Singapore Mathematical Olympiad for Primary Schools (SMOPS)
An annual olympiad for upper primary students, organised by Hwa Chong Institution. SMOPS is one of the most well-established primary-level competitions in Singapore and serves as a common first step into competition math for younger students.
Quick Facts
| Coverage | National |
| Date | April (annually) |
| Eligibility | Primary 5 and Primary 6 students |
| Duration | 75 minutes |
| Format | Written (short-answer) |
About
SMOPS consists of 30 short-answer questions of increasing difficulty. Unlike school exams, no partial marks are awarded — answers are either correct or not. The problems require creative reasoning rather than memorised procedures, covering topics that go beyond the standard primary curriculum.
Top scorers are identified for further training opportunities. The highest-performing students qualify for APMOPS (Asia Pacific Mathematical Olympiad for Primary Schools), the international follow-on competition also organised by Hwa Chong Institution.
Structure
| Section | Problems | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Questions 1–10 | 10 questions | Easier problems — arithmetic, basic number theory, and geometry |
| Questions 11–20 | 10 questions | Moderate difficulty — pattern recognition, logical reasoning |
| Questions 21–30 | 10 questions | Harder problems — multi-step reasoning, combinatorics |
Topics
- Arithmetic & Number Theory — Fractions, ratios, divisibility, remainders, primes
- Geometry — Area, perimeter, angles, composite figures
- Combinatorics & Logic — Counting methods, arrangements, logical deduction
- Algebra — Simple equations, patterns, and sequences
Prizes
| Prize | Description |
|---|---|
| Gold | Top scorers nationwide |
| Silver | High scorers below Gold threshold |
| Bronze | Scorers below Silver threshold |