Singapore Mathematics Olympiad (SMO)
The most prestigious national mathematics competition in Singapore, organised by the Singapore Mathematical Society and a key pathway to international olympiads such as the IMO.
Quick Facts
| Coverage | National |
| Date | June – July (annually) |
| Eligibility | Secondary to pre-university students |
| Duration | 2 rounds — 2.5 hours (Round 1) + 4 hours (Round 2) |
| Format | Written examination |
About
The Singapore Mathematics Olympiad is the highest-level national mathematics competition for secondary and pre-university students in Singapore. It is divided into three sub-competitions — Junior, Senior, and Open — each catering to different year groups.
Round 1 consists of 25 questions over 2.5 hours. Candidates who qualify advance to Round 2, which presents 5 questions of ascending difficulty over 4 hours, requiring full written proofs.
Organised by the Singapore Mathematical Society (SMS) with the support of the National University of Singapore (NUS) Department of Mathematics, the SMO identifies and nurtures top mathematical talent nationwide. Outstanding candidates may be invited to national training programmes as a pathway toward regional and international olympiads.
Structure
| Round | Problems | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 25 problems / 2.5 hours | Algebraic manipulation, synthetic geometry, elementary number theory, and combinatorial logic |
| Round 2 | 5 problems / 4 hours | Full proofs — advanced geometry, functional equations, higher-order inequalities, number theoretic proofs, and extremal combinatorics |
Suggested Topics
- Algebra — Polynomials, Inequalities, Functional equations
- Geometry — Circle properties, Triangles, Radical axes, Centers
- Number Theory — Modular arithmetic, Divisibility, Diophantine proofs
- Combinatorics — Counting, Pigeonhole principle, Extremal combinatorics
Prizes
| Prize | Description |
|---|---|
| Gold Medal | Top scorers who completed both rounds (at most top 10%) |
| Silver Medal | High scorers below Gold threshold |
| Bronze Medal | Scorers below Silver threshold |
| Honourable Mention | Below Bronze threshold but meeting the minimum standard |