The Legacy of the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO): Nurturing Mathematical Excellence Since the 1950.
Competition Schedule 2025
SMO 2025 competitions will be held as follows:
Singapore Mathematical Olympiad 2025
Individual Awards at the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO)
The Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO) doesn’t just challenge students—it celebrates their achievements too. Every year, students who take part in the SMO have the chance to earn individual awards based on how well they perform in the competition.
These awards are a way to recognize students’ hard work, creativity, and problem-solving skills. They also help to encourage a deeper interest in mathematics among young learners across Singapore.
Here’s how the awards typically break down:
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Gold Award – Given to the top scorers in each category. These students show outstanding mathematical ability and often rank in the top 5% of participants.
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Silver Award – Awarded to students who perform very well, just below the gold tier. Their solutions often show strong logic and insight.
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Bronze Award – Recognizes students who demonstrate good mathematical understanding and problem-solving skills.
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Honourable Mention – Given to participants who may not win a medal but still show potential and merit recognition.
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Certificate of Participation – All other students receive this as a token of appreciation for their effort and commitment.
The SMO is held in different levels—Junior (lower secondary), Senior (upper secondary), and Open (junior college)—and awards are given separately in each category.
What makes these awards special is that top performers may be selected for further training programs, and some may even get a shot at joining Singapore’s national team for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).
So, whether a student wins a medal or not, participating in the SMO is an achievement in itself—and often the first step on a bigger mathematical journey.
School Awards & Challenge Trophy in the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO)
While the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO) celebrates individual brilliance, it also recognizes the collective efforts of schools that consistently nurture mathematical talent. To encourage a culture of excellence in mathematics across educational institutions, school awards and the prestigious Challenge Trophy are awarded each year.
School Awards
Schools that perform exceptionally well based on the combined results of their top students receive special recognition. These awards highlight schools that demonstrate strong support for mathematics enrichment and Olympiad preparation.
School rankings are typically determined by the cumulative scores or medal tallies of the top-performing students in each SMO category—Junior, Senior, and Open.
Depending on the category, schools may be awarded:
Top School Award – Presented to the school with the highest overall performance in a given section.
Certificate of Excellence – Given to schools with multiple medal winners or consistently high-scoring students.
Honour Roll Mentions – Sometimes schools that show significant improvement or rising talent are acknowledged in the SMO results.
The Challenge Trophy
One of the highest honors in the SMO is the Challenge Trophy, which is awarded to the best-performing school overall. This coveted trophy reflects not just a single year’s achievement, but often a school’s long-term dedication to mathematical excellence.
The Challenge Trophy usually goes to the school with the highest aggregate score across multiple levels of the competition.
Some schools have built a legacy around winning this trophy, inspiring younger students to aim high year after year.
The trophy is a symbol of prestige and is held by the winning school for one year, until the next SMO.
How Schools Can Prepare for the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO)
Preparing students for the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO) is not just about drilling formulas—it's about building a culture of curiosity, resilience, and mathematical thinking. Schools that consistently perform well in SMO often take a long-term, structured approach to preparation.
Here are some effective strategies schools can adopt to help their students succeed:
1. Start Early
Top-performing schools usually start preparing students from lower secondary levels. Identifying math-inclined students early allows for gradual exposure to Olympiad-style questions, which are often quite different from standard curriculum problems.
2. Form a Math Olympiad Club
Having a dedicated Math Olympiad club or enrichment program gives students a platform to meet regularly, solve challenging problems together, and learn from one another. It also helps build motivation and a sense of community among math enthusiasts.
3. Engage Experienced Mentors
Many schools bring in former SMO participants, teachers with Olympiad experience, or even university lecturers to guide students. These mentors can teach advanced problem-solving techniques and share valuable exam strategies.
4. Use Past Year Papers
Practicing past SMO papers is one of the best ways to understand the format, difficulty level, and common themes in the competition. Regular mock tests based on previous years can help build speed, accuracy, and confidence.
5. Encourage Peer Learning
Group problem-solving sessions often lead to deeper understanding. Students explaining their solutions to peers also learn to think more clearly and logically. Collaborative learning mimics the spirit of international Olympiads and encourages critical thinking.
6. Celebrate Progress
Recognize every student's effort, not just medal winners. Highlighting improvements, perseverance, and creative thinking helps maintain interest and builds a healthy, growth-oriented learning environment.
7.Track Performance
Maintain a database of student performance over time. This helps teachers spot patterns, provide targeted support, and prepare stronger teams for future competitions.
