Maths Olympiad in Egypt: Questions, Syllabus and Preparation
Students attending Egyptian national, language and international schools can strengthen their maths skills with 24 free Olympiad-style practice questions and worked answers on this page. The exercises progress from primary number sense to fractions, geometry, algebra, probability and senior-level mathematics.
School Connect Olympiad (SCO) lists Egypt among the countries in its international participation network and offers a maths competition for Classes 1–12. Before registering, check that the student’s school level matches the current SCO class and subject requirements. The examples here are original learning exercises, not past SCO examination questions or official Egyptian Ministry questions.
This guide is specifically about mathematics preparation for learners in Egypt. For general subject choices, awards and registration, see our Olympiad guide for Egyptian families; for all the class-specific maths guides, use the Maths Classes 1–12 resource hub.
Choose Maths Olympiad topics for your school level
Schools in Egypt may follow national Arabic, language-school or international programmes. These categories are study-stage guides, not exact equivalencies between Egyptian school years and SCO grade numbers. First confirm the student’s actual eligible SCO grade on the official registration page.
| Study stage | Mathematical skills | What a good practice question asks |
|---|---|---|
| Early primary | Number sense, arithmetic, patterns, time and simple shapes | Explain how to count, compare or calculate |
| Upper primary | Fractions, decimals, measurement, geometry and data | Use numbers in a real situation and show the steps |
| Lower secondary | Integers, algebra, angles, triangles, probability and equations | Combine concepts and check whether an answer satisfies the conditions |
| Senior secondary | Functions, trigonometry, advanced algebra, matrices and calculus | Justify a multi-step mathematical method |
SCO publishes subject-specific learning material for each class. For example, its Class 5 Maths guide covers numbers, decimals, area, data, money-related calculations and reasoning, while the Class 6 Maths guide includes integers, fractions, algebra and geometry. Use the complete Class 1–12 Maths resource hub to open the right practice page.
Egyptian school curriculum and international Olympiad practice
An independent Olympiad can provide additional mathematical challenges, but it does not replace Egypt’s official school examinations or curriculum. For students following the Egyptian national curriculum, parents and teachers can consult the Egyptian Ministry of Education textbook portal and the Ministry’s e-learning resources. Students in international schools should use their own school’s current maths syllabus too.
Maths problems can be explained in Arabic or English during practice. The language, technical requirements and rules for the actual SCO examination should be confirmed with the organiser in advance; studying bilingual vocabulary is helpful but does not establish that an exam is offered in both languages.
24 original Maths Olympiad questions with worked answers
Choose the questions nearest your current learning level. Each problem has four choices followed immediately by the correct answer and the reasoning. They are independent study exercises, designed to strengthen mathematical understanding. Teachers may use them to identify which concepts need extra explanation.
Early primary — number sense (approximately Classes 1–3)
Question 1. What is 37 + 48?
A. 85 | B. 84 | C. 75 | D. 95
Answer: A. 85. Add 37 + 40 = 77, then add the remaining 8: 85.
Question 2. Which number comes next: 4, 8, 12, 16, __?
A. 18 | B. 20 | C. 19 | D. 24
Answer: B. 20. The sequence increases by four each time. 16 + 4 = 20.
Question 3. Three boxes each contain seven pencils. How many pencils are there?
A. 10 | B. 18 | C. 21 | D. 24
Answer: C. 21. There are three equal groups of seven, so 3 × 7 = 21 pencils.
Question 4. A class begins an activity at 2:15 p.m. and finishes 90 minutes later. What time does it finish?
A. 3:15 p.m. | B. 3:30 p.m. | C. 4:15 p.m. | D. 3:45 p.m.
Answer: D. 3:45 p.m.. Ninety minutes is one hour and thirty minutes. Starting at 2:15 p.m. leads to 3:45 p.m.
Question 5. What is one-third of 18?
A. 3 | B. 6 | C. 9 | D. 12
Answer: B. 6. Divide 18 into three equal groups. Each group has 18 ÷ 3 = 6.
Question 6. A square has a side of 5 cm. What is its perimeter?
A. 20 cm | B. 15 cm | C. 10 cm | D. 25 cm
Answer: A. 20 cm. A square has four equal sides, so its perimeter is 4 × 5 = 20 cm.
Upper primary — fractions, data and measurement (approximately Classes 4–6)
Question 7. Find 3/4 + 1/6.
