🏆 Olympiads and contests
IOQM, RMO and INMO: the national maths olympiad route
For students who love problem solving, the national route starts with IOQM and can lead to the Regional and National Olympiads and a training camp. Dates and rules change, so read the official notice each year.
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At a glance
IOQM, RMO and INMO (route to the International Mathematical Olympiad)
Syllabi, patterns and dates change. Check the official source below for the current notice.
First stage
IOQM, organised by HBCSE with partner organisations, for students of about Class 8 to 12 who meet the year's eligibility rules.
Format of IOQM
A three-hour paper of 30 questions with whole-number answers from 00 to 99.
Next stages
Qualifiers can go to the Regional Mathematical Olympiad and then the Indian National Mathematical Olympiad.
Full guide
Our IOQM guide has more detail on preparation.
What it covers
Topics to master
Number theory
Divisibility, remainders, primes and modular ideas.
Algebra
Equations, inequalities and sequences.
Geometry
Angle chasing, similar triangles and circles.
Combinatorics
Counting, arrangements and simple probability.
What earns marks
- Creative problem solving
- Patience with unfamiliar problems
- Accuracy with whole-number answers
Common mistakes
- Rushing into advanced material
- Reading solutions too early
- Practising only timed sets
- Treating it as life-or-death
A plan
How to prepare, in four phases
- 01Foundations first
Strong Class 8 to 10 maths before diving in.
- 02Topic by topic
Number theory, algebra, geometry and counting, in that order.
- 03Previous papers
Published past papers are the best practice.
- 04Problem notebook
Record each problem, attempt and the idea that worked.
Exams do not move
How many weeks do you have?
Enter your exam date and weekly hours. The free planner counts the weeks and splits them into a calm plan.
Free practice
Practise here, no sign-up
Prime number checker
Check whether a number is prime, see its prime factorisation, all its factors, the nearest primes, or list every prime up to 100,000.
Use the tool →LCM & HCF calculator
Find the lowest common multiple and highest common factor (GCD) of up to eight numbers, with a prime factor table that shows why.
Use the tool →24 game & solver
Make 24 from four numbers using + − × ÷. A classic puzzle for kids, parents and maths fans, with hints and a solver for any target.
Use the tool →Worksheets
Also useful
Official source: HBCSE Olympiad programme. Check it for the current syllabus, pattern and dates. We do not promise marks, ranks or selection.
Read
Guides
Maths, coding, AI & parents
IOQM guide: Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics, eligibility and preparation
What IOQM is, who can take it (Class 8 to 12), how the paper is organised, how it connects to RMO, INMO and the International Mathematical Olympiad, and how to prepare. Check official notices for dates and rules.
Read the guide →Maths, coding, AI & parents
Maths Olympiad preparation guide: how to start, what to practise and how to stay motivated
How to prepare for school and national maths Olympiads and competitions: what they test, key topics (number theory, geometry, counting), a weekly routine, how to practise non-routine problems and free tools to build speed and number sense.
Read the guide →Live online course
IOQM and RMO preparation: 36 live classes
12 weeks, 3 a week, from ₹367 a class in India (small group). See the week-by-week plan, the price for your country and how the demo class works.
FAQ
IOQM, RMO and INMO: questions people ask
Who can take IOQM?
Students in roughly Class 8 to 12 who meet that year's age and nationality rules. Read the official notice.
Is IOQM harder than school maths?
It asks for finding methods, not applying known ones, so it feels very different.
Do you promise selection?
No. We help with exploring problems and explaining solutions.
Where is the full guide?
See our IOQM guide.
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