AIMO Math: Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad Guide

AIMO Math stands for the Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad (AIMO). The competition is designed mainly for students in Years 7–10, with the paper pitched at approximately a Year 10 level. It is intended for students who are comfortable with school mathematics, and ready to tackle more difficult, unfamiliar problems.

Unlike a standard classroom test, AIMO focuses heavily on mathematical problem solving. The current format includes 10 questions over 4 hours. Questions 1–8 require integer answers, while Questions 9–10 require written solutions that may include proofs. The total core score is 35 marks, with an additional 4-mark Investigation component.

This guide explains what AIMO Math is, who can take the test, the latest 2026 exam date, question format, syllabus, scoring, awards, and practical preparation strategies.

What is Aimo math?

AIMO Math is the Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad, a high-level school mathematics competition organized by the Australian Maths Trust. AMT describes it as a competition designed to identify and stretch students with strong mathematical ability and an interest in complex problem solving.

The competition is aimed primarily at Years 7–10. The paper is set at approximately a Year 10 level, but AMT also encourages talented students in Years 7–9 to consider AIMO if they are ready for Olympiad-style mathematics.

AIMO is therefore not simply a harder version of a regular school exam. Many questions require students to find an approach before they can begin calculating.

AIMO also has a role in the Australian Maths Trust Olympiad pathway. AMT states that AIMO results can be used to identify students for its high-performance programs.

Who Should Take AIMO?

AIMO is most suitable for students who enjoy mathematics, and are ready to work on problems that are harder than routine classroom exercises.

AMT suggests that AIMO may be appropriate for students who have a strong interest and aptitude for complex mathematical problem solving, have completed later stages of the AMT Maths Enrichment program, performed very well in the Australian Mathematics Competition, or completed substantial mathematics extension work outside the normal curriculum.

A strong AMC result can therefore be useful preparation, but students do not need to have a specific AMC award to sit AIMO.

AIMO 2026 Date, Registration, and Exam Format

The 2026 AIMO competition will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2026. AMT lists Friday, September 4, 2026 as the entry deadline and Friday, September 11, 2026 as the deadline for submitting student answer sheets.

The 2026 student cost listed by AMT is AUD $25.90 per student. Registration is handled through the AMT competition system by verified schools, home schools, or coaching clinics.

The competition is administered through participating educational organizations. Teachers receive the digital paper, print the materials, supervise the sitting, and submit student solutions to AMT for marking.

AIMO vs. AJMO

Students and parents sometimes confuse AIMO with the Australian Junior Mathematics Olympiad (AJMO).

They are different competitions.

AMT says both competitions are scheduled on the same day. There is one AIMO paper for Years 7–10, while AJMO is an alternative for students up to Year 8, who may have less experience with Olympiad-style mathematics. Students in Year 8 or below who are already ready for AIMO, but they can still choose AIMO.

This means the best choice depends on the student’s current problem-solving level, rather than age alone.

AIMO Math Exam Format and Topics

The current AIMO format is highly different from a standard multiple-choice contest.

AIMO is a 4-hour competition with 10 questions. Questions 1–8 require non-negative integer answers, while Questions 9 and 10 require written responses and may include proofs.

The 2026 AIMO instructions also confirm that calculators, electronic devices, books, and other aids are not permitted. Students may use items such as a pen, ruler, compass, and rough paper.

What Topics Does AIMO Cover?

AIMO does not use a single narrow topic list. AMT states that questions may include a range of intermediate and Olympiad-style topics. These include:

• Parallels
• Similarity
• Pythagoras’ theorem
• Diophantine equations
• Counting techniques
• Expansion and factorisation
• Inequalities
• Sequences and series
• Number bases
• Methods of proof
• Congruences
• Circles and tangents
• Probability

This list shows why AIMO preparation needs to go beyond standard school worksheets.

For example, students may know how to use the Pythagorean theorem in a familiar triangle. A competition problem may instead require them to discover where the relevant right triangle is hidden, or connect geometry with another mathematical idea.

