Mohammad MirajThe International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) is a competitive exam conducted by the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) for students from Classes 1 to 12.
The exam is designed to test students’ mathematical reasoning, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Schools affiliated with SOF receive registration forms in advance and can select a convenient exam date. Schools must submit the forms 30 days before the exam date.
Again, students can register through their schools or individually online if their school is not participating.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the IMO eligibility criteria for both levels 1 and 2 of classes 1 to 12.
Table of Contents
General IMO Math Olympiad Eligibility Criteria
Age and Education Requirements
- Age Limit: Participants must be under 20 years old on the contest date.
- University Status: Participants must not be enrolled in a university or higher education institution.
- Residency: Participants should typically be citizens or long-term residents of the country they represent. Each country may have additional selection processes for their national team.
- Language: The medium of the test is English.
- Time Zone: The exam is conducted during school hours.
IMO Level 1 Eligibility Criteria
- Open to all students from Classes 1 to 12.
- No minimum marks or academic qualifications are required.
- Students can register through their schools or online if their school is not participating.
- The syllabus is based on CBSE, ICSE, and State Board curriculums.
- The exam consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering:
- Logical Reasoning
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Everyday Mathematics
- Achievers Section
- Classes 1 and 2: Only one level; results of Level 1 are considered final.
Exam Structure for Level 1
| Class | No. of Questions | Total Marks |
| 1 to 4 | 35 MCQs | 40 Marks |
| 5 to 12 | 50 MCQs | 60 Marks |
Here is the IMO 2024-25 marking scheme for Classes 1 to 4 in a structured format:
Section 1: Logical Reasoning
- Number of Questions: 10
- Marks per Question: 1
- Total Marks: 10
Section 2: Mathematical Reasoning
- Number of Questions: 10
- Marks per Question: 1
- Total Marks: 10
Section 3: Everyday Mathematics
- Number of Questions: 10
- Marks per Question: 1
- Total Marks: 10
Section 4: Achievers Section
- Number of Questions: 5
- Marks per Question: 2
- Total Marks: 10
Grand Total
- Number of Questions: 35
- Total Marks: 40
Here is the IMO 2024-25 marking scheme for Classes 5 to 12 in a structured format:
Section 1: Logical Reasoning
- Number of Questions: 15
- Marks per Question: 1
- Total Marks: 15
Section 2: Mathematical Reasoning
- Number of Questions: 20
- Marks per Question: 1
- Total Marks: 20
Section 3: Everyday Mathematics
- Number of Questions: 10
- Marks per Question: 1
- Total Marks: 10
Section 4: Achievers Section
- Number of Questions: 5
- Marks per Question: 3
- Total Marks: 15
Grand Total
- Number of Questions: 50
- Total Marks: 60
Cut-off scores for IMO Level 1 depend on:
- Exam difficulty
- Number of participants
- Section-wise weightage
- Scholarships and awards
IMO Level 2 Eligibility Criteria
- Open to students from Classes 3 to 12 who qualify in Level 1.
- Qualification Criteria:
- Top 5% of candidates from each class at the national level.
- Top 25 rank holders from each state or zone.
- School toppers (who score at least 50% of the highest marks in their class) qualify, provided the school has at least 10 students participating.
- Level 2 consists of higher-difficulty questions focusing on deeper conceptual understanding.
- The exam is conducted two months after Level 1.
Exam Structure for Level 2
| Class | Sections | No. of Questions |
| 3 & 4 | Mathematics, Achievers Section | 35 MCQs |
| 5 to 12 | Mathematics, Achievers Section | 50 MCQs |
Here is the IMO Level 2 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme for Classes 3 & 4 in a structured format:
Section 1: Mathematics
- Number of Questions: 30
- Marks per Question: 1
- Total Marks: 30
Section 2: Achievers Section
- Number of Questions: 5
- Marks per Question: 2
- Total Marks: 10
Grand Total
- Number of Questions: 35
- Total Marks: 40
Here is the IMO Level 2 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme for Classes 5 to 12 in a structured format:
Section 1: Mathematics
- Number of Questions: 45
- Marks per Question: 1
- Total Marks: 45
Section 2: Achievers Section
- Number of Questions: 5
- Marks per Question: 3
- Total Marks: 15
Grand Total
- Number of Questions: 50
- Total Marks: 60
Note: IMO Selection Criteria in Tie Case
Selection for Level 2 is based on a student’s total score in Level 1. In case of a tie, marks are considered in the following order:
- Achievers Section (M4) – Higher-order thinking questions.
- Mathematical Reasoning (M2) – Core mathematical concepts.
- Everyday Mathematics (M3) – Real-life application-based questions.
- Logical Reasoning (M1) – Analytical and reasoning skills.
When determining cut-off marks, sections are considered in the order: M4 → M2 → M3 → M1.
Conclusion
The IMO is a great opportunity for students to enhance their mathematical skills and compete at an international level. Since there are no strict eligibility criteria for Level 1, all interested students can participate and improve their logical and problem-solving abilities. However, for Level 2, only top-performing students move forward based on merit and section-wise performance.
