2026
AIMO 2026
Competition date
Thursday, 10 Sept 2026
Eligible students
NZ Years 8-11
New Zealand time
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Delivery
In-person paper-based
Competition completed
Registration is no longer available.
Australia
• Completed
Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad (AIMO)
A demanding mathematics competition for talented secondary students who enjoy advanced, non-routine problem solving. It develops rigorous reasoning and provides a bridge towards higher-level Olympiad mathematics.
MATHEMATICS
Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad (AIMO)
Competition Overview
Academic Value / Why Participate
AIMO gives mathematically talented students an opportunity to:
engage with mathematics beyond the standard school curriculum;
solve substantial, multi-step problems;
develop rigorous mathematical reasoning;
learn to construct and communicate written proofs;
strengthen persistence and strategic thinking;
experience an Olympiad-style competition environment;
benchmark their performance among other advanced problem solvers;
gain recognition through national awards; and
demonstrate readiness for further AMT enrichment and Olympiad opportunities.
The competition is especially valuable for students moving from short-answer competitions toward formal Olympiad mathematics, where the quality of reasoning and written justification becomes increasingly important.
Who It Suits
AIMO is suitable for students who:
demonstrate a strong aptitude for mathematics;
enjoy difficult and unfamiliar mathematical problems;
have performed very strongly in the Australian Mathematics Competition;
have completed advanced stages of an AMT Maths Enrichment programme;
undertake substantial mathematics extension outside the standard curriculum;
are comfortable spending extended periods on a small number of difficult problems;
want to develop mathematical proof and written reasoning; or
may be ready for consideration within an Olympiad pathway.
AIMO is not intended as a general-entry assessment for students seeking routine curriculum practice. It is designed for highly motivated students who already have experience with advanced problem solving.
Prerequisites and Readiness
There is no separate qualifying examination stated for open entry to AIMO, but students should have a strong foundation in secondary mathematics and substantial experience with non-routine problems.
Suitable participants may have:
achieved a very high result in the AMC;
completed later stages of AMT Maths Enrichment;
participated in mathematics extension programmes;
practised Olympiad-style problems;
developed confidence with algebra, geometry, number theory and counting;
learned to explain each step of a mathematical argument; and
begun writing formal or semi-formal proofs.
Because the paper is pitched at approximately Australian Year 10 level, younger students should enter only when their mathematical experience and problem-solving maturity make the competition appropriate.
ROUND 1
Open Round
Exam Date & Time
17:00-21:00, Thurs 10 Sep 2026
Registration Deadline
Tuesday, 1 September 2026
FURTHER ROUNDS & PROGRESSION
Explore the later stages of the competition. Progression is subject to the organiser's current qualification requirements.
Semifinal Round
The Semifinal Round builds on the earlier stage with more advanced questions and deeper application.
Exam Date & Time
Saturday, 16 May 2026 · 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (NZT)
Registration Deadline
Friday, 1 May 2026 · 11:59 pm (NZT)
Semifinal Round
The Semifinal Round builds on the earlier stage with more advanced questions and deeper application.
Exam Date & Time
Saturday, 16 May 2026 · 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (NZT)
Registration Deadline
Friday, 1 May 2026 · 11:59 pm (NZT)
Semifinal Round
The Semifinal Round builds on the earlier stage with more advanced questions and deeper application.
Exam Date & Time
Saturday, 16 May 2026 · 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (NZT)
Registration Deadline
Friday, 1 May 2026 · 11:59 pm (NZT)
Semifinal Round
The Semifinal Round builds on the earlier stage with more advanced questions and deeper application.
Exam Date & Time
Saturday, 16 May 2026 · 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (NZT)
Registration Deadline
Friday, 1 May 2026 · 11:59 pm (NZT)
All resources
Past Papers
Guide
Rules and
Exam Instructions
A GOOD PLACE TO BEGIN
RESOURCES & PAST PAPERS
Find available practice, curriculum guidance and competition rules.
Practice
No resources found for these filters.
THE RIGHT SUPPORT. AT YOUR STAGE
PREPARATION COURSES
Explore the programme, choose a teaching format and review the full tuition before enrolling.
CLASS
Placement for Advanced Class is confirmed after consultation.
STAGE
REGULAR CLASS · OPEN ROUND PREPARATION
Open Round Preparation
Build neuroscience knowledge, then apply it to research figures, experimental evidence and unfamiliar questions.
