Maths Olympiad Previous Year Papers: Class 1–12 Free Resources and Practice
Looking for Maths Olympiad papers and practice for Classes 1–12? Choose your class, explore the sample papers available today and enjoy 16 original Maths questions with step-by-step solutions. Whether you’re a beginner or enjoy bigger challenges, this guide helps you practise confidently, one topic at a time.
Visit the SCO Maths learning library for class-wise syllabuses, sample papers and answer keys. Some previous-year-style resources are still being added. If a download is not ready for your class, try the current sample and the original questions below while you wait.
Find Maths Olympiad Papers for Your Class
Choose a class in the table to open the relevant SCO resource. We checked the listed resources on 13 October 2026; new papers may be added over time, so return to the class page for the latest practice material.
| Class | Official resource link | Availability status and next step |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | View Class 1 previous-year-labelled resource | Download showed ‘Coming soon’ — use the current Class 1 syllabus and sample paper |
| Class 2 | Open Class 2 labelled paper resource | Official resource page displayed a PDF download link; past-exam authenticity is not separately established |
| Class 3 | Open Class 3 labelled paper resource | Official resource page displayed a PDF download link; past-exam authenticity is not separately established |
| Class 4 | Open Class 4 Maths downloads | Class directory lists previous-year resources; download status not independently confirmed — check available files |
| Class 5 | Open Class 5 labelled paper resource | Official resource page displayed a PDF download link; past-exam authenticity is not separately established |
| Class 6 | Open Class 6 labelled paper resource | Official resource page displayed a PDF download link; past-exam authenticity is not separately established |
| Class 7 | Open Class 7 labelled paper resource | Official resource page displayed a PDF download link; past-exam authenticity is not separately established |
| Class 8 | Open Class 8 Maths downloads | Class directory lists previous-year resources; download status not independently confirmed — check available files |
| Class 9 | Open Class 9 labelled paper resource | Official resource page displayed a PDF download link; past-exam authenticity is not separately established |
| Class 10 | Open Class 10 Maths downloads | Class directory lists previous-year resources; download status not independently confirmed — check available files |
| Class 11 | Open Class 11 labelled paper resource | Official resource page displayed a PDF download link; past-exam authenticity is not separately established |
| Class 12 | Open Class 12 labelled paper resource | Official resource page displayed a PDF download link; past-exam authenticity is not separately established |
For Class 1, the previous-year resource currently says Coming soon. You can still begin with the Class 1 Maths syllabus and sample-paper resources, then enjoy the original questions in this guide.
For Classes 4, 8 and 10, the subject directory is linked as the safer way to see current downloads because a direct past-paper landing page could not be independently confirmed during this review. For the other eight classes listed as having a download control, the linked pages are public; open them to confirm current file access.
Which Maths Practice Resource Should I Choose?
| Resource type | What it establishes | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Authenticated previous examination paper | A dated paper explicitly tied to a real past competition sitting | Practise with the actual organiser’s historic style and rules, if permitted |
| SCO publisher-labelled ‘PreviousYear’ resource | A current SCO class resource categorised as previous-year or past-paper-style preparation | Treat as practice unless the document confirms its actual historical exam origin |
| Sample paper | A model or preparation paper for current topics | Try after reading the current syllabus; do not call it a past sitting |
| Answer key | Correct answers for a particular class, set and edition | Check that the key matches the exact paper attempted |
| Syllabus | Topics and curriculum expectations for a particular class/cycle | Use to spot areas needing revision before attempting papers |
For independently identifiable, dated historic mathematical challenge papers, the UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) free past-paper archive publishes papers and solutions with competition years. UKMT has different ages, rules and organiser from SCO; use it only for additional enrichment at a suitable level. Do not reproduce a whole UKMT or other copyrighted paper on another website without permission.
Official Maths Olympiad Sample Papers and Answers
| Preparation resource | Best use |
|---|---|
| SCO Maths class and topic directory | Find class-specific current syllabus, paper and answer-key links |
| Maths Olympiad sample paper hub | Browse the existing SCO class-by-class 2026 sample-paper guide |
| Existing Maths Class 1–12 previous papers hub | Compare archived blog listings but verify availability against the official publisher pages |
| Level 2 preparation resources | Practise advanced topics when relevant to the organiser’s level structure |
| Level 2 date and syllabus guide | Understand why general exam calendar dates are not always separately verified Level 2 dates |
The recommended sequence is syllabus → chapter practice → sample paper → matching answer key → available previous-year-style resource → correction. A learner can make progress even when a PDF is not yet released.