A. 4/10 | B. 5/6 | C. 7/12 | D. 11/12
Answer: D. 11/12. Use denominator 12: 3/4 = 9/12 and 1/6 = 2/12. Add them to get 11/12.
Question 8. Calculate 5.75 + 2.8.
A. 8.35 | B. 8.45 | C. 8.55 | D. 8.75
Answer: C. 8.55. Align decimal places: 5.75 + 2.80 = 8.55.
Question 9. A rectangle measures 13 cm by 8 cm. What is its area?
A. 104 sq cm | B. 42 sq cm | C. 21 sq cm | D. 208 sq cm
Answer: A. 104 sq cm. Area of a rectangle = length × width. Therefore 13 × 8 = 104 square centimetres.
Question 10. What is 15% of 240?
A. 24 | B. 36 | C. 30 | D. 42
Answer: B. 36. Ten percent of 240 is 24 and five percent is 12. Add them: 36.
Question 11. A group shares 84 counters equally among seven students. How many counters does each student receive?
A. 10 | B. 11 | C. 14 | D. 12
Answer: D. 12. Calculate 84 ÷ 7 = 12 counters per student.
Question 12. Find the least common multiple of 6 and 8.
A. 12 | B. 18 | C. 24 | D. 48
Answer: C. 24. Multiples of 6 include 6, 12, 18, 24 and multiples of 8 include 8, 16, 24. Their first common multiple is 24.
Lower secondary — algebra and geometry (approximately Classes 7–9)
Question 13. Solve 4x − 7 = 25.
A. 8 | B. 7 | C. 6 | D. 9
Answer: A. 8. Add seven to both sides to get 4x = 32, then divide by four: x = 8.
Question 14. Find −3/4 + 5/8.
A. −11/8 | B. −1/8 | C. 1/8 | D. 11/8
Answer: B. −1/8. Rewrite −3/4 as −6/8. Then −6/8 + 5/8 = −1/8.
Question 15. A right triangle has perpendicular sides of 9 cm and 12 cm. Find the hypotenuse.
A. 13 cm | B. 14 cm | C. 15 cm | D. 16 cm
Answer: C. 15 cm. By Pythagoras, the hypotenuse is √(9² + 12²) = √225 = 15 cm.
Question 16. Find the slope of the straight line through (1,2) and (5,10).
A. 1/2 | B. 1 | C. 4 | D. 2
Answer: D. 2. Slope is the change in y divided by the change in x: (10 − 2)/(5 − 1) = 8/4 = 2.
Question 17. A bag has three red and five blue identical marbles. What is the probability of choosing red?
A. 3/8 | B. 1/4 | C. 5/8 | D. 3/5
Answer: A. 3/8. There are eight marbles and three favourable red ones. Probability = 3/8.
Question 18. Simplify (a + 3)² − (a − 3)².
A. 6a | B. 9a | C. 18a | D. 12a
Answer: D. 12a. Expand both squares: (a² + 6a + 9) − (a² − 6a + 9) = 12a.
Senior secondary — functions and reasoning (approximately Classes 10–12)
Question 19. What are the roots of x² − 7x + 12 = 0?
A. 3 and 4 | B. 2 and 6 | C. −3 and −4 | D. 1 and 12
Answer: A. 3 and 4. Factor x² − 7x + 12 = (x − 3)(x − 4). The roots are 3 and 4.
Question 20. What is sin 150°?
A. −1/2 | B. 1/2 | C. √3/2 | D. −√3/2
Answer: B. 1/2. 150° is in quadrant II, where sine is positive. sin 150° = sin 30° = 1/2.
Question 21. For f(x) = 3x² − 4x, find f'(2).
A. 4 | B. 6 | C. 8 | D. 10
Answer: C. 8. Differentiate: f'(x) = 6x − 4. At x = 2, 12 − 4 = 8.
Question 22. What is the determinant of the matrix [[2,1],[5,3]]?
A. −1 | B. 0 | C. 11 | D. 1
Answer: D. 1. The determinant is (2 × 3) − (1 × 5) = 6 − 5 = 1.
Question 23. Two fair six-sided dice are rolled. What is the probability that their sum equals 8?
A. 1/6 | B. 5/36 | C. 1/9 | D. 1/12
Answer: B. 5/36. Five ordered pairs out of 36 total sum to eight: (2,6), (3,5), (4,4), (5,3), (6,2). Probability = 5/36.