What Makes AIMO Difficult?

The main difficulty is not always advanced content.

AIMO deliberately uses unique problems designed to challenge problem-solving skills, and AMT notes that only a small number of students are expected to complete the entire paper.

Students therefore need to be comfortable with:

Unfamiliar problems: The path to the answer may not be obvious.

Multi-step reasoning: A problem may require several connected ideas.

Proof and explanation: The final two questions require written mathematical solutions.

Long working time: Four hours is much longer than a normal school test, but the problems also demand deeper thinking.

AIMO Scoring, Awards, and Olympiad Pathway

AIMO uses a 35-mark core scoring system. The award structure is based on national performance rather than a fixed pass mark.

AMT currently states that:

• High Distinction is awarded to approximately the top 10%;
• Distinction is awarded to approximately the next 15%;
• Credit is awarded to approximately the next 25%;
• Other students receive Participation certificates.

The exact cutoff changes each year, because it depends on the difficulty of the paper and overall student performance.

A strong AIMO performance also has a broader role. AMT says AIMO results can be used to identify students for the Australian Maths Trust’s Olympiad pathway.

However, parents should not treat an AIMO medal as an automatic qualification for an international Olympiad team. It is better understood as one component of the broader AMT high-performance mathematics pathway.

How to Prepare for AIMO Math

AIMO preparation is different from preparing for a normal classroom exam.

The most important goal is to become better at solving problems you have not seen before.

1. Build Strong Mathematical Foundations

Students should first make sure they are comfortable with core algebra, geometry, arithmetic, number properties, and other relevant school mathematics.

Weak fundamentals can become a major obstacle when a contest problem combines several concepts.

2. Practice AIMO-Style Problems

Past papers are one of the best ways to understand the competition.

AMT provides sample and past AIMO materials, including official papers and worked solutions. The current AIMO page lists 2017 and 2018 papers directly, while older resources are available through AMT publications.

Do not rush to the solution.

A stronger approach is:

Try → get stuck → change strategy → solve → review.

The struggle to find a method is part of the training.

3. Learn to Write Mathematical Solutions

Questions 9 and 10 require written solutions. Students therefore need to practice explaining their reasoning clearly, not just obtaining the correct answer.

A good written solution should make the logical steps easy to follow.

4. Practice Without a Calculator

Because calculators and electronic devices are not permitted, students should become comfortable performing calculations manually.

This is especially important for number properties, algebraic manipulation, fractions, and numerical reasoning.

5. Use Timed Full-Paper Practice

AIMO lasts four hours. Students need to decide when to continue working on a difficult problem, and when to move to another question.

A good practice routine is to solve shorter problem sets first, and then complete full four-hour papers closer to the competition.

6. Review Mistakes by Strategy

Do more than record the correct answer.

For each missed question, ask:

• Did I misunderstand the problem?
• Did I lack a mathematical concept?
• Did I choose an inefficient approach?
• Did I make a calculation error?
• Could I explain the solution more clearly?

This turns each practice problem into a learning opportunity.

FAQ

Conclusion

The Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad (AIMO) is a four-hour mathematics competition for students in Years 7–10 who are ready for challenging problem solving. The current format uses 10 questions, combines integer-answer and written-solution problems, and covers topics ranging from geometry and algebra to number theory, sequences, congruences, and probability.

For 2026, AIMO is scheduled for September 10, with entries closing September 4. The competition is organized by the Australian Maths Trust and can contribute to the identification of students for its broader Olympiad pathway.

For students who want to strengthen these skills systematically, Wukong Math offers structured online mathematics programs focused on conceptual understanding, problem solving, and mathematical thinking. That foundation can complement AIMO practice and help students approach Olympiad-style problems with greater confidence.

James | WuKong Math Teacher

Graduated from Columbia University in the United States and has rich practical experience in mathematics competitions’ teaching, including Math Kangaroo, AMC 8… He teaches students the ways to flexible thinking and quick thinking in sloving math questions, and he is good at inspiring and guiding students to think about mathematical problems and find solutions.