Road to Olympiad
Your comprehensive guide to navigating the RTO process and accessing essential study materials.
Olympiad Selection Process in Nepal
The selection process for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Nepal involves several stages, designed to identify and nurture the most talented young mathematicians.
School/Local Level Awareness
Students learn about Olympiads through schools, clubs, MIN outreach, or self-discovery.
Focus Areas:
General math interest, curiosity
Actions:
Understand the math topics in the curriculum, identify topics required for Olympiads, and start basic problem solving.District Mathematics Olympiad (DMO)
First formal selection stage; open to school students.
Focus Areas:
School-level math, basic problem-solving
Actions:
Study prealgebra, algebra, number theory basics, geometry, combinatoricsProvincial Mathematics Olympiad (PMO)
Higher difficulty; selects for national level.
Focus Areas:
Intermediate problem-solving
Actions:
Deepen knowledge in algebra, number theory, geometry, combinatorics; timed practice papers.Nepal Mathematical Olympiad (NMO)
National competition; top scorers shortlisted for training.
Focus Areas:
Proof-writing, advanced problem-solving
Actions:
Learn rigorous proofs; solve harder problems; attempt past Top 100 problems.National Camp & Selection Test
Intensive training by MIN; final team chosen.
Focus Areas:
All four major areas at IMO level
Actions:
Full mock Olympiads, advanced theory, weak area improvement.International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)
Nepal’s team represents the country internationally.
Focus Areas:
Global-level competition
Actions:
Solve IMO past papers, strategize problem selection, manage time effectively.
Roadmap – From Beginner to IMO
Phase 1 – Foundation (Before DMO)
Goal: Build strong school math fundamentals + start problem-solving mindset.
| Focus Areas | Actions |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic, Algebra basics | Use AoPS Prealgebra; revise school math concepts. |
| Number theory basics | Learn GCD, LCM, intro to modular arithmetic. |
| Geometry basics | Study triangles, circles, coordinate geometry. |
| Combinatorics basics | Counting, permutations, combinations. |
| Exam skills | Time management, elimination strategies. |
Phase 2 – PMO Preparation
Goal: Deepen concepts, transition to intermediate problem-solving.
| Focus Areas | Actions |
|---|---|
| Algebra deep dive | Inequalities, quadratic equations. |
| Number theory | Modular arithmetic, Diophantine equations. |
| Geometry intermediate | Cyclic quadrilaterals, similarity. |
| Combinatorics advance | Graph theory basics, pigeonhole principle. |
Phase 3 – NMO Progression
Goal: Learn proof-writing and advanced problem-solving.
| Focus Areas | Actions |
|---|---|
| Proof-writing | Practice clear, logical solutions. |
| Algebra | Symmetric polynomials, AM-GM, Cauchy-Schwarz. |
| Number theory | Euler’s theorem, Chinese Remainder Theorem. |
| Geometry | Radical axis, transformations. |
| Combinatorics | Inclusion–exclusion, generating functions. |
Phase 4 – IMO Training
Goal: Reach international competition level.
| Focus Areas | Actions |
|---|---|
| Algebra | Advanced inequalities, functional equations. |
| Number theory | Quadratic residues, hard Diophantine problems. |
| Geometry | Inversions, homothety, projective geometry. |
| Combinatorics | Advanced graph theory, extremal problems. |
| Full IMO simulation | Timed 6-problem practice sets. |
| Weak area fixing | Focused training on problem areas. |
Dive into DMO Practice Questions
Sharpen your problem-solving skills with a diverse set of DMO (District Mathematical Olympiad) practice questions. Each set is designed to challenge and prepare you for the real competition.
Essential Resources
A curated list of essential resources for Math Olympiad preparation.