Question 24. Evaluate the definite integral of 3x² from x = 0 to x = 2.
A. 4 | B. 6 | C. 8 | D. 12
Answer: C. 8. An antiderivative is x³. Evaluate x³ from 0 to 2: 8 − 0 = 8.
How to review Maths Olympiad mistakes
| Mistake type | What it looks like | How to improve |
|---|---|---|
| Concept mistake | Confusing area with perimeter | Draw a figure and state what the measurement represents |
| Calculation mistake | Adding unlike fractions directly | Use a common denominator, then check by estimation |
| Reading mistake | Answering a different question from the one asked | Underline key quantities and write the target clearly |
| Reasoning mistake | Choosing an option without testing all conditions | Substitute the proposed answer and check each clue |
| Time management | Spending too long on one unfamiliar problem | Practise methods first, then introduce short timed sets gradually |
A practical two-week Maths Olympiad study plan
- Days 1–3 — Understand your level: choose the current syllabus and try six questions without checking the answers. Record the topic behind every mistake.
- Days 4–6 — Strengthen weak concepts: review fractions, geometry, algebra or whichever topics your first attempt identified. Write each solution step.
- Days 7–9 — Mixed questions: combine easier and more challenging tasks. Ask a student to explain the method in Arabic, English or their most comfortable study language.
- Days 10–12 — Apply and check: try a shorter timed set if the learner is ready. Recheck units, arithmetic, option choices and the question’s actual requirement.
- Days 13–14 — Review and prepare: correct errors, revisit the organiser’s latest exam details and make sure the selected session does not clash with school commitments.
Maths vocabulary in Arabic and English
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Fraction | كسر |
| Equation | معادلة |
| Perimeter | محيط |
| Area | مساحة |
| Probability | احتمال |
| Solution | حل |
How can families in Egypt register for SCO Maths?
- Confirm participation: Egypt is listed in SCO’s international Olympiad directory. Check that Maths is offered for your intended class and exam cycle.
- Choose the correct subject: select SCO International Math Olympiad, rather than a similarly named examination run by another organisation.
- Review current fees and dates: use the official registration form to see displayed fees, payment currency, selected subjects and student details, and consult the current exam calendar.
- Check the instructions: confirm eligibility, question language, participation method and any equipment or ID rules before paying.
- Save confirmation and prepare: retain registration details, use the class syllabus and practise explaining answers rather than memorising choices.
Free learning articles and a paid examination registration are different things. Do not assume that opening a free study page registers the student for an exam; confirm the total payable amount and conditions in the live registration flow.
Questions parents and teachers in Egypt ask
Can students in Egypt register for the SCO Maths Olympiad?
Egypt is included in the organiser’s international country list. The individual student’s eligible class, exam date and registration options must be checked on the official site.
Is the SCO Maths Olympiad part of Egypt’s Ministry of Education examinations?
No. SCO is a separate Olympiad programme. Egyptian school curriculum and exam requirements should be followed independently.
Can students in Egyptian language schools or international schools practise these questions?
Yes. The problems are independent mathematical learning examples. Match the selected difficulty to the child’s actual syllabus, not only to the class labels on this article.
Are there official previous-year PDF papers for every grade?
Our Classes 1–12 Maths resource hub clearly identifies the pages with downloadable PDFs and the pages providing original online worked questions. Do not assume every class link includes a PDF.
Can I download the 24 questions on this page?
All 24 questions and answers are written here. You can use your browser’s Print function for paper practice without needing a separate downloadable exam document.
Are the questions in Arabic?
The questions here are written in English, with a short Arabic–English mathematics glossary. You can discuss the explanations in Arabic during study. Check with SCO about the examination’s actual language options.
Are free study materials the same as free Olympiad registration?
No. The free practice activities on this page do not establish free examination entry. Check the latest subject fee and payment details on SCO’s official registration page.
Is receiving an international medal or scholarship guaranteed?
No. Any certificates, badges or school awards depend on SCO’s published eligibility and award conditions. Do not assume individual cash scholarships or external university recognition.
Where should I go for a general Egypt Olympiad overview?
Read our general guide to Olympiads for students in Egypt. This page focuses on mathematical topics, worked questions and preparation methods.
Continue your preparation: Choose a level above, complete six questions at your own pace, explain your method, then open the class-specific Maths practice guide that matches your needs.
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