A comprehensive roadmap to national and international olympiad success — from first steps to the world stage.
The International Mathematical Olympiad selects participants through a multi-stage national process. Most countries hold regional rounds, national rounds, and training camps before finalizing their team of six.
Founded 1959. 6 problems over 2 days. Topics: algebra, combinatorics, geometry, number theory. ~600 contestants from \(100+\) countries.
Founded 1967. Theory paper (5 hours) + Experimental paper (5 hours). Covers mechanics, thermodynamics, EM, optics, modern physics.
Founded 1968. Theoretical exam (5 hours) + Practical lab exam (5 hours). Organic, inorganic, physical, analytical chemistry.
Founded 1989. Two 5-hour sessions of algorithmic programming. Data structures, graph theory, DP, computational geometry.
The gold standard for competition preparation. Covers strategies, tactics, and the psychology of problem solving. Essential for any serious olympiad aspirant.
A comprehensive collection of strategies with hundreds of problems spanning all olympiad topics. Organized by technique rather than subject — builds versatile problem solvers.
An accessible entry point that builds mathematical thinking through puzzles and recreational problems. Great for developing intuition before tackling harder material.
Modern, beautifully written geometry text tailored for olympiads. Covers computational and synthetic approaches, with extensive problem sets at every level.
Classic number theory text providing the deep theoretical background behind many olympiad number theory problems. Dense but rewarding.
Excellent for IPhO preparation. Covers elegant methods and shortcuts used in physics competitions. The problem sets are world-class.
The premier community for math competition students. Forums, courses (WOOT for olympiad level), Alcumus for practice, and an extensive wiki of problems and solutions.
Interactive courses in mathematics, physics, and CS. Excellent for building intuition through guided problem-solving. Great supplementary resource.
Evan Chen's olympiad training program. Structured problem sets with mentorship. Highly regarded for serious IMO aspirants. Application-based.
Free handouts on dozens of olympiad topics, from EGMO excerpts to advanced algebra. The "Napkin" project is a treasure trove.
MIT professor and former IMO gold medalist. His problem sets and lecture notes are freely available and excellent for advanced training.
Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education — organizes India's olympiad programs. Past papers and study materials available on their website.
"The most important thing is to love the problems. If you're only doing this for a medal, you'll burn out. Fall in love with the beauty of an elegant proof, and the results will follow."
— Advice inspired by Terence Tao (IMO Gold at age 13)
"Don't just solve problems — collect techniques. Every problem you solve should add a new tool to your mental toolbox. Over time, you'll start recognizing which tool fits which situation."
— Common advice from IMO medalists
"The gap between solving 3 and solving 4 problems at IMO is not about knowledge — it's about persistence, creativity under pressure, and the willingness to try unconventional approaches."
— Advice inspired by Maryam Mirzakhani (IMO Gold, Fields Medal)
"Study with friends who are better than you. Teach friends who are learning. Both accelerate your growth in ways solo study cannot."
— Common advice from training camp veterans