Bonus Tip: Aim for the Challenge Trophy
Schools aiming to win the Challenge Trophy should focus on building a strong team across all three categories—Junior, Senior, and Open. Supporting top students while growing the next batch of talent ensures sustained success in the long run.
With the right planning, resources, and encouragement, any school can develop a winning SMO culture—and more importantly, instill a lifelong love for mathematics in its students.
Round 2 of the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO): A Deeper Dive into Problem Solving
While Round 1 of the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO) serves as the entry point for thousands of students across the country, Round 2 s where things get more intense—and more exciting. Only the top scorers from Round 1 are invited to participate in this advanced stage of the competition.
What is Round 2?
Round 2 is designed to challenge even the most talented young mathematicians. It focuses on deep thinking, rigorous proofs, and creative problem-solving. Unlike Round 1, which often contains shorter and objective-style questions, Round 2 requires detailed written solutions, including clear reasoning and logical structure.
This round is meant to mirror the kind of problems students might face in international math competitions like the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).
Format and Structure
The format of Round 2 varies slightly depending on the category:
Junior Section (Lower Secondary): Fewer questions, but each one is longer and requires a well-thought-out explanation.
Senior Section (Upper Secondary): Includes challenging algebra, number theory, geometry, and combinatorics problems that go well beyond the school syllabus.
Open Section (Junior College / Pre-University) :Most demanding of all, often requiring Olympiad-level insights and techniques.
Each paper usually contains 4 to 6 problems, and students are expected to provide full, well-reasoned solutions—no multiple choice or short answers here.
Scoring and Evaluation
Round 2 is graded based on quality of reasoning, clarity of explanation, and mathematical rigor. Partial credit is often awarded for good ideas, even if the solution isn’t fully complete. This rewards students who think deeply and try creative approaches.
Why Round 2 Matters
It’s used to select students for national math training programs.
Top scorers may be invited to further selection rounds for the Singapore IMO team.
Performing well in Round 2 is a prestigious achievement in itself and is often seen on university applications and scholarship profiles.
Tips for Round 2 Preparation
Practice full solutions from past SMO Round 2 papers and regional Olympiads.
Focus on proof-writing skills—clarity and logic matter just as much as getting the answer.
Learn common Olympiad techniques: parity arguments, invariants, pigeonhole principle, recursion, and clever constructions.
Study in small groups or with a mentor to get feedback on your solutions.
Round 2 of the SMO is not just a test—it's a celebration of mathematical thinking at its highest level. For students who love challenges and want to stretch their problem-solving abilities, this is where the real journey begins.
Participation & Registration Guidelines for SMO 2025
If your school is planning to register students for the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO) 2025, please read the following instructions carefully to ensure a smooth and successful registration process.
Who Can Register?
Registration is open to schools based in Singapore only.
Overseas participants may join only if their National Mathematical Society has an existing agreement with the Singapore Mathematical Society (SMS).
Schools must ensure that all participants meet the age eligibility criteria.Any breach—intentional or accidental—will lead to disqualification of the entire school’s entry.
Registration Form Details
Only one registration form is needed per school, covering all categories (Junior, Senior, and Open).
You must use the official template provided by the organizers. Forms submitted in other formats will not be accepted, and the SMS will not convert file formats on your behalf.
The "Singaporean/PR” column must be filled in accurately. This is required for IMO training selection purposes.
The “Stream” column should be left blank.
Submission Process
Email the completed registration form as an attachment to:
[smssmo@nus.edu.sg](mailto:smssmo@nus.edu.sg)
The deadline for submission is 31 March 2025.
(Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances due to tight timelines.)
Adding or Editing Participants
To add new participants after your initial submission (but still before the deadline), simply fill out a new registration form and email it separately to the same address.
(Do not merge the lists—it may cause processing delays or errors.)
To correct details(e.g. spelling errors) in your submission before the deadline, email the changes with clear participant details to [smssmo@nus.edu.sg](mailto:smssmo@nus.edu.sg).
Important Notes
Replacements or substitutions are NOT allowed once the registration is submitted.
Registration fees will be forfeited if a participant is unable to attend the competition.
No registrations will be accepted after 31 March 2025.
By submitting the registration form, schools and participants agree to allow SMS to publish participant names on their official website for administrative purposes.
Make sure your school follows these guidelines closely to ensure a successful SMO 2025 registration. For official templates or queries, always refer to the [Singapore Mathematical Society](https://sms.math.nus.edu.sg/) website or contact the organizers directly.
Sample Questions For SMO
Sample 1
Sample 2
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