The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is the highest-profile international proof-based Mathematics competition for national teams of school students. It is not an open-entry contest: students reach it through national selection and training systems.
The 67th IMO was held in Shanghai, China, from 10 to 21 July 2026. The official IMO record lists 117 countries and 666 contestants for the 2026 edition.
What IMO Mathematics looks like
IMO problems are proof problems. The core domains are traditionally algebra, combinatorics, geometry and number theory, but the real demand is deeper: invent a route, justify every step, manage cases and communicate a complete argument under time pressure.
The route is national before it is international
A Singapore student does not prepare for IMO by simply downloading IMO papers at an early stage. The practical route passes through strong local olympiad performance, selection and national training. BTT therefore links IMO downward to SMO and APMO.
Preparation principles
- Build deep domain knowledge instead of collecting tricks.
- Attempt hard problems for long enough to generate original structure.
- Write solutions completely and submit them to critique.
- Study alternative solutions for transferable ideas.
- Use past IMO problems selectively; difficulty should stretch rather than merely defeat.
The role of proof
At IMO level, proof is not presentation added after solving. Proof is the solution. Examples, diagrams and numerical experiments may reveal structure, but the final argument must establish why the claim holds in every required case.
Official source checked 26 September 2026: IMO official 2026 edition record.
World Mathematics route: return to the World Mathematics Atlas for the wider map across competitions, school Mathematics, examinations, mathematical objects and university routes.