# Bay Area Mathematical Olympiad (BAMO)

A four-hour, five-problem proof olympiad held each February for West Coast students, with a BAMO-8 division for grade 8 and below and BAMO-12 for grade 12 and below. Proctored free at schools and math circles.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) |
| Category | stem |
| Cost | Not listed |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 6–12 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | Berkeley, CA |
| Apply | https://www.bamo.org/apply/ |

## About this program

# Bay Area Mathematical Olympiad (BAMO)

BAMO is a proof-based mathematics olympiad created by Zvezdelina Stankova and Paul Zeitz with the support of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley. Unlike multiple-choice contests, BAMO asks for complete written arguments: "5 essay-proof math problems with a time limit of 4 hours." The exam runs in two divisions - BAMO-8 for students in grade 8 or younger, and BAMO-12 for students in grade 12 or younger - and is proctored in person at schools and open sites.

## What You'll Do

- Sit a single four-hour paper of five olympiad-style problems requiring full proofs
- Compete in BAMO-8 or BAMO-12 depending on your grade level
- Take the exam at your own school, or at one of the open proctoring sites hosted by regional math circles
- Attend the awards ceremony, where top individuals and teams are announced
- Compete for cash, books, certificates, trophies, and mathematical sculptures

## Who Should Apply

Students in grade 12 or below at schools in California, Oregon, and Washington - the olympiad currently restricts participation to those three states. Registration is done by schools or proctoring centers such as math circles, not by individual students; if you cannot find a proctor, BAMO will attempt to match you with a nearby site. Home-schooled students must use an outside proctor.

## Outcomes

BAMO is one of the few regional contests that trains and rewards rigorous proof writing at the middle- and high-school level, making it a natural bridge between the AMC series and national olympiads. Roughly 500 students sit BAMO-8 and 200 sit BAMO-12 each year.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is eligible for Bay Area Mathematical Olympiad (BAMO)?

Bay Area Mathematical Olympiad (BAMO) is open to students in grades 6–12 (middle and high school). Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is Bay Area Mathematical Olympiad (BAMO) online or in person?

Bay Area Mathematical Olympiad (BAMO) is an in-person program based in Berkeley, CA.

### How do I apply to Bay Area Mathematical Olympiad (BAMO)?

Apply directly through Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI)'s official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-28.
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