
IMO Syllabus 2026 for classes 1 to 12 covers a comprehensive range of mathematical concepts, promoting logical and analytical skills among students. The exam pattern typically includes sections on logical reasoning, mathematical reasoning, everyday mathematics, and an achievers section, focusing on problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
The 67th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2026 will be hosted in Shanghai, China. The prestigious event will take place at Shanghai High School and is being organized under the guidance of the China Association for Science and Technology and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, with co-hosting by the Chinese Mathematical Society and the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission.
| IMO Syllabus 2026 Overview | |
| Exam Name | International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO 2026) |
| Types of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Duration of IMO Exam | 1 Hour |
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Official Website | https://olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in/ |
|
Section |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
Marks/Question |
Total marks |
|
Section 1 - Logical Reasoning |
Patterns, Odd One Out, Measuring Units, Geometrical Shapes, Spatial Understanding, Grouping, Analogy, Ranking Test, Problems based on Figures. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 2 -Mathematical Reasoning |
Numerals, Number Names, Number Sense (2-digit numbers), Addition, Subtraction, Lengths, Weights and Comparisons, Time, Money, Geometrical Shapes and Solids. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 3 -Everyday Mathematics |
Syllabus as per Section-2. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 4 - Achievers Section |
Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section-2 |
5 |
2 |
10 |
|
Total = 35 |
Total = 40 |
|
Section |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
Marks/Question |
Total marks |
|
Section 1 - Logical Reasoning |
Patterns, Odd One Out, Measuring Units, Geometrical Shapes, Analogy, Ranking Test, Grouping of Figures, Embedded Figures, Coding-Decoding. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 2 -Mathematical Reasoning |
Numerals, number names, Number Sense (3-digit Numbers), Computation Operations, Length, Weight, Capacity, Time, Temperature, Money, Lines, Shapes and Solids, Pictographs, Patterns. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 3 -Everyday Mathematics |
Syllabus as per Section 2. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 4 - Achievers Section |
Higher Order Thinking Questions- Syllabus as per Section 2. |
5 |
2 |
10 |
|
Total = 35 |
Total = 40 |
|
Section |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
Marks/Question |
Total marks |
|
Section 1 - Logical Reasoning |
Patterns, Analogy and Classification, Alphabet Test, Coding-Decoding, Ranking Test, Grouping of Figures and Figure Matrix, Mirror Images, Geometrical Shapes, Embedded Figures, Possible Combinations, Clock and Calendar. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 2 -Mathematical Reasoning |
Numerals, Number Names, Number Sense (4-digit numbers), Computation Operations, Fractions, Length, Weight, Capacity, Temperature, Time, Money, Geometry, Data Handling. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 3 -Everyday Mathematics |
Syllabus as per Section 2. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 4 - Achievers Section |
Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2. |
5 |
2 |
10 |
|
Total = 35 |
Total = 40 |
|
Section |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
Marks/Question |
Total marks |
|
Section 1 - Logical Reasoning |
Patterns, Alphabet Test, Coding-Decoding, Ranking Test, Mirror Images, Geometrical Shapes and Solids, Embedded Figures, Direction Sense Test, Possible Combinations, Analogy and Classification, Clock and Calendar. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 2 -Mathematical Reasoning |
Numerals, Number Names, Number Sense (more than 4-digit numbers), Computation Operations, Fractions, Length, Weight, Capacity, Time, Money, Geometry, Perimeter of Various Shapes, Symmetry, Conversions, Data Handling. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 3 -Everyday Mathematics |
Syllabus as per Section 2. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 4 - Achievers Section |
Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section–2. |
5 |
2 |
10 |
|
Total = 35 |
Total = 40 |
|
Section |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
Marks/Question |
Total marks |
|
Section 1 - Logical Reasoning |
Patterns, Analogy and Classification, Geometrical Shapes, Mirror and Water Images, Direction Sense Test, Ranking Test, Alphabet Test, Logical Sequence of Words, Puzzle Test, Coding-Decoding, Clock and Calendar. |
15 |
1 |
15 |
|
Section 2 -Mathematical Reasoning |
Numerals, Number Names, Number Sense (7 and 8 digit numbers), Computation Operations, Fractions and Decimals, Measurement of Length, Weight, Capacity, Time, Temperature and Money, Conversions, Geometrical Shapes and Solids, Angles, Perimeter of Various Shapes & Area of Rectangle and Square, Symmetry, Data Handling. |
20 |
1 |
20 |
|
Section 3 -Everyday Mathematics |
Syllabus as per Section-2. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 4 - Achievers Section |
Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section-2. |
5 |
3 |
15 |
|
Total = 50 |
Total = 60 |
|
Section |
Topics |
NO. OF Questions |
Marks/Question |
Total marks |
|
Section 1 - Logical Reasoning |
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. |
15 |
1 |
15 |
|
Section 2 -Mathematical Reasoning |
Knowing Our Numbers, Whole Numbers, Playing with Numbers, Basic Geometrical Ideas, Understanding Elementary Shapes, Integers, Fractions, Decimals, Data Handling, Mensuration, Algebra, Ratio and Proportion. |
20 |
1 |
20 |
|
Section 3 -Everyday Mathematics |
Syllabus as per Section - 2. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 4 - Achievers Section |
Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2. |
5 |
3 |
15 |
|
Total = 50 |
Total = 60 |
|
Section |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
Marks/Question |
Total marks |
|
