Maths olympiad preparation for Class 3
Most Class 3 children do well on 8 to 10 problems most days, a notebook of mistakes, and one timed sample paper a week in the final month. Class 3 is also the first year at Math Kangaroo’s Ecolier level. Problems to try are just below.
Try ten Class 3 problems
Stuck? Hints come one step at a time. Nothing is sent anywhere, and there is no sign-in.
Rule: Add 1, then double. 5, 12, 26, 54, 110, ___.
- 2 Strategy, not opened yet
- 3 Worked step, not opened yet
What an olympiad asks at Class 3
At Class 3, papers mix school maths (place value, the four operations, simple fractions, measurement) with reasoning: number patterns, missing numbers, balance puzzles, simple logic. Questions are short, but each one has an option designed to catch a quick guess.
This is the first year the SOF paper has a Level 2 round, for the top 5% of each class, and the first year at Math Kangaroo’s Ecolier level. Both reward the same careful thinking.
Contests open to Class 3 in 2026-27
4 contests take Class 3 students this year. Most schools enter the first; the rest are worth a look if your child enjoyed the problems above.
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
- For Classes 1-4 the SOF paper has 35 questions in four sections: Logical Reasoning (10), Mathematical Reasoning (10), Everyday Mathematics (10) and the Achievers Section (5, worth 2 marks each), 40 marks in 60 minutes.
- Who sits it
- Entry is through the school. The top 5% of each class at Level 1 sit Level 2.
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 at Class 3. 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, so maths is only part of it.
New to Math Kangaroo? Its levels, format and how to prepare. To practise in its format, try Ecolier Kangaroo-style papers.
A daily plan: 10 to 15 minutes a day
Guides for this age suggest 8 to 10 problems a day. Little and often beats one long Sunday. (source: PW Store, Bhanzu)
| Monday to Friday | 8 to 10 problems from one topic, on their own, with hints when stuck. |
|---|---|
| Saturday | Ten problems from an old sample paper, timed loosely, then the misses talked through. |
| Sunday | Look back at the week’s wrong answers in a notebook. Redo two of them. |
In the last three weeks before a contest, swap one weekday for a timed section of that contest’s own sample paper, so the format holds no surprises on the day. More on this in our guide to daily maths practice for kids.
Mistakes children make at this age
Checking a pattern on two numbers only
4, 12, 36 could be “add 8, add 24” or “times 3”. A rule is only a rule if it works for every step shown.
Missing the word “not” or “except”
These small words decide the answer. Underlining them on paper, or pointing on screen, is enough.
Losing the carried ten
38 + 47 done in the head comes out as 75. Adding the tens first (30 + 40 = 70) and then the ones (8 + 7 = 15) is just as quick and loses nothing.
A bigger bottom number means a bigger fraction
Children pick 1/4 over 1/3 because 4 is more than 3. Cutting the same roti into three and into four pieces shows the opposite at once.
Where Kiwimath fits
Class 3 starts at Level 2 in Kiwimath. Each topic is a ladder of small skills: a right answer moves your child up a step, a wrong one brings another problem on the same idea when there is one, and a hint is always one tap away. A skill counts as mastered only after it has been solved without hints on two different days.
Level 2 topics: Balance the Scale, Fair Shares, Rule Finders, Brain Benders, Turn & Flip, Measure Masters, Number Families, Big Numbers, Last-Digit Detective.
Questions parents ask
Which olympiad should a Class 3 child start with?
The SOF International Mathematics Olympiad is the one most schools enter, so it is the easiest start. Math Kangaroo, in April, is more puzzle-like and a good second contest.
How many questions are in the SOF maths olympiad for Class 3?
35 questions for 40 marks, in four sections, in 60 minutes.
Does Kiwimath follow the SOF syllabus?
No. Kiwimath is not tied to one contest. Level 2 practises the kind of reasoning these papers share, and adapts to your child: a right answer moves them up a step, a wrong one brings another problem on the same idea when there is one. For a specific contest, add its own past papers in the last weeks.
How much time a day is enough?
10 to 15 minutes, most days. Short and regular works better than a long session once a week.
Class 3 starts at Level 2
Level 2 is for Class 3-4. If the first problems feel too easy or too hard, you can move up or down a level at any time; nothing is locked to a class.
Start at Level 2 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)
- How to prepare for maths olympiad for Class 3PW Store
- How to prepare for a math olympiadBhanzu