How to Practise With a Maths Olympiad Paper
| Step | What the learner should do |
|---|---|
| 1. Select | Confirm the organiser, grade, syllabus version and whether the file is sample or archived |
| 2. Try | Attempt each question without first reading an answer key; use a timer only at appropriate difficulty |
| 3. Mark | Compare with the exact matching key and document the question number |
| 4. Diagnose | Separate concept gaps, arithmetic errors, reading mistakes and guessed answers |
| 5. Correct | Write one worked correction and explain the underlying concept |
| 6. Transfer | Try a new, similar question without looking at the old solution |
| 7. Reflect | Review whether the approach is clearer rather than focusing only on a speed score |
16 Original Maths Olympiad Practice Questions With Explanations
The problems below are newly written for learning and are not copied from previous SCO, UKMT or other competition papers. Questions broadly follow Classes 1–12 with four optional challenge problems; exact school-year difficulty varies across curricula.
Question 1 — Class 1
What is 7 + 5?
A. 12 | B. 11 | C. 13 | D. 14
Answer: A. 12. Seven plus three is ten, then add two more to obtain twelve in total.
Question 2 — Class 2
What is 36 − 19?
A. 15 | B. 17 | C. 16 | D. 18
Answer: B. 17. Subtract twenty from thirty-six to get sixteen; add one back because nineteen is one less than twenty.
Question 3 — Class 3
A rectangle is 8 cm long and 5 cm wide. What is the perimeter?
A. 13 cm | B. 40 cm | C. 26 cm | D. 24 cm
Answer: C. 26 cm. Add the four outside lengths: eight plus five plus eight plus five equals twenty-six centimetres.
Question 4 — Class 4
What is three-quarters of 20?
A. 10 | B. 12 | C. 18 | D. 15
Answer: D. 15. One quarter of twenty is five, and three equal quarters give three times five, or fifteen.
Question 5 — Class 5
What is 0.6 + 0.25?
A. 0.85 | B. 0.31 | C. 0.65 | D. 0.95
Answer: A. 0.85. Write the first number as 0.60; adding 0.25 produces 0.85, or eighty-five hundredths.
Question 6 — Class 6
Solve 2x + 7 = 19.
A. 5 | B. 6 | C. 7 | D. 8
Answer: B. 6. Subtract seven to obtain 2x = 12, then divide both sides by two to find x equals six.
Question 7 — Class 7
What is −3 + 8?
A. −11 | B. −5 | C. 5 | D. 11
Answer: C. 5. Start at negative three and move eight places right along the number line, reaching positive five.
Question 8 — Class 8
What is 3² + 4²?
A. 7 | B. 12 | C. 14 | D. 25
Answer: D. 25. Three squared equals nine and four squared equals sixteen; together they make twenty-five.
Question 9 — Class 9
Find the zeros of x² − 7x + 12.
A. 3 and 4 | B. −3 and −4 | C. 2 and 6 | D. 1 and 12
Answer: A. 3 and 4. Factor the polynomial as (x − 3)(x − 4). Both factors are zero when x is three or four.
Question 10 — Class 10
A right triangle has perpendicular sides 6 and 8 cm. What is the hypotenuse?
A. 8 cm | B. 10 cm | C. 12 cm | D. 14 cm
Answer: B. 10 cm. By Pythagoras, the hypotenuse squared equals 36 plus 64, or 100; its length is ten centimetres.
Question 11 — Class 11
For the arithmetic sequence 4, 7, 10, … what is the tenth term?
A. 28 | B. 30 | C. 31 | D. 34
Answer: C. 31. The common difference is three; the tenth term is 4 + 9 × 3, which equals thirty-one.
Question 12 — Class 12
For f(x) = x³ − 2x, what is f′(2)?
