What Do You Need for IMOTC?
IMOTC at a Glance
The International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp is the fourth stage of India’s Mathematical Olympiad programme, where the IMO team is trained and selected.
Dates, venue and rules are announced each year. Always check olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in.
Where IMOTC Fits
The Mathematical Olympiad pathway, from IOQM to the IMO.
IOQM
Qualifier exam — 30 integer-answer problems. IOQM page →
RMO
Regional Mathematical Olympiad — 6 proof-based problems in 3 hours. RMO page →
INMO
Indian National Mathematical Olympiad — 6 proof-based problems in 4.5 hours. INMO page →
IMOTC
Training camp at HBCSE with selection tests for the IMO team.
IMO
India’s team of six competes at the International Mathematical Olympiad.
How Students Are Selected
From INMO to the Indian team, step by step.
INMO awardees
Top INMO performers are named awardees and invited to the camp, as per that year’s rules.
Training at the camp
Lectures, problem sessions and discussions with mentors, many of them former Olympians.
Selection tests
A series of IMO-style tests is held during the camp.
Team of six
The top performers form India’s IMO team.
Pre-departure camp
A short, intensive camp before the team travels to the IMO.
India also selects a team of four girls for the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO).
Life at the Camp
What to expect, and how to make the most of it.
Lectures
Advanced sessions on algebra, number theory, geometry and combinatorics.
Problem sessions
Long, hard problems solved alone and then discussed together.
Selection tests
IMO-style papers: three problems in 4.5 hours.
Mentors
Faculty and former Olympians who give feedback on your solutions.
Peers
The country’s strongest young problem solvers — learn from each other.
Come prepared
Arrive with solid basics in all four topics and practice writing long proofs.
The IMO Format
The goal of the camp. Two papers on consecutive days, three problems each.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Papers | 2 (two days) |
| Problems per paper | 3 |
| Time per paper | 4.5 hours |
| Marks per problem | 7 |
| Maximum score | 42 |
6 × 7 = 42 marks. IMO 2027: Budapest, Hungary, 16–26 July 2027 (imo-official.org).
IMO-Level Topics
Still pre-college mathematics with no calculus, but at the highest level. Tap a topic to see its areas.
AlgebraIMO level
- Functional equations — injectivity, substitutions, Cauchy-type
- Inequalities — SOS, tangent line trick, majorization
- Polynomials over integers and reals
- Sequences and recurrences
Number TheoryIMO level
- Orders, primitive roots and quadratic reciprocity
- p-adic valuations and LTE
- Diophantine equations and bounding
- Additive and combinatorial number theory
GeometryIMO level
- Projective ideas — cross-ratio, poles and polars
- Inversion and spiral similarity
- Complex and barycentric coordinates
- Classic configurations — mixtilinear circles, isogonal conjugates
CombinatoricsIMO level
- Extremal and probabilistic arguments
- Graph theory and colourings
- Algorithms, processes and games
- Combinatorial geometry
Free IMO Study Material
Advanced notes and problem sets for camp and IMO preparation.
These resources are being added topic by topic. Pages marked “Coming soon” are not published yet.
Functional Equations
Methods and solved IMO problems.
Coming soon →IMO Geometry
Projective, inversive and coordinate methods.
Coming soon →IMO Number Theory
Valuations, orders and bounding.
Coming soon →IMO Combinatorics
Extremal, algorithmic and graph problems.
Coming soon →INMO Page
The previous stage: pattern, selection and practice.
Explore →IMO Practice
Sit IMO-style papers under exam conditions, then compare with model solutions.
Under development. The practice sets below are planned and will open here when ready.
IMO-Style Paper
Two-Day Mock
Shortlist Problem Sets
Problem of the Week
Past IMO Problems
IMO problems with complete model solutions, arranged by year.
Coming soon. Official IMO problems and results are on imo-official.org.
IMOTC 2027 and IMO 2027
IMOTC dates and venue are announced by HBCSE after INMO (17 January 2027). IMO 2027 is scheduled for 16–26 July 2027 in Budapest, Hungary. Always check the official websites.
IMOTC FAQs
What is IMOTC?
The International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp is a residential camp run by HBCSE for top INMO performers. It trains students and selects India’s team for the IMO. Official information is on olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in.
Who is invited to IMOTC?
INMO awardees — the top performers at INMO, as per the cut-offs and rules announced each year. The number invited can change from year to year.
When and where is the camp held?
Usually for about a month in April–May. It is organised by HBCSE; the venue is announced each year (the 2025 camp, for example, was held in Chennai).
How is the IMO team selected?
Through a series of selection tests held during the camp. The top six are chosen for the IMO, followed by a pre-departure camp before the Olympiad.
Is there a team for girls?
Yes. India also sends a team of four girls to the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO). Selection is part of the Olympiad programme — check the official website for the current process.
What is the IMO format?
Two days, three problems each day, 4.5 hours per paper. Each problem carries 7 marks, so the maximum is 42. Medals go to about half the contestants, roughly in the ratio 1:2:3 for gold, silver and bronze.