Apply to volunteer at IMO2024

Please note: Volunteers have to be at least 18 years old at the time of IMO2024. 

Before starting the process of applying to volunteer at IMO2024, please make sure you have reviewed the following policies:

• IMO2024 data protection policy

• IMO2024 DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) in volunteer recruitment policy

• IMO2024 code of conduct policy

We are finalising further policies on health & safety, child protection/safeguarding, and environmental impact. These will be shared in due course and will also need your acknowledgement before we can consider your volunteer application.

While we welcome international volunteers, IMO2024 is not able to provide financial support for international travel for volunteers. Also, it is not able to assist with obtaining any necessary United Kingdom visas.

No mathematical background is needed for any of these roles. Any DBS checks which need to be made will be paid for by the IMO2024 organisation.

Volunteer roles

Team Guides

Each IMO team will have a Team Guide who will use their knowledge of how to function in the UK to make the IMO experience as pleasant as possible for their team and its leaders. In short, being a friendly face.

Each country will bring a designated adult (usually the deputy leader) who is in loco parentis (taking parental responsibility), so this is not the job of the Team Guide. The main functions of a Team Guide are giving advice, helping with language issues, transmitting information about arrangements from IMO2024 organisers to participants, and alerting IMO2024 organisers to any urgent problems which need to be resolved.

Team Guides must have a DBS check and provide references. There will be a Chief Guide who will manage the Team Guides by setting policies, training, holding daily meetings and maintaining good communication. Team guides will be resident at the University of Bath for the duration of the competition.

At previous IMOs, many Team Guides have been university students. Having foreign language skills (especially of languages less used in the UK) would be particularly useful (but guides who speak only English are also needed). It is important that Team Guides are responsible people, and that they enjoy being helpful and being in the company of teenagers.

Team Guides must be available for training on 13th July and then resident (accommodation provided) at the University of Bath until 22nd July.

Invigilators

This role will involve working at the University of Bath. Accommodation can be provided on request for those who don’t live locally.

Each IMO exam lasts 4 hours 30 minutes. A large number of invigilators are needed in order to ensure the safe and secure sitting of the papers. Invigilators also facilitate communications between the IMO Jury (based in Bristol) and the exam site (the Sports Hall of the University of Bath). This will involve carrying and transmitting messages (questions of clarification etc), and scanning scripts. Some designated invigilators will have DBS checks (to assist students who are ill, and enter the designated exam toilet areas for security checks). There will be a Chief Invigilator who will coordinate and set policy for invigilators and provide training.

Monday July 15 is invigilator training day; Tuesday July 16 is contest day 1; Wednesday July 17 is contest day 2. The invigilation days will be long, and it will be an intense experience. However, it is a short commitment in terms of days, and vital to the successful functioning of IMO2024. At previous IMOs, invigilators have often been academics, schoolteachers or students. We are looking for enthusiastic, reliable and dedicated individuals who are determined to ensure fair play.

Administrative Personnel

We will need a small team of administrators to handle all sorts of IMO activities (including registering arrivals, handing out documents, supporting communications and computing, giving advice on local geography, facilities and services, and anything else which may arise). Administrative help will be needed both at the University of Bath, July 14-22 (with Sunday July 14th being peak activity (students’ arrival day), and in Bristol July 10th-17th, with peak activity on July 11th (leaders’ arrival day). DBS checks will be required since administrators may have access to personal information.

Accommodation may be provided, dependent on circumstances.

Jury Guides

No mathematical background is needed.

A small team of energetic people are needed to facilitate the activities of the IMO jury. This is like a UN General Assembly. Microphone running (to facilitate speeches) is a key part of this role. Accommodation will be provided from Thursday 11th until Wednesday 17th in Bristol. No DBS check is needed. At previous IMOs, jury guides have often been students.

Ceremony Coordinators

The IMO2024 opening ceremony will be in The Forum, a theatre in Bath, on Monday 15th July. This will be a jovial affair, with a parade of the nations (many in national costume), some entertainment, and as few speeches as possible. It is, however, vital that there is strict segregation between the jury site people (who have seen the exam papers), and University of Bath based people (who have not). Thus, as well as making the ceremony run smoothly, there is a policing aspect to crowd control. The closing ceremony will be held on Sunday 21st July. This is a more relaxed affair, with medals and presentations, and as few speeches as possible. Accommodation will be provided for this role, if necessary.