IOQM Syllabus & Pattern
IOQM Syllabus & Exam Pattern
Detailed unit-wise breakdown, marking scheme, eligibility guidelines, and excluded topics for Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM).
Eligibility Criteria
Class 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 students. Must be an Indian citizen born after August 1, 2006 (for 2026-27 cycle).
Marking Scheme & Format
Total Marks: 100. 30 Questions divided into 3 parts: 10 Qs of 2 marks, 10 Qs of 3 marks, and 10 Qs of 5 marks. Integer answer type (00-99). No negative marking.
Excluded Topics / Out of Scope
Calculus, coordinate geometry, complex numbers, and trigonometric equations are NOT part of the syllabus.
Topic & Unit-Wise Syllabus
Unit 1: Algebra
5 Key Subtopics- Polynomials with real coefficients, remainder theorem, factor theorem
- Quadratic equations, relation between roots and coefficients
- Arithmetic, Geometric, and Harmonic progressions
- Inequalities (AM-GM-HM inequality, Cauchy-Schwarz inequality)
- Systems of linear equations, symmetric polynomials
Unit 2: Geometry
5 Key Subtopics- Properties of triangles (Centroid, Incenter, Orthocenter, Circumcenter)
- Theorems on congruency and similarity of triangles
- Circle geometry, tangents, chords, cyclic quadrilaterals, Ptolemy's theorem
- Area of polygons, Heron's formula, area-ratio theorems
- Collinearity and concurrency (Ceva's and Menelaus's theorems)
Unit 3: Number Theory
5 Key Subtopics- Divisibility, prime factorization, GCD and LCM properties
- Modular arithmetic, congruences, Fermat's Little Theorem, Euler's totient function
- Diophantine equations (linear and quadratic)
- Unit digits, number of divisors, sum of divisors
- Chinese Remainder Theorem (basic applications)
Unit 4: Combinatorics
5 Key Subtopics- Permutations and Combinations, fundamental principles of counting
- Pigeonhole Principle (PHP) and its applications
- Principle of Inclusion-Exclusion (PIE)
- Binomial theorem, combinations with repetition
- Grid path counting and basic graph theory concepts
Ready to practice previous year question papers?
Test your understanding against past 2025, 2024, and 2023 official papers.
Targeted Preparation at Prayas
Our KPHB Hyderabad center specializes in non-routine problem solving and proof techniques required to top IOQM.
Concept-first problem sets
Weekly Olympiad mock tests
Small capped batches (1:15)
