If you qualify for all 5 stages, you will be accompanied by four teachers or mentors in the final stage, the International Mathematics Olympiad of the HBCSE Olympiad Programme.
You will be accompanied by four teachers or mentors along with other students. The Olympiad schedule concludes with the participation of Indian students like you in the IMO.
The Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) organizes the Mathematics Olympiad to recognize and develop young mathematical talent in India. This prestigious competition is a stepping stone for students like you who aspire to represent India in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).
IMO Registration Process
If you are willing to participate in the International Mathematical Olympiads you have to appear in the first stage examination, the Pre-Regional Mathematical Olympiad (PRMO).
You must carefully understand that the Mathematics Teachers Association (India) (MTA(I) conducts the PRMO stage of IMO. For enrolment you should visit their website: www dot mtai dot org dot in. Before enrolling for PRMO, you must check if they satisfy the eligibility criteria.
You must send all queries concerning PRMO to the Chief Examination Coordinator, MTA by email at mtaprmo@gmail dot com.
If you have won INMO awards, INMO Merit award, and if you have represented India in the International Olympiad, you are exempted from the first stage and second stage – PRMO and RMO, you can directly appear for INMO of the following year.
IMO Registration Deadlines
Please note that registration dates for the Mathematics Olympiad are normally around September. To ensure timely registration, schools and students like you must stay up to date on HBCSE’s official notifications. Failure to meet the deadline may result in losing an opportunity to participate in this renowned event.
IMO Examination schedule
You must note that according to the announcement of the stages of selection for the 2024-2025 cycle, the International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp (IMOTC) selection will be accomplished in three stages.
First stage exam: (PRMO)
The IOQM is conducted by the Mathematics Teachers’ Association (India).
Date: September 8, 2024
Time: 10:00 to 13:00 hours (IST)
Duration: 3 hours
Total marks: 100
The answer to each question is an integer in the range 00-99. No negative marking. OMR-based exam.
Composition of the paper: 10 questions of 2 marks each; 10 questions of 3 marks each; 10 questions of 5 marks each
Second stage exam :
Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO)
Date: November 3, 2024; Time: 13:00 to 16:00 hrs
Duration: 3 hours
Number of questions: 06
Each question requires writing detailed proof.
Third stage exam:
Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO)
Number of questions: 06
Date: January 19, 2025; Time: 12:00 to 16:30 Hrs.
Duration: 4.5 hours
Each question requires writing detailed proof.
IMO Required Documents
Students and schools must ensure that the following documents are ready during the registration process:
Student Identification: A copy of the student’s school ID or any other government-issued ID.
Proof of Class: A certificate or letter from the school verifying the student’s current class.
Photograph: A recent passport-sized photograph of the student.
Payment Proof: If paying offline, a copy of the payment receipt or demand draft. These documents help in verifying the student’s eligibility and ensure a smooth registration process.
IMO Registration Fees
- The registration price for the HBCSE Mathematics Olympiad is low, making it accessible to a diverse group of students like you.
- You can make a payment for stage 1 of HBCSE of Rs 240 online, if you are not a student of Kendriya Vidyalaya or Jawahar Navodya Vidyalaya using a variety of methods, including net banking, UPI, and credit/debit cards otherwise you need to pay Rs 125 for JNV and Rs 150 for KV by same mode. For offline registrations, a demand draft in favour of HBCSE may be submitted.
- You need not pay anything extra for the final stage i.e. IMO, however, you have to bear travel expenses for the same.
- Please note that you need not pay any fees for IMO’s subsequent 5 stages.
Eligibility Criteria for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)
You must note that the six-member team selected at the end of IMOTC, along with a leader, deputy leader, and observers, represent the country at the IMO.
Every year in July, IMO takes place in a different IMO member country. The IMO consists of two written tests administered on consecutive days. On each Day of the contest, you will have to write the test comprising three problems which lasts four and a half hours. Our country India has participated in the IMO since 1989.
To participate in the Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), you must first complete IOQM, which is an essential stage.
You must read and understand all the eligibility criteria for the former five stages of IMO.
You would be responsible for the expenses associated with the further journey to India and the return journey from India while you participate in the IMO final stage.
You must fulfil the criteria of not qualifying (or be scheduled to appear) for the class 12 board test before October 30, 2024.
You must not have begun (or expect to begin) studies at a university or equivalent institution by June 1, 2025, for the year 2024-25.
If you are among the INMO 2025 Awardees, you are eligible to write INMO 2024 directly WITHOUT qualifying through IOQM 2024 and RMO 2024 provided you fulfil the age criteria mentioned, you haven’t commenced (or planning to commence by June 1, 2025) studies in a university or equivalent institution and you fulfil the eligibility criteria of IMO 2025 and EGMO 2025.
Please note that if you are an Overseas Citizen of India student, you are not eligible to represent India in IMO 2024 and EGMO 2025.
Kindly note that it will be your responsibility to guarantee that the above eligibility requirements are met.
If it is discovered at any later point in the program that you do not match the eligibility criteria, you may be disqualified from participation.
International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) Exam Pattern and Syllabus
You must note that the IMO is a highly competitive and prestigious examination designed to identify and nurture mathematical talent among pre-university students. It is part of a global initiative that culminates in the International Mathematical Olympiad, where top students from around the world compete.
Stages of the Mathematical Olympiad Programme
The IMO is conducted in several stages:
Stage 1: Pre-Regional Mathematical Olympiad (PRMO): A preliminary screening test to select students for the next stage.
Stage 2: Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO): A regional-level examination where selected students compete.
Stage 3: Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO): A national-level exam to select the top students for the training camp.
