Below are the detailed solutions provided by: Vo Quoc Ba Can, Nguyen Le Phuoc, Nguyen Tien Dung, Phan Quang Linh (teachers at Archimedes Academy, Hanoi); Tran Duc Hieu (Cau Giay Secondary School); Tran Quang Do, Vu Minh Duc, Nguyen Van Quy (CMATH Club); Dao Phuc Long (student at Hanoi University of Science and Technology); and Vuong Khanh Toan (student at the University of Natural Sciences, Vietnam National University, Hanoi).

Problem two:

Updates to follow

The national excellent student competition for this academic year took place on 25-26/12, involving over 6,750 students, an increase of 270 participants compared to the previous academic year. Students competed in 13 subjects, with Vietnamese literature drawing the highest number of participants at 709. English and Geography also saw significant interest, each with over 680 students.

On 25/12, students in 12 subjects, including math, physics, chemistry, biology, Vietnamese literature, history, geography, English, Russian, French, Chinese, and Japanese, took written exams. Informatics was the only subject with a computer programming exam that day. The following day, 26/12, continued with written exams for math, physics, chemistry, and biology, another computer programming session for informatics, and oral exams for five foreign language subjects.

Following a merger, 42 delegations from across the country participated. These included representatives from 34 provinces and cities, along with students from universities such as Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Vietnam National University, TP HCM; Hue University; Hanoi National University of Education; Ho Chi Minh City University of Education; Vinh University; Tan Tao University; and Viet Bac High School for Ethnic Minorities.

According to regulations from the Ministry of Education and Training, 60% of participating students will receive awards. The number of first, second, and third prizes combined will not exceed 60% of the total awards, with first prizes capped at 5%. National award winners receive certificates and are eligible for direct university admission. Additionally, they are granted local financial incentives, typically ranging from 10 million to 100 million VND.

For the five international Olympic subjects—math, physics, chemistry, informatics, and biology—the Ministry of Education and Training will invite top-scoring candidates (usually the top 40) for intensive training before selecting national teams.

Thanh Hang