IMO (International)International Mathematical Olympiad
About IMO (International)
The International Mathematical Olympiad is the oldest and most prestigious of the international science olympiads, contested since 1959 by pre-university students from over a hundred countries. Each contestant faces six problems over two 4.5-hour days — problems built on elementary tools but demanding professional-grade ingenuity in proof.
India has participated since 1989, hosted the event in Mumbai in 1996, and selects its six-member team through the HBCSE pipeline: IOQM, then INMO, then the month-long IMO Training Camp. This entry covers the genuine international olympiad — it should not be confused with the Science Olympiad Foundation’s school contest of the same initials, listed here separately as SOF IMO.
Accepted by: Medals and honourable mentions are globally recognised credentials; in India, IMO team membership and medals are weighted heavily by institutions such as CMI and ISI and by international universities
Official websiteIMO (International) eligibility
School students under 20 who have not enrolled in university; India’s six-member team is selected via IOQM → INMO → IMOTC
IMO (International) exam pattern
Sections
- Two papers on consecutive days, each with 3 proof-based problems attempted over 4.5 hours
Marking scheme: None (fully subjective, partial credit for progress)
IMO (International) syllabus outline
- Number theory, algebra, combinatorics and geometry — no calculus required, but extreme depth expected
- Each contest day is a 4.5-hour sitting with three problems of escalating difficulty
- Medals are awarded to roughly half of all contestants in a 1:2:3 gold–silver–bronze ratio
Preparing for IMO (International)?
Olympiads reward deep fundamentals — the same preparation that pays off later in JEE, NEET and other entrance exams. Explore every national and international olympiad, or check the official site for this year's dates and registration.