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Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics

Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM)

The Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM) is a prestigious and rigorous Mathematics competition in India, aimed at identifying and nurturing talented young mathematicians. It was introduced by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) and the Mathematics Teachers' Association (India) to streamline the selection process for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).

IOQM 2024 is the first step towards participation as the official Indian team member in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2025. It is the gateway for students to demonstrate their mathematical ability on a national and international stage. It provides an opportunity for students to engage with challenging problems and develop advanced problem-solving skills.

1.0IOQM 2024 Highlights

Mark your calendar with these important dates for IOQM 2024 to stay on top of your preparation and participation.

Exam Date

8th September 2024

Duration 

3 Hours

Total Marks

100

Conducting Body

Mathematics Teacher’s Association (India)

Exam Mode

Offline  (OMR based)

Centre Registration Starting Date

28th June 2024

Centre Registration End Date

28th July 2024 

Student Registration Starting Date (Through Centre)

28th June 2024

Student Registration End Date (Through Centre)

12th August 2024

Student Registration Starting Date

17th July 2024 

Student Registration End Date

12th August 2024

Registration Link

ioqmexam.in

2.0Eligibility for IOQM 2024

To participate in IOQM 2024, students must meet specific criteria based on their class and performance. Below are the detailed eligibility requirements for the IOQM 2024 exam:

  1. Students born between August 1, 2005 and July 31, 2012, and studying in Class 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, are eligible to write IOQM 2024. Please note that NO student born on or after August 1, 2012, will be allowed to write IOQM 2024.
  2. The students must be eligible to hold an Indian passport. Provisionally, students with OCI cards are eligible to write the IOQM 2024 subject to the conditions as explained below: 

As per the orders of the Madras High Court, students with OCI status will not be eligible for selection to the Indian team in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO), Asian Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO). However, such students are provisionally eligible for selection at ALL prior stages, up to and including the International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp (IMOTC) and the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp (EGMOTC) provided they fulfil all other criteria. They are also provisionally eligible to write the selection tests at the IMOTC and EGMOTC. This policy is subject to revision without prior notice depending on any further orders issued by the courts, or by a competent Government authority. 

  1. The student must have been residing and studying in India since 30 October 2022 or earlier or must have been studying in an Indian school system since 30 October 2022 or earlier. 

If the student is residing abroad and is studying in an Indian school system, then the student will have to come to India to write IOQM 2024 and the examinations of the subsequent stages (i.e Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO) 2024 and Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO) 2025) in case s/he qualifies for these examinations. The student will be regarded as one who has enrolled from the Delhi-NCR and the same selection criteria for RMO 2024 and INMO 2025 will apply to him/her as for any student residing and studying in India who has enrolled from Delhi-NCR. The student will have to bear the expenses for the onward journey to India and the return journey from India.

  1. The student must NOT have qualified (or scheduled to appear) for the class 12 board examination earlier than 30 October 2024. Please note that forfeiture of class 12 board examination results to meet the eligibility criteria of IOQM 2024 is NOT ALLOWED, and any student adopting such a means will be DISQUALIFIED from the IOQM 2024.
  2. The student must NOT have commenced (or planning to commence) studies in a university or equivalent institution by 1 June 2025. 
  3. The INMO 2024 Awardees are eligible to write INMO 2025 directly WITHOUT qualifying through IOQM 2024, and RMO 2024 provided they fulfil the age criteria mentioned in point no.1, they haven’t commenced (or plan to commence by June 1, 2025) studies in a university or equivalent institution, and they fulfil the eligibility criteria for IMO 2025 and EGMO 2026. Please note that the OCI students are not eligible to represent India in IMO 2025 and EGMO 2026. 
  4.  The student is responsible for ensuring that the above eligibility criteria are satisfied. If a student does not meet the eligibility criteria at any later stage of the programme, he or she may be disqualified from the programme.

3.0IOQM 2024-25 : Latest Syllabus

Any aspirant for the International Mathematical Olympiads such as IMO, EGMO, APMO and the domestic selection rounds (i.e. RMO, INMO)

1. must be familiar with all the topics covered in NCERT Mathematics books of Class VIII, IX and X.

2. must know that the major areas from which problems are posed are algebra, combinatorics, geometry and number theory and that the difficulty level increases from RMO to INMO to IMO.

Algebra

Inequalities, Progressions (A.P, G.P, H.P), Theory of indices, System of linear equations, Theory of equations, Binomial theorem and properties of binomial coefficients, Complex Numbers, Polynomials in one and two variables, Functional equations, Sequences. 

Plane Geometry

Triangles, quadrilaterals, circles and their properties; standard Euclidean constructions; concurrency and collinearity (Theorems of Ceva and Menelaus); basic trigonometric identities, compound angles, multiple and submultiple angles, general solutions, sine rule, cosine rule, properties of triangles and polygons, Coordinate Geometry (straight line, circle, conics, 3-D geometry), vectors.

Combinatorics

Basic enumeration, pigeonhole principle and its applications, recursion, elementary graph theory.

Number Theory

Divisibility theory in the Integers (The Division Algorithm, the Greatest Common Divisor, The Euclidean Algorithm, The Diophantine Equation ax + by = c) , Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, Basic properties of congruence, Linear congruences, Chinese Remainder Theorem, Fermat’s Little Theorem, Wilson’s Theorem, Euler’s Phi function and Euler’s generalisation of Fermat’s Theorem, Pythagorean triples (definition and properties), Diophantine equations.

Alongside NCERT books, students can select the best books for IOQM to enhance their understanding of the subjects and prepare for challenging questions.

4.0IOQM 2024-25 Exam Pattern

If you are preparing for the upcoming exam, you should familiarize yourself with the IOQM 2024-25 exam pattern. Here is a brief overview:

  • The IOQM (Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics) is scheduled for September 8, 2024. The exam will be held from 10:00 to 13:00 hours (IST). This test comprises 30 questions, structured in sections with varying mark allocations:
  • 10 questions worth 2 marks each.
  • 10 questions worth 3 marks each.
  • 10 questions worth 5 marks each, totalling 100 marks.
  • The exam format is objective, with each answer being an integer between 00 and 99. It is an OMR-based exam conducted offline using pen and paper. Importantly, there is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

5.0Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM) 2023-2024 Answer Key & Paper Solutions By ALLEN

Practising IOQM previous years' papers helps students improve their efficiency and accuracy for the upcoming exam, so it is crucial to practice past papers. This will also familiarize you with the exam pattern, marking scheme, and types of questions that may be asked.

Therefore, we have provided the IOQM previous years' question papers with complete solutions by ALLEN in a downloadable PDF format. Additionally, for your reference, we have included the IOQM 2023-24 answer key.

Answer Key

Paper with Solutions

6.0IOQM 2024-25 Exam Result

The results for IOQM 2024-25 will be released after the exam has been conducted. They will be published on the official website, where students can check their results by logging in. Based on their IOQM scores, candidates will qualify to participate in the second stage i.e. Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO).

Frequently Asked Questions:

You only need to pay for the first round of IOQM. If you pass, there are no fees for the next rounds. The costs are: JNV students: ₹125. KV students: ₹150. Other students: ₹240.

Participants scoring 10% or higher in the IOQM 2024 paper will receive a certificate.

While clearing the IOQM does not directly lead to specific career opportunities, it encourages the pursuit of careers in science or mathematics. The Olympiads aim to inspire students to embrace a lifelong journey filled with exciting intellectual challenges.

Students enrolled in a 3-year diploma program after Class X are not eligible to participate in the IOQM exam.

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