A team of Cal Poly Pomona students placed 77th out of 578 institutions internationally in the demanding William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition.

The test was administered last December by the Mathematical Association of America. Started in the 1930s, the contest featured 4,277 students this year from around the world.

The exam consists of 12 problems administered over two three-hour sessions. Of the nine Cal Poly Pomona math majors who took the test, six scored above the national average.

The team was mentored by mathematics Professors Ioana Mihaila, Arlo Caine and Berit Givens.