Updated October 2026: The Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO) is organised by the Singapore Mathematical Society (SMS). Its Junior, Senior and Open competitions for 2026 have concluded. SMS currently publishes official rules and dates for the completed 2026 season; do not assume those dates apply to 2027.
The official SMO rules describe the mathematics curriculum level expected for each category, rather than a complete compulsory chapter-by-chapter syllabus. The study topics below are suggested preparation themes, not a guaranteed official syllabus. Use the official SMS SMO homepage for authoritative details.
SMO 2026 Junior, Senior and Open: Official Facts
| Section | 2026 eligibility | Round 1 | Round 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | Secondary 1–2, born on/after 2 January 2012 | 3 June, 9:30 AM–12 PM; 2.5 hours; multiple-choice/short answers | 27 June, 9 AM–12 PM; 3-hour written solutions |
| Senior | Secondary 3–4, born on/after 2 January 2010 | 3 June, 9:30 AM–12 PM; 2.5 hours; multiple-choice/short answers | 27 June, 9 AM–1 PM; 4-hour written solutions |
| Open | Full-time Secondary 1–4 or Junior College students not previously enrolled full-time in tertiary education | 4 June, 9:30 AM–12 PM; 2.5 hours; short questions | 4 July, 9 AM–1 PM; 4-hour written solutions |
All dates above are in 2026 and have passed. Junior and Senior Round 2 invitations were for the top 10% of Round 1 candidates, under the published rules; Open has its own invitation rules. Read the official Junior rules, Senior rules, Open rules and 2026 schedule.
Suggested SMO Mathematical Preparation Topics
Important distinction: SMS says Junior draws normally on Secondary 1–2 mathematics, Senior on Secondary 1–4 and Open broadly on pre-university mathematics. The topic lists that follow are additional study suggestions, not an organiser-certified curriculum. Students should prioritise official SMO sample questions and practise explaining their reasoning.
For Junior Section (Secondary 1 and 2 / Grades 7 and 8) SMO Syllabus:
1. Arithmetic and Number Theory:
- Integers, fractions, and decimals
- Divisibility rules, prime numbers, and prime factorization
- Greatest common divisor (GCD) and least common multiple (LCM)
- Modular arithmetic and basic congruences
2. Algebra:
- Basic algebraic manipulations and simplifications
- Linear equations and inequalities
- Quadratic equations
- Polynomials and factoring
- Sequences and series
3. Geometry:
- Basic properties of triangles, quadrilaterals, and circles
- Congruence and similarity
- Pythagoras’ theorem
- Perimeter, area, and volume calculations
- Geometric transformations
4. Combinatorics and Probability:
- Basic counting principles (addition and multiplication rules)
- Permutations and combinations
- Basic probability concepts
For Senior Section (Secondary 3 and 4 / Grades 9 and 10) SMO Syllabus:
1. Advanced Number Theory:
- Divisibility and properties of integers
- Diophantine equations
- Advanced modular arithmetic
- Number sequences and series (arithmetic and geometric progressions)
2. Advanced Algebra:
- Complex numbers and their properties
- Higher-degree polynomials
- Systems of linear equations
- Exponential and logarithmic functions
- Algebraic inequalities
3. Advanced Geometry:
- Coordinate geometry and equations of lines and circles
- Advanced properties of triangles and circles
- Geometric inequalities
- Locus problems
4. Advanced Combinatorics and Probability:
- Advanced counting techniques (Pigeonhole principle, inclusion-exclusion principle)
- Binomial theorem
- Advanced probability problems
- Recurrence relations
Open Section: Suggested Pre-University and Olympiad Topics
The official 2026 Open rules say that topics are normally within a pre-university mathematics curriculum, with a significant number grounded in school mathematics. Neither abstract algebra nor non-Euclidean geometry is listed as a compulsory core topic by the organiser.
| Helpful topic family | Examples for preparation (not guaranteed questions) |
|---|---|
| Number theory | Divisibility, congruences, integer equations and proof arguments |
| Algebra | Polynomials, functions, inequalities, identities and mathematical structure |
| Geometry | Euclidean geometry, coordinate methods and clear diagrams/proofs |
| Combinatorics | Counting, casework, pigeonhole principle and invariants |
| Problem solving | Finding hidden structure, testing conjectures and presenting rigorous complete solutions |
Round 2 distinction: the Open second round is a four-hour written paper requiring full-length solutions, and its performance is relevant to Singapore’s national training selection. Short-answer tricks alone are not sufficient.
