INTERNATIONAL MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD (IMO)

The SOF International Mathematics Olympiad is conducted at two levels:

Level 1: The first level of the test is organized in the respective schools of the participants during school hours.

(i) The level 1 competition is a test of 60 minutes duration comprising 35 objective-type (Multiple Choice) questions for class 1 to class 4 and 50 objective-type (Multiple Choice) questions for class 5 to class 12.

(ii) The question paper consists of four sections:

For Class 1 to Class 10

Section-1: Logical Reasoning
Section-2: Mathematical Reasoning
Section-3: Everyday Mathematics
Section-4: Achievers Section

For Class 11 and Class 12

Section-1: Logical Reasoning
Section-2: Mathematical Reasoning/ Applied Mathematics
Section-3: Everyday Mathematics
Section-4: Achievers Section

(iii) There are separate question papers for each date of exam.

(iv) The medium of the test is English.

(v) CBSE, ICSE/ISC and State Board syllabi are followed for setting the test papers. 

(vi) The exam is conducted during school hours.

Level 2: The level 2 is conducted for students of class 3 to class 12. The qualifiers to second round would include the following:

  • At International Level: Top 5% of candidates, class wise, who appear in the 1st level exam internationally.
  • At Zone/State Level: Top 25 rank holders from each Zone and each class.
  • At School Level: Class topper where at least 10 students from a class appear in the exam & scores at least 50% qualifying marks. 

Participating in the SOF International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) is a prestigious opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge and skills in the field of mathematics. The exam is designed to test students’ understanding of various concepts and applications in mathematics and its applications. It is conducted by the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) and attracts millions of participants from around the world. If you are looking to compete in this challenging competition, it is important to start preparing early and effectively.

Here are some tips on how to prepare effectively for the SOF IMO exam:

  • Understand the syllabus: The first step in preparing for the SOF IMO exam is to familiarize yourself with the IMO syllabus. The exam covers a wide range of topics in mathematics. Make sure to go through the syllabus and create a study plan based on the topics covered.
  • Create a Study Schedule: To effectively prepare for the SOF IMO exam, it is important to create a study schedule and adhere to it. Allocate specific time each day for studying mathematics concepts and practicing sample papers. Make sure you cover all the topics in the syllabus and revise regularly to reinforce your understanding.
  • Practice previous year's question papers: The best way to prepare for the IMO exam is to practice previous year's question papers. This will help you to understand the exam pattern, the types of questions asked, and the level of difficulty. Try to solve as many papers as possible to improve your problem-solving skills and time management.
  • Practice Sample Papers: One of the best ways to prepare is to practice from IMO sample papers regularly. This will help you familiarize yourself with the exam format, understand the types of questions asked, and improve your time management skills. Make it a point to solve at least one sample paper each day and analyze your performance to identify areas for improvement.
  • Focus on Conceptual Understanding: Instead of rote learning, focus on understanding the concepts and principles behind mathematics topics. This will not only help you in answering complex questions on the exam but also in applying your knowledge to real-world scenarios. Make sure you revise the fundamental concepts and practice solving problems to strengthen your conceptual understanding.
  • Seek Guidance: If you are facing difficulties in preparing for the SOF IMO exam, don't hesitate to seek guidance from teachers, mentors, or online tutors. They can provide you with additional study material, clarify your doubts, and offer valuable insights on how to approach the exam effectively. Joining coaching classes or online courses can also help you in preparing for the exam more efficiently.
  • Take online mock tests: Online mock tests are a great way to assess your preparation and identify areas where you need to improve. There are several platforms available online that offer mock tests for the IMO exam. Take these tests regularly to gauge your performance and work on your weaknesses.

Exam Date:

SOF IMO will be conducted on three dates, as under. A school may select one date to conduct the SOF IMO as per its convenience.

DATE ONE – 22nd October 2024
DATE TWO – 19th November 2024
DATE THREE – 12th December 2024

Dates of exams may change depending on impact of Corona on functioning of schools.

AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS/RECOGNITIONS

For the academic year 2023-24, SOF spent over Rs. 24 Crores on awards/scholarships, gifts & felicitations etc.

The following awards/scholarships will be provided to the winners of SOF International Mathematics Olympiad being held during the academic year 2024-25.

AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS - STUDENTS

International & Zonal awards/scholarships will be provided to 2nd level winners from class 3 to class 12. Class topper awards/scholarships and for classes 1 & 2, awards/scholarships will be provided to 1st level winners.

Second level Exams - may be conducted based on the prevalent conditions due to Corona virus at that time leading to feasibility of conducting 2nd level exams in all states. In case 2nd level exams are not conducted, results of 1st level exams will be treated as final results.

Each winner will be entitled to one award/scholarship for an exam. The winners will be entitled to the higher level award/scholarship only. For e.g., the international top 3 rank holders will be entitled to awards/scholarships based on their International ranks. Awards/scholarships accruing to them for Zonal ranks will be given to the next rank holder. Similarly, class topper award/scholarship accruing to a Zonal award/scholarship winner will be given to the next rank holder.

AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LEVEL TWO PERFORMANCE & FOR CLASSES ONE & TWO

AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
RANKSCHOLARSHIPSNO. OF AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS
1stRs.50,000/- Each + International Gold Medal* + Certificate of Outstanding Performance12
2ndRs.25,000/- Each + International Silver Medal* + Certificate of Outstanding Performance12
3rdRs.10,000/- Each + International Bronze Medal* + Certificate of Outstanding Performance12

* In case two or more students achieve the same international rank, cash award/scholarship in the applicable category will be distributed as under:

For up to 10 students getting the same rank, award/scholarship amount will be distributed equally. In addition, each winner will be awarded/provided a medal (in the applicable category) and a Certificate.

In case 11 or more students get the same rank, in lieu of cash award/scholarship, each winner will be awarded/provided scholarship of gifts worth Rs.1,000/- each + a medal ( in the applicable category) and a Certificate.

 
AT ZONAL LEVEL
RANKSCHOLARSHIPSNO. OF AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS
1stRs 5000/- Each + Zonal Gold Medal*+ Certificate of Zonal Excellence312
2ndRs 2500/- Each + Zonal Silver Medal*+ Certificate of Zonal Excellence312
3rdRs 1000/- Each + Zonal Bronze Medal*+ Certificate of Zonal Excellence312
4th to 10thGifts worth Rs 500/- Each + Certificate of Zonal Excellence2184
11th to 25th      Certificate of Zonal Excellence4680
Rank 26+Merit CertificateAll

* In case two or more students achieve the same Zonal rank, cash award/scholarship in the applicable category will be distributed as under:

For up to 5 students getting the same rank, award/scholarship amount will be distributed equally. In addition, each winner will be awarded a medal (in the applicable category) and a Certificate.

In case 6 or more students get the same rank, in lieu of cash award/scholarship, each winner will be awarded/provided scholarship of gifts worth Rs.1,000/- each + a medal ( in the applicable category) and a Certificate.

For single level exams and for 2 level exams, Medal of Distinction & Certificate of Distinction are awarded for 1st level performance and Zonal medals & Certificate of Zonal Excellence are awarded for 2nd level performance.

Single level exams are held for SOF IGKO, SOF ICSO, SOF ISSO, SOF IHO & SOF ICO.

For SOF IEO, SOF NSO & SOF IMO, class one and class two exams are single level exams.

Medals are gold /silver/ bronze coloured, as applicable

AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LEVEL ONE PERFORMANCE

AT ZONAL LEVEL
RANKSCHOLARSHIPSNO. OF AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS
1 to 25Medal of Distinction** + Certificate of Distinction + Student Performance Report7800
Rank 26+  Participation Certificate + Student Performance ReportAll

AT SCHOOL LEVEL

1. Medals to School/Class Toppers.

  • All students scoring 100% marks.
  • For 5 to 9 students writing the exam/class – Gold Medal of Excellence to top rank holder in class
  • For 10 to 25 students writing the exam/class – Gold Medal of Excellence to top 3 rank holders in class
  • For more than 25 students writing the exam/class – Gold Medal of Excellence to top 10% rank holders in class

2. Student Performance Report (SPR) for each participating student.

  • Every student who appears in SOF IMO is provided with a Student Performance Report (SPR). An SPR is a detailed analysis of how the student attempted the 1st level Olympiad exam.
  • The objective of SPR is to share with the student and her / his parents, analysis of student’s answers. This is expected to enable the student understand her/his strengths and areas requiring improvement in absolute terms and also on a competitive scale consisting of lacs of students of her/his class who appeared for the Olympiad.

     Student Performance Report (SPR) consists of five sections:

  • Section A – provides the student’s marks and rank achieved in School / City / Zone / Region / International level.
  • Section B – provides a past Year-wise analysis of the student.
  • Section C – provides a percentage score analysis of the student with a comparison at Class, City, Zone and International level.
  • Section D – provides a comparison of average marks analysis at the School, City, Zone and International level.
  • Section E – provides a Topic-wise performance analysis of the student.

3. Participation Certification to each student.

4. Merit Certificate to 2nd level participants.

5. Top 25 rank holders from each class & each Olympiad exam will be awarded Medals of Distinction. This will be applicable for winners from 26 Zones for performance in the 1st level Olympiads/ single level Olympiads.

AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS - SCHOOLS

AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
CATEGORYAWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPSNO. OF AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS
Best Principal*Rs 25000/- + Citation + Trophy20
Best TeacherRs 10000/- + Citation + Trophy10
 
AT ZONAL LEVEL
CATEGORYAWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPSNO. OF AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS
Best Principal* Rs 10000/- +Citation + Trophy130
Best Teacher Rs 5000/- Citation + Trophy78
 
AT district LEVEL
CATEGORYAWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPSNO. OF AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS
Best Principal*Rs 2500/- + Citation + Trophy500
Best TeacherRs 1000/- + Citation + Trophy400
 

*Awards/Scholarships to Principals are based on cumulative performance of schools in all exams, whereas awards/scholarships to teachers are based on performance of school in SOF IMO.

AT SCHOOL LEVEL

  •     In addition, following are also provided:-

    -    Appreciation Certificate to all Principal & teachers.
    -    Appreciation Gifts to select Principal & teachers.