Section 1 - Logical Reasoning |
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning |
15 |
1 |
15 |
|
Section 2 -Mathematical Reasoning |
Integers, Fractions and Decimals, Exponents and Powers, Algebraic Expressions, Simple Equations, Lines and Angles, Comparing Quantities, The Triangle and its Properties, Symmetry, Rational Numbers, Perimeter and Area, Data Handling, Visualising Solid Shapes. |
20 |
1 |
20 |
|
Section 3 -Everyday Mathematics |
Syllabus as per Section - 2. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 4 - Achievers Section |
Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2. |
5 |
3 |
15 |
|
Total = 50 |
Total = 60 |
|
Section |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
Marks/Question |
Total marks |
|
Section 1 - Logical Reasoning |
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. |
15 |
1 |
15 |
|
Section 2 -Mathematical Reasoning |
Rational Numbers, Squares and Square Roots, Cubes and Cube Roots, Exponents and Powers, Comparing Quantities, Algebraic Expressions, Linear Equations in One Variable, Understanding Quadrilaterals, Mensuration, Data Handling, Direct and Inverse Proportions, Factorisation, Introduction to Graphs. |
20 |
1 |
20 |
|
Section 3 -Everyday Mathematics |
Syllabus as per Section - 2. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 4 - Achievers Section |
Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2. |
5 |
3 |
15 |
|
Total = 50 |
Total = 60 |
|
Section |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
Marks/Question |
Total marks |
|
Section 1 - Logical Reasoning |
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. |
15 |
1 |
15 |
|
Section 2 -Mathematical Reasoning |
Number Systems, Polynomials, Coordinate Geometry, Linear Equations in Two Variables, Introduction to Euclid’s Geometry, Lines and Angles, Triangles, Quadrilaterals, Circles, Heron’s Formula, Surface Areas and Volumes, Statistics. |
20 |
1 |
20 |
|
Section 3 -Everyday Mathematics |
The syllabus of this section will be based on the syllabus of Mathematical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 4 - Achievers Section |
Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2. |
5 |
3 |
15 |
|
Total = 50 |
Total = 60 |
|
Section |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
Marks/Question |
Total marks |
|
Section 1 - Logical Reasoning |
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. |
15 |
1 |
15 |
|
Section 2 -Mathematical Reasoning |
Real Numbers, Polynomials, Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables, Quadratic Equations, Arithmetic Progressions, Triangles, Coordinate Geometry, Introduction to Trigonometry, Some Applications of Trigonometry, Circles, Areas Related to Circles, Surface Areas and Volumes, Statistics, Probability. |
20 |
1 |
20 |
|
Section 3 -Everyday Mathematics |
The syllabus of this section will be based on the syllabus of Mathematical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 4 - Achievers Section |
Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2. |
5 |
3 |
15 |
|
Total = 50 |
Total = 60 |
|
Section |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
Marks/Question |
Total marks |
|
Section 1 - Logical Reasoning |
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. |
15 |
1 |
15 |
|
Section 2 -Mathematical Reasoning |
Sets, Relations and Functions, Logarithms, Complex Numbers & Quadratic Equations, Linear Inequalities, Sequences and Series, Trigonometry, Straight Lines, Conic Sections, Permutations and Combinations, Binomial Theorem, Statistics, Limits and Derivatives, Probability, Introduction to 3-D Geometry. OR Numbers, Quantification, Numerical Applications, Sets, Relations and Functions, Sequences and Series, Permutations and Combinations, Mathematical Reasoning, Limits, Continuity and Differentiability, Probability, Descriptive Statistics, Basics of Financial Mathematics, Straight Lines, Circles.
|
20 |
1 |
20 |
|
Section 3 -Everyday Mathematics |
The syllabus of this section will be based on the syllabus of Quantitative Aptitude. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 4 - Achievers Section |
Sets, Relations and Functions, Sequences and Series, Permutations and Combinations, Limits and Derivatives, Straight Lines, Circles, Parabola, Probability. |
5 |
3 |
15 |
|
Total = 50 |
Total = 60 |
|
Section |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
Marks/Question |
Total marks |
|
Section 1 - Logical Reasoning |
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. |
15 |
1 |
15 |
|
Section 2 -Mathematical Reasoning |
Relations and Functions, Inverse Trigonometric Functions, Matrices and Determinants, Continuity and Differentiability, Application of Derivatives, Integrals, Application of Integrals, Differential Equations, Vector Algebra, Three Dimensional Geometry, Probability, Linear Programming.
OR Numbers, Quantification, Numerical Applications, Solutions of Simultaneous Linear Equations, Matrices, Determinants, Application of Derivatives, Integration, Application of Integrations, Differential Equations, Probability, Inferential Statistics, Index numbers, Time-based data, Financial Mathematics, Linear Programming. |
20 |
1 |
20 |
|
Section 3 -Everyday Mathematics |
The syllabus of this section will be based on the syllabus of Quantitative Aptitude. |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 4 - Achievers Section |
Matrices, Determinants, Application of Derivatives, Integration, Application of Integrations, Differential Equations, Linear Programming, Probability. |
5 |
3 |
15 |
|
Total = 50 |
Total = 60 |
| IMO Exam Pattern 2026 | ||||
| Class | Section | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
| 1 to 4 | Logical Reasoning | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 10 | 1 | 10 | |
| Everyday Mathematics | 10 | 1 | 10 | |
| Achievers Section | 5 | 2 | 10 | |
| Grand Total | 35 | 40 | ||
| 5 to 10 | Logical Reasoning | 15 | 1 | 15 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 20 | 1 | 20 | |
| Everyday Mathematics | 10 | 1 | 10 | |
| Achievers Section | 5 | 3 | 15 | |
| Grand Total | 50 | 60 | ||
| 11 to 12 | Logical Reasoning | 15 | 1 | 15 |
| Mathematical Reasoning /Applied Mathematics | 20 | 1 | 20 | |
| Everyday Mathematics | 10 | 1 | 10 | |
| Achievers Section | 5 | 3 | 15 | |
| Grand Total | 50 | 60 | ||