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MEK Learning Circles

Math & Science Competition

Mr. Ahn's Perfect Circle
| MAPC Competition Math

Mr. Ahn’s Perfect Circle (MAPC) is a course designed by and named after our founder, Gunn Ahn. It is tailored for 4th–7th grade math-lovers who are academically advanced for their age and are looking to compete in math competitions.

Math competition is not for every student, but for those with an outstanding interest in math that goes beyond the school-based curriculum. The journey through competitive math is as valuable as winning itself, fostering advanced problem-solving skills and mathematical thinking.

Students develop a deep understanding of math concepts through 90-minute seminar-style classes where they complete mini-competition work and master new, effective problem-solving methods.

Throughout the year, MAPC students participate in competitions such as AMC, MathCounts, MathCon, Math Kangaroo, and the Continental Math League. Entry assessment and interview are required for enrollment.

MAPC ROOKIE

Starter class for students who have mastered basic Pre-Algebra content.

Key Features:

  • Seminar-style classes focused on mini competitions
  • MAPC members participate in math competitions throughout the year

 

Program Details:

  • Course Levels: Grades 4,5,6
  • Duration: 90-minute sessions, 1 session per week
  • Format: Hybrid (virtual or in-person)

MAPC Junior

AMC 8 prep class for students who have completed the Rookie class or mastered Algebra content. Explore math topics above grade level while learning problem-solving strategies

Key Features:

  • Solve weekly in-class competition problem sets
  • Build a competition mindset in preparation for math competitions in Fall and Summer
  • Seminar-style classes focused on mini competitions
  • MAPC members participate in math competitions throughout the year

 

Program Details:

  • Course Levels: Grades 6,7,8
  • Duration: 90-minute sessions, 1 session per week
  • Offered: Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Science Olympiad Prep Program

Achieve your fullest potential on Science Olympiads! This newly designed program at 2025 Summer.

The Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Olympiads are great opportunities for students to gain exposure to advanced science topics and expand their scientific potentials.

The program channels students’ strong desire and interest in competitions to maximize their skills and critical-thinking reflexes.

To achieve top academic accolades, students need efficient and powerful guidance to navigate the competition scope. MEK serves as both a leader and companion in this journey.

For all three competitions, the qualifying exams are the first step toward national and international level competitions.

Program Structure and Key Features

  • Focused preparation for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Olympiad qualifying exams
  • Learn how to shift learning scope for the advanced science topics aligned with competition scopes
  • The course covers Olympiad-specific strategies, practice tests, and problem sets
  • Sessions: 2 hours, once a week
  • Summer sessions serve as introductory courses
  • Full Olympiad prep begins in September and continues until the first-round exam dates

Program Offered

BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD

Upcoming 10th to 11th graders with one- or two-years Biology experience

Topics Covered:

  • Lab equipment & skills
  • Cell & molecular biology
  • Plant anatomy
  • Animal anatomy & physiology
  • Ecology
  • Genetics & evolution
  • Biosystematics
  • Statistics, modeling
  • Computational biology, bioinformatics

Chemistry Olympiad 

Upcoming 10th to 11th graders with one- or two-years Chemistry experience 

Topics Covered: 

  • Stoichiometry & solutions 
  • Descriptive & laboratory 
  • States of matter 
  • Thermodynamics 
  • Kinetics 
  • Equilibrium 
  • Oxidation & reduction 
  • Atomic structure & periodicity 
  • Bonding & molecular structure 
  • Organic & biochemistry 

Physics Olympiad 

Upcoming 10th to 11th graders with one- or two-years Physics experience 

Topics Covered: 

  • Kinematics  
  • Statics  
  • Newton’s laws  
  • Momentum and energy  
  • Oscillations  
  • Orbital mechanics  
  • Rotational dynamics  
  • Fluids  
  • Dimensional analysis  
  • Elementary data analysis 

About the Competitions

U.S.A. BIOLYMPIAD (USABO)

 The USABO is a competition of four rounds: the Open Exam, Semifinal Exam, National Finals, and International Biology Olympiad (IBO).

USABO OPEN EXAM Administered in February*

– 50-minute online nationwide multiple-choice exam, administered/proctored at a registered school or authorized USABO Test Center

USABO SEMIFINAL EXAM

– 120-minute online exam of three parts, including multiple-choice questions, true/false questions, and a short answer/essay focused on International Biology Olympiad (IBO) Practical Topics

– Taken by students who score in the top 10% of the Open Exam

USABO NATIONAL FINALS Hosted in June*

– Hosted by a university over 12 days with 10 days of instruction and two days of testing

– Attended by students with top 20 scores on Semifinal Exam

INTERNATIONAL BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD

– Hosted at an international location over 8 days with 4 days of social programs and instruction and two days of practical and theoretical exams; total of 12 hours of exams

– Attended by Top 4 Students from National Finals

Administration months are based on testing timelines of previous years, and are subject to change by the administering bodies.

U.S. NATIONAL CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD (USNCO)

 The USNCO is a competition of four rounds: the Local Exam, National Exam, Study Camp, and International Chemistry Olympiad (ICO).

LOCAL CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD EXAM Administered in March*

– 110-minute exam with 60 multiple choice questions, covering broad chemistry topics

NATIONAL CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD EXAM

– Three-part exam: (1) 90-minute problem-solving exam of 60 multiple choice questions, (2) 105-minute problem-solving exam of 8 written questions, (3) 90-minute lab practical exam of 2 laboratory practicals.

– Taken by top scorers in Local Competition (number of nominees depends on number of local participants)

STUDY CAMP Hosted in June*

– Hosted by a university over two weeks to undergo rigorous Chemistry training

– Attended by students with top 20 scores on Semifinal Exam

INTERNATIONAL CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD

– Hosted at an international location over 8 days with 4 days of social programs and instruction and two days of practical and theoretical exams; total of 12 hours of exams

– Attended by Top 4 Students from National Finals

U.S.A. PHYSICS OLYMPIAD (USAPhO)

 The USAPhO is a competition of two rounds: the F=ma exam and the USA Physics Olympiad (USAPhO). The USAPhO is the qualifying exam for the USA Physics Team, which goes on to compete at the International Physics Olympiad.

F=MA EXAM Administered in February

– 75-minute exam with 25 multiple choice questions, focused on Physics Mechanics

U.S.A. PHYSICS OLYMPIAD Administered in April*

– Two 90-minute parts, taking place on two separate days, of free-response questions

– Taken by students who score over a designated cutoff score. Top scorers on the USAPhO are invited to be on the USA Physics Team.

Administration months are based on testing timelines of previous years, and are subject to change by the administering bodies.

Get to know our programs through our blog resources: 

GETTING STARTED

Students interested in registering for any one of our competition prep courses must complete the following:

2. Meet with one of our expert counselors to create a plan.
3. Enroll in the competition prep course that best fits your academic needs and goals.
 

Contact us for more information.

TESTIMONIALS

“As I received my college acceptances, Yale and West Point among them, I had flashbacks of memories made in MEK. I sincerely thank you.”
Yale-University
Sooyong K.
MEK alumnus accepted to Yale University
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MEK alumnus accepted to Princeton University
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MEK parent accepted to University of Chicago