European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad 2026 (EGMO): Exam Details, Eligibility, and Syllabus

European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) is one of the most prestigious international mathematics competitions, specifically designed to encourage and challenge mathematically gifted young women across the globe. Since its inception in 2012, EGMO has become a major platform for female students to showcase their problem-solving skills on an international stage. For students aspiring to excel in higher-level mathematics, understanding the EGMO exam details and EGMO selection process is crucial. 

European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad Overview

EGMO is an annual international competition for female secondary school students. While it originated in Europe, it now welcomes guest teams from countries worldwide, including India. The competition follows a format similar to the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), focusing on complex, non-routine mathematical problems. 

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EGMO 2026 Exam Dates and Venue

The 15th edition, EGMO 2026, will be hosted in Bordeaux, France. The official program is scheduled to begin on April 9, 2026, and conclude on April 15, 2026. The core contest papers will be held on April 11 and 12, 2026.

EGMO Eligibility Criteria

To participate in EGMO, students must fulfill specific age and educational requirements. According to the EGMO eligibility criteria:

• Gender: Only female students are eligible to participate.

• Age Limit: Contestants for EGMO 2026 must have been born on or after April 2, 2006. Generally, students must be under 20 years of age on April 1st of the competition year.

• Education: Students must be enrolled in full-time primary or secondary education on or after December 1st of the year before the Olympiad. They must not have started university-level studies.

• Indian Participation: Students must be Indian citizens or residents studying in the Indian school system. Note that OCI students are currently ineligible to represent India in the final EGMO team.

EGMO Selection Process in India

In India, the EGMO selection process is highly competitive and is managed by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) in collaboration with the National Board for Higher Mathematics (NBHM). The selection follows a multi-stage process:

1. Stage 1: Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM): A 3-hour preliminary test consisting of 30 integer-type questions.

2. Stage 2: Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO): A descriptive exam where students solve 6 complex problems over 3 hours. There is a dedicated girls' quota at this stage to encourage participation.

3. Stage 3: Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO): The national-level championship consisting of 6 challenging problems to be solved in 4.5 hours.

4. Stage 4: Training Camps: Top-performing girls from INMO are invited to the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp (EGMOTC) or the International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp (IMOTC).

5. Final Selection: Based on performance in selection tests during the camps, the final 4-member Indian team is chosen to represent the country at the international EGMO.

EGMO Exam Format and Syllabus

The EGMO exam format consists of two consecutive days of testing.

• Structure: Each day, students are given 3 problems to solve within 4.5 hours.

• Scoring: Each problem is worth 7 points, making the maximum possible score 42 points.

EGMO Syllabus

The EGMO syllabus covers advanced topics that go beyond the standard school curriculum, emphasizing creative thinking and rigorous proofs. The primary areas include:

• Algebra: Polynomials, inequalities, functional equations, and sequences.

• Geometry: Euclidean geometry, properties of circles and triangles, and theorems like Ceva’s and Menelaus’s.

• Number Theory: Divisibility, congruences, Fermat’s Little Theorem, and Diophantine equations.

• Combinatorics: Pigeonhole principle, counting techniques, recursion, and basic graph theory.

EGMO Medal Criteria

Awards at EGMO are determined by the total scores of the contestants. The EGMO medal criteria follow the standard Olympiad ratio:

• Medals: Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals are awarded to approximately the top 1/12th, 1/6th, and 1/4th of participants, respectively.

• Honourable Mention: Awarded to any contestant who achieves a perfect score (7 points) on at least one problem but does not receive a medal.

EGMO India Participation and Results

EGMO India participation began in 2015. Since then, Indian teams have consistently delivered strong performances.

• In EGMO 2025 (Kosovo), India secured 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.

• In EGMO 2024 (Georgia), the team also achieved 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.

• Over the years, India has accumulated a total of 8 Silver medals, 17 Bronze medals, and 4 Honourable Mentions.

EGMO Preparation and Previous Year Questions

Aspiring participants are strongly encouraged to practice with EGMO previous year questions. Solving these problems helps students understand the required difficulty level and the style of descriptive proofs needed for the competition. Students can find resources and EGMO official website links via the HBCSE Mathematical Olympiad portal to access past papers from both national and international stages.

Quick Tips for Success:

1. Master Foundations: Focus on NCERT class 8-12 basics before moving to advanced Olympiad topics.

2. Practice Proofs: Unlike school exams, EGMO requires detailed step-by-step mathematical proofs.

3. Refer Standard Books: Use resources like "Challenge and Thrill of Pre-College Mathematics" and books by H.S. Hall & S.R. Knight.

4. Join Training: Participate in regional training camps (INMOTC) whenever possible.