 

The full form of SOF IMO is the International Mathematics Olympiad.

SOF IMO is a prestigious annual competition for high school students from around the world who are interested in mathematics and its applications. Participants compete in a series of challenging problems that test their mathematics and problem-solving skills. The competition aims to inspire and nurture the next generation of mathematicians and promote excellence in the field of mathematics.

Schools in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan & Nepal have to pay SOF a registration fee of INR 125 and for other countries, it is USD 9 (including GST) per student / Olympiad towards the cost of the examination.

Students can register for the SOF IMO International Mathematics Olympiad through their respective schools only. Individual registrations are not accepted.

Participants of Olympiads are ranked on the basis of marks obtained. Hence, after taking the first level of the test, students can judge themselves academically at five different levels - within the school, at city level, at zonal level, at regional level and above all at International level.

Each student is provided a Student Performance Report (SPR). The SPR analyses the strong and weak areas of the student and also gives a detailed performance comparison of the student vis-à-vis other students at School, City, Zonal and International level. Analysis of the student’s past years’ performance is also provided.

Students are suitably awarded/provided scholarship based on their International, Zonal and School ranking. Prizes are announced annually and include cash awards/scholarships, medals, gifts, certificates etc. Selective International toppers from each class are awarded/provided scholarship at a grand prize distribution ceremony held in Delhi, presided over by eminent personalities. Prizes for zonal winners and school winners are sent to their respective schools. For the year 2022-23, a sum of Rs. 20 crores was spent towards awards/scholarships, felicitations, scholarships etc.

Students of classes 1 to 12th are eligible to appear for the 1st level Olympiads. There is no other eligibility criterion like minimum marks. Students who qualify for the 2nd level exam include.

  • Top 5% of students’ class wise, who appear for the 1st level exam,
  • Zone wise top 25 rank holders class wise, and
  • Class toppers from each participating school where at least 10 students from a class appear in the exam & scores 50% qualifying marks.

Students from classes 1 and 2 are not required to appear for the 2nd level exam and are ranked based on their performance in the first level exam.

All the relevant information is sent to the schools registered with us across countries, along with prospectus, registration forms, posters and other details before the first round of exams and then as the date and venue of the second level is decided, the information is sent to the relevant schools again. The students come to know about the necessary details from their school teachers or through the SOF official website www.sofworld.org or through the SOF facebook page facebook.com/sofworld.

Please let us know the name, e-mail ID, complete address of your school along with name and contact details of the Principal. We will send detailed information and registration forms to your School so that your Principal / Olympiad Teacher-in-charge can register your names for the exam.

The syllabus of the Olympiads is the syllabus as prescribed by the CBSE, ICSE and various state boards. If you sit for the second level and have moved onto the next class, the syllabus will remain the same (i.e. of the previous class).  The details of syllabus are also posted on the Foundation’s website. Please click following link to access the syllabus 

In general, NCERT books/course books prescribed by the CBSE/ICSE/STATE BOARDS may be referred to for the preparation. We also have following books/testseries/resource material for Olympiad preparation:

Additionally, class XI and XII students can refer to the various MTG competitive books and magazines like Chemistry Today, Biology Today, Mathematics Today and Physics for You.

The above books/materials related to Olympiad are published by MTG – the official academic partner of SOF. Website:  www.mtg.in

Certainly. This will give you an opportunity to improve your previous rankings, and if you are successful in doing so, you will again be eligible for certificates and prizes. 

You can request your school authority to send your relevant details and fee immediately to us. We will accept it if it reaches us before the last date of registration (usually 30 days before the exam).

Sample Papers are sent to all schools registered for Olympiad exams. SOF website also contains these papers. Sample papers sent to the schools prior to the first level test are helpful and can be used for both levels of Olympiad exams.

In addition to the sample papers, students may also benefit by subscribing to OSDS – Olympiad Skill Development System (please refer to the link  IMO SAMPLE PAPERS for details)

For details please click following link: Structure and pattern

Results of Olympiads are declared within 8 weeks of the examination. The results are sent to the schools concerned. The results are also made available on our website. 

Although conducted by the same Foundation, ICSO, NSO, IMO, IEO, ICO, ISSO, IHO & IGKO are completely different competitions. Students can register for all the Olympiads in a year as per class eligibility.

All the important information regarding Olympiads, Seminars, etc., like date, time and venue is available on our website. So it is beneficial for you to visit our site www.sofworld.org and www.facebook.com/sofworld.

As soon as we finalize the date and venue of the presentation ceremony, we send out the information to the schools concerned and also share the dates on our website www.sofworld.org or on our facebook page www.facebook.com/sofworld. So please be in touch with your previous school or/and access our website regularly. 

Please request your Principal / Mathematics Teacher to inform us about the non-receipt of the above. We will send duplicate copies to your school as soon as we hear from them.

Send us the complete address of your school in the following format and we will send relevant information and registration forms to you at the appropriate time.
School Name, Postal Address, School E-mail, Principal’s Name, Phone Number & Principal’s E-mail ID.

Yes.

Yes.

Please click the following link to know criteria for Ranking.