Maths olympiad preparation, class by class
A child can sit a maths olympiad from Class 1: the SOF Olympiad and Math Kangaroo take every class from 1 to 12, and from Class 8 the IOQM opens India’s path to the International Mathematical Olympiad. The best preparation is 10 to 15 minutes of real problems most days, at the right level.
Pick your child’s class
Each page has up to ten problems to try, the contests open to that class with dates, a daily plan and the mistakes children that age make.
- Class 1Level 1
- Class 2Level 1
- Class 3Level 2
- Class 4Level 2
- Class 5Level 3
- Class 6Level 3
- Class 7Level 4
- Class 8Level 4, and IOQM
Class 9 and up: start with IOQM preparation.
Olympiad questions to try now
A short set of five for each class here, with hints one step at a time (each class page has the longer set). Change the class to see how the questions grow.
Rule: Add 1, then double. 5, 12, 26, 54, 110, ___.
- 2 Strategy, not opened yet
- 3 Worked step, not opened yet
Which olympiads exist, by class
Five contests take primary and middle-school children, and one, IOQM, starts the official olympiad path in Class 8. The orange line is that path: IOQM, then RMO, INMO, a training camp and the International Mathematical Olympiad, each round by invitation from the one before.
- SOF Olympiad (school “IMO”)Class 1 to 12
- Math KangarooClass 1 to 12
- UIMOClass 1 to 10
- NSTSE (science and maths)Class 1 to 10
- NMTCClass 5 to 12
- IOQM, then RMO, INMO and the IMOClass 8 to 12
When each happens in 2026-27
SOF International Mathematics Olympiad
Science Olympiad Foundation, through schools. Classes 1 to 12.
- Next
- Level 1 on 23 October, 26 November or 10 December 2026; the school picks one date.
- The paper
- 60 minutes, multiple choice. Classes 1-4: 35 questions for 40 marks. Classes 5-12: 50 questions for 60 marks.
Math Kangaroo
Math Kangaroo India, for the international Kangaroo contest. Classes 1 to 12.
- Next
- The 2027 contest runs 17 to 30 April 2027. Registration closes 31 March 2027.
- The paper
- 90 minutes, multiple choice. 24 questions for Classes 1-4, 30 for Classes 5-12. Puzzles more than sums.
Unified International Mathematics Olympiad (UIMO)
Unified Council. Classes 1 to 10.
- Next
- Final test 10 January 2027 (mock test 3 January 2027).
- The paper
- A maths-only paper.
NSTSE
Unified Council. Classes 1 to 10.
- Next
- Through schools in November and December 2026; the online test for students who register on their own is on 24 January 2027.
- The paper
- 60 minutes. A science and maths paper: from Class 6, maths is 10 of the 60 marks.
NMTC (National Mathematics Talent Contest)
Association of Mathematics Teachers of India (AMTI). Classes 5 to 12.
- Next
- The 2026 screening test was on 30 August 2026 and the final is on 25 October 2026. The 2027 dates are not out yet.
- The paper
- A screening test, then a written final for the top students.
- Who sits it
- Primary (Gauss) is Class 5-6, Sub-Junior (Kaprekar) Class 7-8, Junior (Bhaskara) Class 9-10, Inter (Ramanujan) Class 11-12.
How to prepare in 10 to 15 minutes a day
Work at the right level, not the right class
A problem is useful when your child can almost do it. If every problem is easy, nothing grows; if every one is out of reach, they stop enjoying it. Start at the class page, then move up or down.
A few problems, most days
Guides for young children suggest 8 to 10 problems a day. (source: PW Store) Little and often keeps the habit alive through school weeks and holidays.
Stamina over speed
Olympiad problems are built so that no rule you know applies directly. The skill is staying with one for 20 or 30 minutes, trying small cases, drawing it. (source: Bhanzu) Speed comes later, from understanding.
Keep a notebook of mistakes
One line per mistake: what went wrong and what to do next time. Redo last week’s misses on Sunday. IOQM coaches give the same advice from Class 6. (source: ioqm.in)
Past papers only near the date
In the last three weeks, a timed section of the contest’s own sample paper each week, so the format holds no surprises. Before that, papers teach the format more than the maths.
Reading, as well as solving
For Class 5 to 7, a maths story can do what a worksheet can’t: show why an idea is true. Our free book Euclid’s Garden is written for that age. For Math Kangaroo, see its levels, format and how to prepare, then sit one of our Kangaroo-style practice papers.
Two different “IMOs”
Parents often mix these up. SOF’s International Mathematics Olympiad is a school contest for Classes 1 to 12, sat in your own school in October to December. The International Mathematical Olympiad is the world championship for school students: six students per country, chosen in India through IOQM, RMO, INMO and a camp. The 68th is in Budapest in July 2027. (source: Science Olympiad Foundation, International Mathematical Olympiad)
Questions parents ask
At what age can a child start maths olympiads?
Class 1. The SOF Olympiad and Math Kangaroo both take every class from 1 to 12. The official path to the International Mathematical Olympiad starts later, with IOQM in Class 8.
Is the SOF “IMO” the same as the International Mathematical Olympiad?
No. SOF’s International Mathematics Olympiad is a school contest for Classes 1 to 12, taken in your own school. The International Mathematical Olympiad is a world contest for six students per country; India’s team is chosen through IOQM, RMO, INMO and a training camp. How India’s IMO team is chosen.
How much practice does a child need?
Ten to fifteen minutes most days is enough for most children, at a level where some problems are hard. A guide for Class 3 suggests 8 to 10 problems a day. Short and regular beats a long session once a week.
Does my child need coaching classes?
Not to start. Most children up to Class 7 do well with daily problems at the right level, a mistakes notebook and the contest’s own sample papers near the date. Coaching helps some students later, around IOQM and RMO, when written proofs need someone to read them.
Where are the official past papers?
Each organiser publishes its own: HBCSE for IOQM, RMO and INMO, SOF for its Olympiad, and Math Kangaroo for Kangaroo. Links are in the sources at the end of this page and on each class page. IOQM past papers, and our own IOQM-style sets.
One climb, Class 1 to the IMO
Kiwimath is eight levels on one route. Tell us your child’s class and they start at the matching level; every problem after that is picked for them.
Start free Free during early access.
Sources
All checked on . Organisers change dates; if one of these differs from what your school tells you, trust the school and the organiser, and write to hello@kiwimaths.com so we can fix this page.
- International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO)Science Olympiad Foundation (the organiser)
- IMO exam pattern 2026-27Vedantu (a guide; SOF does not print the section split on its page)
- Exam datesMath Kangaroo India (the organiser in India)
- Contest categories (questions and duration)Math Kangaroo India (the organiser in India)
- Exam schedule 2026-27Unified Council (the organiser)
- About NSTSEUnified Council (the organiser)
- NMTC 2026 exam datePhysics Wallah (a guide; AMTI publishes dates through schools)
- NMTC exam detailsVedantu (a guide)
- Mathematical Olympiads 2026-2027 brochureHBCSE (the organiser)
- Eligibility criteria for IOQM 2026 (PDF)MTA(I) and HBCSE (the organisers)
- IOQM 2026-2027MTA(I) (runs the IOQM paper)
- Criteria for qualification from IOQM 2026 to RMO 2026 (PDF)HBCSE (the organiser)
- Criteria for qualification from RMO 2026 to INMO 2027 (PDF)HBCSE (the organiser)
- IMO 2027International Mathematical Olympiad (official site)
- How to prepare for maths olympiad for Class 3PW Store
- How to prepare for a math olympiadBhanzu
- IOQM preparation for Class 6-8ioqm.in