AMS Derive 2026
Competition Structure
Three rounds. PRIOR filters for first-principles solving, POSTERIOR extracts deeper quantitative signal, and CONVERGENCE turns the strongest finalists into an on-site derivation spectacle at IIT.
Round 1 is the mass filter. Hosted on Codeforces in ICPC style, it focuses on probability theory, Bayesian inference, and market microstructure. The key idea is simple: no templates, pure first-principles solving.
Round 2 is the true signal extraction layer. The difficulty spikes, external setters enter the picture, and problems focus on stochastic processes, options pricing, and combinatorics.
Round 3 is the spectacle and prestige moment. Invite-only finalists meet at IIT, form teams on-site, solve a real derivation problem, and the top 2 advance to a live 1v1 Derivation Duel.
Evaluation Philosophy
Reasoning Over Recall. Problems are designed so that memorised solutions do not transfer directly. Participants are expected to reason through unfamiliar configurations, not apply known patterns. Partial derivations with sound logic are valued over complete answers with no visible reasoning.
Modeling Ability Over Speed. Time pressure exists, but it is not the primary filter. The evaluation prioritises the quality of a participant's model — how well they decompose a problem, identify the relevant variables, and structure their approach. A clean, well-reasoned partial solution outranks a fast but shallow complete one.
Structured Thinking Under Uncertainty. Especially in Rounds 2 and 3, problems are deliberately underspecified. Participants must identify what is unknown, make explicit assumptions, and reason forward. This mirrors how problems are encountered in quantitative and research environments — ambiguous inputs, no guarantee of a closed-form answer.
Full Timeline
All dates are tentative and subject to confirmation. Registered participants will be notified directly via email at each stage transition. Join the AMS Derive community group for live updates.
Final Round — Beyond the Evaluation
30–50 finalists are invited to IIT for an on-site final built around a real derivation problem.
Teams are formed on-site, so finalists are evaluated on adaptability, communication, and collaborative reasoning under uncertainty.
The top 2 finalists enter a live 1v1 Derivation Duel — the final spectacle of AMS Derive 2026.
The finals are designed as the prestige moment of the circuit, bringing together the strongest signal from PRIOR and POSTERIOR.