SOF IMO Syllabus & Exam Pattern (Classes 1-6)
Last updated: June 2026 · For the 2026-27 academic year
What is the SOF IMO?
The SOF International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) is an annual maths Olympiad conducted by the Science Olympiad Foundation, the same body that runs the IEO (English) and NSO (Science). It rewards children who can reason with maths, not just calculate quickly.
From Class 3 onwards the exam has two levels: Level 1 (school-level, November-December) and Level 2 (the international final) for those who qualify. Classes 1 and 2 take only Level 1. Every paper is multiple choice on an OMR sheet, with no negative marking.
Exam format, and how it changes by class
The IMO always has four sections, but the number of questions and the marks depend on your child's class. There are two patterns:
Classes 1-4: 35 questions, 40 marks
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 1: Logical Reasoning | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Section 2: Mathematical Reasoning | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Section 3: Everyday Mathematics | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Section 4: Achievers (HOTS) | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Total | 35 | 40 |
Classes 5-12: 50 questions, 60 marks
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 1: Logical Reasoning | 15 | 1 | 15 |
| Section 2: Mathematical Reasoning | 20 | 1 | 20 |
| Section 3: Everyday Mathematics | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Section 4: Achievers (HOTS) | 5 | 3 | 15 |
| Total | 50 | 60 |
Time: 60 minutes. Multiple choice, 4 options, OMR, no negative marking. Achievers questions are worth 2 marks each for Classes 1-4 and 3 marks each from Class 5. Only Classes 3-12 have a Level 2; Classes 1 and 2 take Level 1 only.
Class-by-class syllabus
The maths topics escalate each year. Pick your child's class for its exact format and topic list:
The four sections
Section 1: Logical Reasoning
Non-maths puzzles: patterns, analogy, coding-decoding, mirror and water images, ranking, direction sense, clock and calendar. The skills escalate every grade.
Section 2: Mathematical Reasoning
The core maths syllabus for the class: number sense, operations, fractions and decimals, measurement, geometry, data handling, and more.
Section 3: Everyday Mathematics
The same maths applied to real-life situations and word problems, the way a child meets numbers outside the textbook.
Section 4: Achievers Section (HOTS)
Higher Order Thinking questions drawn from the Mathematical Reasoning syllabus, worth double marks (×2 for Classes 1-4, ×3 from Class 5). This is where ranks are decided.
Practising for the IMO?
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See Glovoy Math & join the waitlist →This is an independent guide. Glovoy is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Science Olympiad Foundation. "SOF" and "IMO" are trademarks of their respective owners and are used here only to describe the exam. Always confirm the current syllabus, pattern and dates on the official SOF website before your child sits the exam.