Stage 4: International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp (IMOTC): An intensive training program for selected students.
Stage 5: International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO): The final stage where the best students represent India at the international level.
| Important Stage | Important Dates |
| IOQM/PRMO centre registration dates | June 28 to July 28, 2024 |
| IOQM/PRMO student registration dates (through the centre) | June 28 to August 12, 2024 |
| IOQM/PRMO student registration dates (individually online) | July 17 to August 12, 2024 |
| IOQM/ PRMO 2024-25 exam date: | September 8, 2024 (10 am to 1 pm) |
| RMO 2024-25 Exam | November 3, 2024 (1 pm to 4 pm) |
| INMO 2024-25 Exam Date | January 19, 2025 (12 pm to 4:30 pm) |
Structure of the IMO Olympiad
The structure of the IMO varies slightly at each stage, but generally, it involves solving a set of mathematical problems that test various aspects of mathematical knowledge and reasoning. The problems become progressively more challenging as students advance through the stages.
Types of Questions Asked in IMO
The questions in the IMO are typically short-answer or long-answer type, requiring students to provide detailed solutions. They cover topics like:
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Number Theory
- Combinatorics
Recommended Study Material for IMO
To prepare for the IMO, students can refer to:
Textbooks: Standard textbooks on algebra, geometry, number theory, and combinatorics.
Olympiad Preparation Books: Specialized books like “Problem-Solving Strategies” by Arthur Engel and past IMO question papers.
Online Resources: Websites like Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) and Khan Academy.
Sample Papers for IMO
Practicing with sample papers is crucial for success in the IMO. These papers help students familiarize themselves with the format and difficulty level of the exam. Sample papers can be obtained from:
The official HBCSE website.
Various Olympiad preparation books and online resources such as Vedic Maths School.
International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 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 be noted that in addition to the topics covered in point no. 1 above the following topics are to be given importance while preparing for the olympiad examinations;
3. 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.
Recommended Books:
1. Higher Algebra; H.S.Hall & S.R.Knight
2. Higher Algebra; Barnard & Child
3. Polynomials; Ed Barbeau
4. Functional Equations: A Problem Solving Approach;
B.J.Venkatachala (Prism Books Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore)
5. Inequalities: An Approach Through Problems (texts & readings in
mathematics); B.J.Venkatachala, (Hindustan Book Agency)
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.
Recommended Books:
1. Geometry Revisited; H.S.M Coxeter & S.L.Greitzer
2. Problems in Plane Geometry; I.F.Sharygin
3. Plane Trigonometry; S.L.Loney
4. The Elements of Coordinate Geometry; S.L.Loney
Combinatorics
Basic enumeration, pigeonhole principle and its applications, recursion,
elementary graph theory.
Recommended Books:
1. Introductory Combinatorics; Richard A. Brualdi
2. Discrete Mathematics: Elementary and Beyond;
László Lovász, József Pelikán, Katalin Vesztergombi
3. Combinatorial Techniques; S. S. Sane
4. Combinatorics For Mathematical Olympiad; S. Muralidharan
Number Theory
Divisibility theory in integers includes 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 generalization of Fermat’s Theorem, Pythagorean triples (definition and properties), Diophantine equations.
Recommended Books:
1. Elementary Number Theory; David M. Burton
2. An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers;
Niven, Zuckerman, Montgomery
In addition to the books listed above the the question papers of earlier years
which are available at Olympiads dot abuse dot tif dot res dot in/subjects/mathematics/previous-question-papers-and-solutions and the following books may also be found helpful while preparing for the mathematical olympiad:
1. Problem Primer for Olympiads
C. R. Pranesachar, B. J. Venkatachala and C. S. Yogananda (Prism
Books Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore).
2. Challenge and Thrill of Pre-College Mathematics
V. Krishnamurthy, C. R. Pranesachar, K. N. Ranganathan and B. J.
Venkatachala (New Age International Publishers, New Delhi).
3. An Excursion in Mathematics
Editors: M. R. Modak, S. A. Katre V. V. Acharya and V. M.
Sholapurkar (Bhaskaracharya Pratishthana, Pune).
4. Problem Solving Strategies
A Engel (Springer-Verlag, Germany).
Fomin and others (University Press, Hyderabad).
It must be noted that the topics listed above do not constitute an exhaustive list. Problems asked in the RMO and INMO may include topics not explicitly stated above.
Contact Information of the Authority Conducting the HBCSE Mathematics Olympiad
For any queries or further assistance, participants can reach out to the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education through the following contact details:
Email: olympiad@hbcse dot tifr dot res dot in
Phone: +91-22-2278 9201/02/03
Address: Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, V.N. Purav Marg, Mankhurd, Mumbai 400088, India.
Other Related Olympiad Exam
Things to keep in mind before taking IMO
Before you take part in the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO), there are several crucial considerations.
First, it’s important to assess your current mathematical skills and identify any areas needing improvement. The IMO covers advanced topics that require a thorough understanding of high school mathematics, including algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory. Ensure you are well-versed in these areas.
Second, start preparing well in advance. Begin with solving problems from previous IMO contests and consider enrolling in specialized training or coaching if necessary. This will help you become familiar with the problem formats and difficulty levels.
Third, develop effective study strategies and time management skills. The IMO is known for its complex problems and limited time, so practice solving problems efficiently and under timed conditions. Fourth, understand the rules and structure of the exam. Know the number of problems, the scoring system, and the types of questions to expect.
Finally, maintain your physical and mental wellness. Ensure you are well-rested and manage stress effectively to perform at your best on the day of the competition.
