Mathematical Olympiad Programme in India: Everything You Need to Know

The Mathematical Olympiad Programme (MOP) in India, which leads to the participation of Indian students in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), is organized by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) in collaboration with the National Board for Higher Mathematics (NBHM) of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. The first stage (IOQM) of the Olympiad examination is conducted by MTA (Mathematics Teachers’ Association) with assistance from IAPT, while the later stages are the responsibility of HBCSE. This programme is one of the major initiatives undertaken by the NBHM. 

Aim of Mathematical Olympiads:

• To stimulate love and enthusiasm for mathematics
• To provide a healthy competitive activity that facilitates the learning of mathematical concepts, and the teaching of major strategies for problem-solving
• To foster mathematical creativity and ingenuity, and the thrill of meeting challenges
• To spot mathematical talent among pre-university students in the country

The Five Stages of Mathematical Olympiad Programme

In order to select the students for International Olympiads, the country has been divided into regions with a regional coordinator responsible for each region (details of which are available on the HBCSE website). The Mathematical Olympiad programme consists of the following five stages:

Also See:

Maths Olympiad Preparation

Olympiad Workshops

Some Other Respectable Mathematical Olympiads

• European Girls Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO): The EGMO, which started in 2012, is a platform that promotes a career in Mathematics amongst girl students by challenging the brightest four pre-university girl students from each participating country. The EGMO is a two-day event with two written tests held on two consecutive days. Each test consists of three problems and the contest lasts for four and half hours on each day. India has been participating in the EGMO since 2015 and the selection process for EGMO is conjoined with that for the IMO (The International Mathematical Olympiad).
• Asia Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO): The APMO, which started in 1989, is a contest specifically held for students in Asian countries and the countries on the rim of the Pacific Ocean. A student can participate in APMO in his/her own country. India has been participating in the APMO since 2015. The APMO is a one-day event consisting of 5 problems to be solved in four hours. The other rules and regulations for participating in APMO are much like the IMO.

The Five Stages

Stage 1: Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM)

1. IOQM is the first stage of IMO organized by MTA with assistance of IAPT
2. The test paper contains 24 Questions
3. Test Duration is 3Hrs.
4. Total marks: 100
5. The answer to each question is an integer in the range 00-99. No negative marking.
6. Paper pattern: OMR-based exam
7. Composition of the paper: 10 questions of 2 marks each; 12 questions of 5 marks each; 2 questions of 10 marks each
8. Selections: Approx. 600 (Across all regions)
9. Eligibility: Born between August 1, 2003, and January 1, 2009, and, in addition, VIII to XII Studying Students
10. A student who scores at least 20% of the total marks of the IOQM paper will receive a certificate.
11. Details of the examination fee and other relevant details are available on the IAPT Website: http://mtai.org.in/ or the HBCSE Website: https://olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in/

Stage 2: Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO)

1.  Usually held on the third Sunday of January
2.  Four Hours Written Test
3.  Selections: 25 top students: VIII to XI; 5 top students: XII, 3 students: Girls’ Quota
4.  Eligibility: Number of Examinees – Approx. 600 (Selected from IOQM)

Stage 3: International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp (IMOTC)

1.  The top 30-35 students from INMO are invited for stage 3.
2.  During the camp, orientation is provided to students for IMO.
3.  Several selection tests are held during this camp.
4.  Based on performance in these tests, 6 students are selected to represent India at the IMO.
5.  The junior students receive an INMO certificate and a prize in the form of books and the senior students receive a prize in the form of books and cash

Stage 4: Pre-departure Training Camp for IMO

The selected team undergoes a rigorous training programme for about 8 to 10 days at HBCSE.

Stage 5: International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)

1.  6 students are accompanied by 4 teachers or mentors to represent India at the International level.
2.  Two written tests were held on two consecutive days
3.  Each test consists of three problems
4.  The test Duration is 4.5 Hrs.
5.  Selection of team members for IMO will be subject to their fulfilling criteria such as age limit, medical fitness, parental consent, and others as specified by the council
6.  Each selected student needs to have a valid Indian passport meeting the visa regulations of the host country

Maths Olympiad Syllabus

The syllabus is spread over Class XI to Class XII levels, but the problems under each topic involve a high level of difficulty and sophistication. The difficulty level increases from one stage to another and the Previous Years’ Question papers available on the HBCSE website can provide a good idea of the types of questions one can expect.

Units covered: Algebra, Combinatorics, Geometry, Number Theory

Topics include: the arithmetic of integers, geometry, quadratic equations and expressions, trigonometry, co-ordinate geometry, the system of linear equations, permutations and combination, factorization of polynomial, inequalities, elementary Combinatorics, probability theory and number theory, finite series, and complex numbers, and elementary graph theory, etc.

To learn more about IMO from our experts, check out our detailed webinar “All You Need to Know About Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM) 2022” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JNGdOEeEBk