How to Prepare for SMO: Six-Week Plan
| Week | Focus | Measure progress |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose the correct Junior, Senior or Open section. Attempt a sample problem set and diagnose gaps. | List weakest topics and mistakes. |
| 2 | Practise number theory and algebra, showing every important reason rather than merely writing a final answer. | Fewer conceptual errors. |
| 3 | Study geometry and write fully justified solutions with clear diagrams. | Stronger logical steps. |
| 4 | Revise counting, casework, patterns and strategy problems. | Fewer omitted or duplicated cases. |
| 5 | Complete a 2.5-hour Round 1-style paper, then review each error or guess. | Accuracy and time management. |
| 6 | For invited-round preparation, write several complete proofs under timed conditions and compare with official solutions. | Better reasoning and clarity. |
A Short Original Mathematical Reasoning Example
Question: How many integers between 1 and 100 are divisible by 3 or 5?
Explanation: There are 33 multiples of 3 and 20 multiples of 5. Six numbers are multiples of both because they are divisible by 15. Using inclusion–exclusion, there are 33 + 20 − 6 = 47 qualifying integers.
This is an independently written illustrative problem, not an official SMO past-paper question. The key learning is to justify why the overlap is subtracted.
SMO 2026 Registration Rules and 2027 Status
For 2026, SMS required registration through Singapore-based schools, using its official form before 31 March 2026. The published 2026 fees were S$10 per student per section from institutional member schools and S$12 from non-member schools. With effect from 2026, walk-in registrations on competition day were not allowed.
International participation requires care: the official instructions state that participants outside Singapore may be accepted only where their National Mathematical Society has a prior agreement with SMS. SMO is not generally open for unrestricted direct overseas individual registration, and enrolling in an unrelated Maths Olympiad does not register a student for SMO.
2027: a confirmed SMO 2027 schedule and registration window were not found on the SMS official competition pages as of this October 2026 review. Treat all dates and fees above as historical 2026 facts. Use the official registration instructions, fee page and SMO homepage for new announcements.
Official SMO Preparation Resources
- Singapore Mathematical Society SMO hub — official sample questions, rules, results and schedules.
- Junior section rules (2026).
- Senior section rules (2026).
- Open section rules (2026).
- 2026 competition schedule (official URL retains an older slug).
Use the organiser’s practice problems before supplementary third-party exercises. Avoid reproducing copyrighted SMO papers on other websites without permission.
Singapore Mathematical Olympiad FAQs
What is the difference between SMO Junior, Senior and Open?
Junior is for eligible Secondary 1–2 students, Senior for eligible Secondary 3–4 students, and Open for eligible full-time Secondary/Junior College students. Open is not limited only to Junior College. Round 2 is three hours for Junior and four hours for Senior and Open.
Is the SMO syllabus identical every year?
The society describes topic scope by schooling level; it does not guarantee an identical detailed list of questions each year. The themes in this guide are suggested preparation subjects rather than a fixed official topic distribution.
How do students progress to Round 2?
Under the 2026 Junior and Senior rules, the top 10% of Round 1 participants were invited to the second round. Open follows its separate published rules.
Can students outside Singapore participate?
Overseas participation is restricted to the arrangements identified by SMS, including a prior agreement with the relevant national mathematical society. Check the official registration instructions instead of assuming individual entry is available.
When will the 2027 SMO dates be available?
Check the SMS official competition site for the next announcement. The 2026 dates on this page have already passed and must not be treated as a 2027 schedule.
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