now.”
Advanced 1 and 2
The ceiling of our regular ladder: problems at the level of national and basic international olympiads, with the technical depth that demands across the four core areas (algebra, number theory, combinatorics, geometry). You get here by walking the whole path, not by jumping.
Where Do I Start?
- Never competed in an olympiad? Start with the Pre-Olympic Course before Basic — it’s step zero, built exactly for that.
- Already have a solid base in mathematical reasoning? We can evaluate starting directly in Basic or even Intermediate.
- Not sure about any of this? Reach out and we’ll place you at the right level — no point paying for a course that’s too big or too small for you. You can also check out our quick decision guide.
“The ladder isn’t a race against anyone else. It’s against the version of you from two months ago.”
You can see the full syllabus for each level in our program of studies, or go straight to picking your course in the catalog.