IOQM

The recent format is a three-hour, 30-question, 100-mark numerical-answer paper. Answers are recorded on OMR. The 2026 portal states that there is no negative marking. Questions are numerical-answer type, so you write a number rather than choose from options. Always confirm the format for your year in the official notice.

For 2026, the published class range is 8–12 and the date-of-birth window is 1 August 2007 to 31 July 2014. Citizenship, residence and education conditions also apply. Eligibility rules are year-specific, so read every condition in the official notice for your examination year before registering.

IOQM is the first qualifier and focuses on strong numerical problem solving. It is challenging but designed as an entry stage; later stages such as RMO and INMO increasingly require complete written proofs. Building accuracy on numerical answers and learning to avoid missed cases are central to success.

The source does not state a retake policy. Eligibility is tied to class range and date-of-birth window for each year, so whether you can attempt again depends on the rules published for that year. Check the official notice for your year; do not assume a retake is allowed.

Start with previous IOQM papers, attempt problems before reading solutions, and review your mistakes. Build a weekly routine that covers number theory, algebra, geometry and combinatorics. Use hints only after a genuine attempt. A teacher-style syllabus and worked examples help you imagine the problems rather than memorise a chapter list.

The syllabus has four areas: number theory (divisibility, remainders, primes and patterns in whole numbers), algebra (unknown quantities, patterns, equations and relationships), geometry (shapes, angles, lengths and the reasons behind a diagram) and combinatorics (counting arrangements and choices without missing cases).

For 2026, official cutoffs were released on 22 October 2026. Scores are available; score challenges are closed. National and regional certificate cutoffs were still pending at the time of the source. Check the official student portal for your individual qualification status and the latest updates.

Eligible qualifiers progress to RMO under the published regional and category rules. A certificate threshold and an RMO-selection cutoff can be different. For 2026, RMO registration opens on 2 November 2026. The pathway continues through INMO, training camps and international competition.

Common mistakes include missing cases in counting problems, rushing numerical answers without checking, and not reviewing errors from practice papers. Since there is no negative marking in 2026, leaving a question blank is worse than a sensible attempt. Build a habit of verifying each answer before recording it on the OMR sheet.

The recent format allows three hours for 30 questions. That is about six minutes per question on average, but difficulty varies. Practise with timed papers to learn when to move on. Since answers are numerical, keep rough work organised so you can recheck quickly.