Start with the question that matches your situation. National entry rules vary; the international contest rules do not replace your organiser’s application requirements.
Entry and eligibility
Can I register directly for the international IMO?
No. Students qualify through their national selection programme. Start with your country’s organiser and follow the national route to the IMO.
What is the IMO age limit, and do I have to be at school?
Under the general rules, the 2027 birth-date condition is 1 July 2007 or later. Education and representation conditions also apply. Read the eligibility guide and current official regulations, section 2.2, then check your national rules.
My school does not enter. What can I do?
Ask the national organiser whether individual entry, another approved host centre or a regional arrangement is available. These options vary by country; do not register at an unapproved centre. Use the school-entry checklist and country directory.
Can I enter through a different country?
Open contest entry and permission to represent a country are separate. Check citizenship, residence, education and final-selection restrictions with the organiser. The eligibility guide links to the official representation rules.
Where can I find fees and registration deadlines?
There is no shared worldwide fee or registration window. Open your country guide, then check the organiser’s notice for the exact competition and season. Check the currency, closing time, time zone and school-entry deadline. If a current detail is unconfirmed, ask the organiser before paying.
Does winning a national round guarantee an IMO place?
Not necessarily. Later selection tests, training or eligibility checks may still apply. Follow the complete national pathway, including any invitation exceptions, rather than assuming that one award guarantees selection.
Study and past papers
Is there one Maths Olympiad syllabus for every country?
The main preparation areas overlap, but national first rounds can differ in topics, question style and marking. Use our syllabus and study-topic map alongside the official syllabus and recent papers for your next round.
Do I need calculus?
For this preparation path, begin with algebra, number theory, geometry, combinatorics and proof-writing. Calculus is not a central strand of our curriculum. Check your national first-round syllabus before deciding what to study. The topic map and proof-writing guide explain the starting points.
Can primary-school students start preparing?
Yes. Start with age-appropriate puzzles, number patterns and explanations of why an answer works. Our foundations exercises are a starting point. Preparation and competition eligibility are different: the national organiser decides which ages and school years may enter.
Do I need coaching, and how can I start studying independently?
Private coaching enrolment is not official competition registration. For independent study, try the readiness check, work through the first-proof plan and keep a record of mistakes. Use official released papers to check both your mathematics and the clarity of your solutions.
Where can I find previous-year papers and solutions?
Use the paper library to choose a country, year, round and document type. The international IMO archive guide links to official papers. An answer key is not always a full solution; some organisers restrict or charge for materials. We link to official sources and host papers only where permitted.
At the international contest
How many problems are there, and how long is the IMO?
The IMO has six problems: three on each of two days, with 4½ hours per day. Each problem is worth seven marks, giving 42 in total. See format and scoring and regulations, sections 5 and 7.
Are calculators allowed at the IMO?
No. Calculators and electronic communication devices are prohibited. Check the full permitted-materials rule in section 5.4. National rounds have their own instructions; follow the rules for the particular exam you are taking.
Must I write my solutions in English?
At the IMO, contestants write solutions in their own language; paper languages are arranged through the delegation. National-round language rules vary. Read the language guidance and regulations, sections 5.2–5.3.
Is there a fixed score for an IMO medal?
No. Medal boundaries vary by edition. Compare a practice score with the boundary for that same year using the medal cut-off table and official results. A past boundary is not a guaranteed target for a future contest.
About this guide
Is SOF IMO the same competition?
No. SOF’s International Mathematics Olympiad is a separate school competition. This site covers national selection for the International Mathematical Olympiad. See the IMO and SOF comparison and SOF’s own participation information.
Is IMOolympiad.com the official IMO website?
No. This is an independent information guide. The international competition’s official website is imo-official.org. Read about our sources and scope, or send a correction if you find an error.