International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)

The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) stands as the most prestigious and oldest mathematics competition held for pre-university students. First held in Romania in 1959, it brings together the brightest young minds from more than 100 countries under one roof. Since its inception, the contest has been an epitome of international collaboration and an inspiration to excellence in problem-solving and analytical thinking.

The contest attracts the most passionate mathematical minds, and if you’re one of them, here’s everything you need to know to become a part of it — from registration to eligibility to exam dates to exam stages, everything! 

1.0What are the International Olympiad Tests? 

The International Olympiad Tests are high-level academic competitions conducted on a global level in various disciplines, including mathematics, biology, astronomy, and many more. These contests aim to identify and celebrate young, talented pre-university students worldwide for their exceptional problem-solving abilities. 

Among these contests, the International Mathematical Olympiad is the oldest competition, which is conducted by the IMO Advisory Board. Each year, the hosting country for the competition changes; this year, the host nation is Australia. 

2.0Exam Pattern and IMO Stages

The International Mathematical Olympiad, conducted by the IMO Advisory Board, is not a single exam but a series of stages of exams, conducted from school to national level in each participating country. These include: 

Stage 1 — Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM): It is the first stage of the selection process for IMO. It is a 3-hour examination with 30 questions, held at the school level on a pan-India basis. 

Stage 2 — Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO): The qualifying students in stage 1 will advance to RMO, conducted at the regional level. The exam contains six problems in English and Hindi.

Stage 3 — Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO): The top students from RMO qualify for stage 3, held at the national level, with students coming from different states of India.

Stage 4 — International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp (IMOTC): The top 64 to 65 students of INMO advance to the International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp, generally held at HBCSE (Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education).

Note: The entire selection process typically begins in September of the preceding year and continues until April or May of the year in which the exam is held.

Stage 5 — The International Mathematical Olympiad Final: It is a subjective type of 2-day exam. The exam includes 6 complex problems that need to be solved in a maximum of 4.5 hours. The exam is held in the host nation for almost 11 days in July.

3.0Eligibility Criteria:

Each participating country sends up to six students to represent their country in the competition, and these six candidates must fall under the following eligibility criteria: 

• The age of the student must not be more than 20 years of age as of the day of the second contest paper of the competition year. 
• Only the students selected via their respective national-level process can represent their country at the IMO.
• The participant must not be a student of any post-secondary program at any university or college. 

4.0Registration Process

Candidates can not apply for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) directly or on their own; instead, the registration is done and managed by their respective country’s national mathematical organizations. In India, the process is managed by HBCSE (Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education). 

5.0Selection Process 

Each participating country has its way of selecting its representatives in IMO; for example, in India, the selection process includes the following three steps:

• Registration for the National Olympiad 
• Clearing the national rounds of olympiads and attending required training camps.
• Final selection for the IMO six-member team. 

6.0Syllabus 

There is no official or fixed syllabus for the International Maths Olympiad, nor does it cover any university-level topics or problems. Generally, the problems are asked from various areas of secondary school mathematics, such as: 

• Geometry, 
• Number Theory
• Algebra 
• Combinatorics

All the problems are asked from the four groups mentioned above, but at the advanced level, which makes the solutions more complex and challenging. The exam generally does not require prior knowledge of calculus and analysis, but it is allowed for the solutions of the final questions. 

All in all, the exam covers basic topics but also requires substantial knowledge of advanced topics. 

7.0Exam Dates for IMO 

The 66th edition of the International Mathematical Olympiad will be conducted on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, in July 2025. Mark these important dates for the competition on your calendar:

8.0Preparation Tips 

Preparing for this year’s IMO? Then, you need these trusted and proven preparation tips to excel in the IMO selection and final exams:

• Solve previous IMO problems to understand the difficulty levels and types of questions.
• Use resources like Problem-Solving Strategies by various trusted writers.
• Join math clubs, Olympiad training programs, or online forums.
• Practice writing complete, well-explained solutions, as presentation counts.
• Focus on theory as much as practice—understanding the “why” is as important as the “how.”

Get More Preparation tips and tricks for International Olympiads

9.0Guidelines of the International Olympiad Exams 

The IMO Advisory Board has its own set of strict guidelines for the IMO final exams, which include: 

• IMO has contestants, leaders, observers, coordinators, and the host organisation with roles specified.
• The host organisation organises the event, producing effective logistics, problem selection, and rule observation.
• Contestants are required to be eligible according to criteria certified by the jury before the contest.
• A Problem Selection Committee prepares a confidential shortlist of problems for the jury to examine.
• The contest is conducted over two days; the jury chooses, approves, and translates contest problems and marking schemes.
• The jury, comprising leaders and a chair, decides by majority; the chair has a casting vote in the event of a tie. It deals with scores, awards, disputes, and breaches.
• Coordination groups, comprising leaders and coordinators, evaluate solutions fairly, resolving conflicts through a structured escalation process.
• The Articles of Association, the Regulations, and the documents referred to constitute the complete agreement, superseding any earlier discussions.
• Force majeure circumstances (such as strikes and natural disasters) excuse the host organisation from liability for overdue or missed payments.