16 hours total
8 x 2-hour lessons
· Connect neural structures with function and disease.
· Intepret graphs, experiments and research extracts.
· Complete an Open Round-style mock with an individual error review.
Session 1 — Foundations
……Session 2 — Core concepts
……Session 3 — Problem solving
……
Choose your teaching format
Small-group preparation with up to 3 students, offering structured teaching, guided practice and personalised feedback.
16 hours · 8 × 2-hour sessions
NZ$1,060
per student · full programme
Focused preparation for two students learning together, with guided teaching, targeted practice and personalised feedback.
16 hours · 8 × 2-hour sessions
NZ$1,280
per student · full programme
Fully personalised one-to-one preparation with teaching, practice and feedback tailored to the student's needs.
16 hours · 8 × 2-hour sessions
NZ$1,840
per student · full programme
Select a teaching format to view tuition, lesson format and enrolment details.
Competition Gallery
Submission and Confirmation
Please check your email address carefully before submitting the registration form.
Once you submit the form, you will receive a confirmation email automatically.
All other important communications (including the Exam Instructions, Results and Certificates, etc) will be sent to the email address you submitted to us. Please check your email inbox and junk mail / spam folder regularly!
What Happens Next?
1
2
3
4
Registration Received
We will send you a confirmation email
We may review your registration if required
Eligibility Review
You will receive the Exam Instructions closer to the date
Exam Instructions
Participate and do your best!
Competition Day
Competition Overview
Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad (AIMO)
The Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad (AIMO) is a highly challenging four-hour mathematics competition organised by the Australian Maths Trust. It is designed to identify and extend talented students through complex, non-routine mathematical problem solving.
The AIMO paper is pitched broadly at Australian Year 10 level, although motivated and mathematically advanced students in Years 7–9 may also participate. Unlike shorter multiple-choice competitions, AIMO requires students to produce exact integer answers and, for selected questions, complete written mathematical solutions that may include proofs.
Each paper contains original problems developed by leading educators and academics. The questions range substantially in difficulty, and only a small number of students are expected to complete the entire paper. AIMO results may be used by the Australian Maths Trust to identify students for its mathematics Olympiad pathway.
AIMO gives mathematically talented students an opportunity to:
engage with mathematics beyond the standard school curriculum;
solve substantial, multi-step problems;
develop rigorous mathematical reasoning;
learn to construct and communicate written proofs;
strengthen persistence and strategic thinking;
experience an Olympiad-style competition environment;
benchmark their performance among other advanced problem solvers;
gain recognition through national awards; and
demonstrate readiness for further AMT enrichment and Olympiad opportunities.
The competition is especially valuable for students moving from short-answer competitions toward formal Olympiad mathematics, where the quality of reasoning and written justification becomes increasingly important.
AIMO is suitable for students who:
demonstrate a strong aptitude for mathematics;
enjoy difficult and unfamiliar mathematical problems;
have performed very strongly in the Australian Mathematics Competition;
have completed advanced stages of an AMT Maths Enrichment programme;
undertake substantial mathematics extension outside the standard curriculum;
are comfortable spending extended periods on a small number of difficult problems;
want to develop mathematical proof and written reasoning; or
may be ready for consideration within an Olympiad pathway.
AIMO is not intended as a general-entry assessment for students seeking routine curriculum practice. It is designed for highly motivated students who already have experience with advanced problem solving.
AIMO awards are based on overall performance in the competition.
Prize
Awarded to students whose performance is outstanding on a national basis.
High Distinction
Awarded to approximately the top 10% of participants.
Distinction
Awarded to approximately the next 15%.
Credit
Awarded to approximately the next 25%.
Participation
Awarded to all remaining participants.
Award cut-off scores are approximate and vary from year to year according to the difficulty of the paper and the performance of the participant group.
AIMO results may be used by the Australian Maths Trust to identify students for its mathematics Olympiad pathway and other high-performance opportunities.
Students who demonstrate exceptional ability may be considered for further training, mentoring or invitation-only activities administered through the Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee. These programmes develop the advanced proof, number theory, geometry, algebra and combinatorics skills required for higher-level Olympiad mathematics.
Participation or an AIMO award does not guarantee an invitation. Selection decisions and eligibility for national or international representation are managed separately under the relevant programme rules.