Choosing an Olympiad that fits you

Olympiads reward depth, not breadth. Pick one and go deep.

Start with the subject you would study even if there were no competition. Motivation is the scarcest resource in a long preparation, and interest is what sustains it.

Understand the format before you train. Some Olympiads are proof-based exams, some are project-based, and some are team events with a build. Training for the wrong format wastes months.

Work through past papers or past briefs under timed conditions. This is the single highest-return activity. Solve, then study the official solutions, then re-solve the ones you missed a week later.

Find one or two people to prepare with. Explaining a solution out loud exposes exactly what you do not understand.

Protect the basics. Sleep and your regular school work come first; a burned-out competitor does not finish the season. Progress in these competitions is slow and then sudden, so consistency matters more than intensity.