A. 6 | B. 8 | C. 12 | D. 10
Answer: D. 10. Differentiate to obtain 3x² − 2. At x equals two, the answer is twelve minus two, or ten.
Question 13 — Challenge
How many three-digit numbers can be formed from 1, 2, 3, 4 with no repeated digits?
A. 24 | B. 18 | C. 12 | D. 36
Answer: A. 24. There are four choices for the first digit, then three, then two, so 4 × 3 × 2 equals 24.
Question 14 — Challenge
A bag contains two red and three blue balls. What is the chance of drawing red once?
A. 3/5 | B. 2/5 | C. 1/2 | D. 2/3
Answer: B. 2/5. There are five equally likely balls in total, with two red; the probability is two fifths.
Question 15 — Challenge
The ratio of boys to girls is 3:5 in a group of 40. How many boys are there?
A. 10 | B. 20 | C. 15 | D. 24
Answer: C. 15. There are eight equal ratio parts. Each part represents five people, so three parts give fifteen.
Question 16 — Challenge
Find the mean of 8, 10, 12 and 14.
A. 10 | B. 12 | C. 12.5 | D. 11
Answer: D. 11. Add the four values to obtain 44 and divide by the four entries, giving a mean of eleven.
A Simple Seven-Day Free Practice Plan
| Day | Task |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the class syllabus and a current sample-paper resource |
| 2 | Attempt a small selection without the answer key |
| 3 | Review the matching key, explain mistakes and record weak areas |
| 4 | Practise a weak arithmetic, geometry or reasoning concept |
| 5 | Try similar original questions to test understanding |
| 6 | Use a second available sample or labelled past-style practice file |
| 7 | Reflect on explanations, accuracy and the next study target |
Exam Fees Are Not the Same as Free Paper Access
The current SCO registration catalogue displays general Maths exam entry of approximately INR 200 or USD 12 as checked on 13 October 2026, subject to the actual class, cycle, country and checkout. This exam entry fee should not be described as paying for guaranteed unlimited past papers, AI analytics, personalized coaching or unrestricted resources without separate verification.
Use the official live exam calendar to confirm dates; the presence of a PDF page does not create a booking. The SCO school-level Maths Olympiad is an independent event, not the official International Mathematical Olympiad national-team competition.
Copyright and Download Safety
Use official publisher download controls, check paper licences and avoid reuploading full papers from other organisers without permission. No third-party full PDF has been copied into this post. A resource may be free to view while still copyrighted, and free download availability may change.
FAQs on Free Maths Olympiad Papers
Are Class 1–12 SCO previous-year papers all immediately downloadable?
No. Class 1’s 2026 previous-year resource showed a coming-soon notice during checking. Review each official class page before assuming a working PDF.
Does a 2026 previous-year label prove the paper was used in an official 2026 exam?
No. The publisher’s category alone does not establish a real past sitting; confirm the paper’s cover and source history.
Where can Class 1 pupils practise meanwhile?
The official Class 1 Maths subject page links its syllabus and current sample-paper resources.
Are the Class 2 and Class 3 resources available?
Their official previous-year-labelled pages displayed download controls when checked, though actual historic exam use was not independently established.
What if the previous paper link is missing?
Use the linked Maths subject directory to find the current syllabus, sample paper and answer key.
Where can I find more past Maths competition papers?
The UKMT free past-paper archive displays named dated challenges and solutions, with its own separate age and competition rules.
Which answer key should I use?
Use the key published for the same class, subject, exam year and paper set; do not swap sample and past-style keys.
Does a previous paper show the exact future exam format?
Not always. Organisers may change duration, question count and syllabus; read current exam instructions.
Must I pay to read this guide or solve these original questions?
No. These original examples are included in the article. Other PDFs can have separate sign-in or release restrictions.
Is SCO IMO the official international national-team IMO?
No. SCO independently organises a school-level Maths Olympiad, separate from the official International Mathematical Olympiad.
Find Your Class and Start Learning
Choose the correct class on the official SCO Maths resource directory, verify that the PDF download really works, and practise with a matching sample-paper answer key. If your family or school also wants an independent international competition, review the current registration details separately. Learning and thoughtful corrections matter even when a previous-year paper is not available.
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