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RMO Exam Pattern

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Last updated date: 25th Apr 2024
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Olympiads

What is the RMO Exam Pattern?

RMO or Regional Maths Olympiad is the second stage in this Olympiad selection procedure that takes place in October every year. Since the Olympiads are not like regular school level maths examinations, most students qualifying for this round will not be familiar with its question format and marking scheme. Consequently, they should start by knowing the RMO exam pattern before starting preparations.

RMO 2023 Exam Pattern

The question paper contains six descriptive type mathematical problems in total, which are of 17 marks each. The offline exam lasts three hours. Candidates need to attempt all questions and they will be marked as per the accuracy level of their answers. In case of a partially correct or an incomplete answer, students will earn step marking. It is also important to note that regional coordinators can set their question papers for RMO or access the one set by NBHM or the National Board of Higher Mathematics.

Aside from an RMO exam pattern, one should also know about the pattern of questioning in other stages of the selection procedure. These have been discussed below in detail:

Pre-Regional Mathematical Olympiad (PRMO)

It is the first stage in the total selection procedure for the International Maths Olympiad. However, the question paper varies a great deal from the RMO exam pattern. The 3-hour long test consists of 30 objective type questions in total. Questions 1 to 6 are of two marks. Problems 7-21 carry three marks each and questions 22-30 have five marks. It is compulsory to attempt all questions. Fortunately, there is no negative marking in case of incorrect answers.

Each question will have a one-digit or two-digit number as an answer which the student will have to mark in an OMR sheet.

Furthermore, it is also essential to note that students need to darken each answer bubble entirely so that an OMR machine can read the answer correctly. Accordingly, incompletely filled answer bubbles will not be captured, and students will not be marked. The candidate should also preserve their copy of the OMR sheet as it will be required later for verification.

Students who qualify for PRMO can appear for the next round of its selection process. The first 300 students from Classes 8, 9, 10 and 11 and the first 60 candidates from standard 12 will be considered eligible for RMO.

Indian National Mathematical Olympiad

Students who clear RMO can appear for the next stage in the selection procedure, which is INMO or Indian National Mathematical Olympiad. The top 30 students from standards 8, 9, 10, 11 and 6 students from Class 12 from each region who have appeared for RMO will be chosen for this round. The four-hour written test usually takes place on the first Sunday of February.

Unlike RMO, the question paper for INMO is set centrally by the National Board of Higher Mathematics. The question paper follows the RMO exam pattern, i.e., it contains six descriptive type Maths problems with the total marks being 102. Nevertheless, the difficulty level of the questions is higher than in RMO.

The first 30 students from standards 8, 9, 10, 11 and the top 6 from Class 12 are selected as INMO awardees. The next 45 candidates are awarded an INMO Certificate of Merit. The awardees get a chance to attend the IMO training camp for a month. Based on several tests at the camp, a team of six will be chosen for the International Maths Olympiad.

The Regional Mathematics Olympiad Syllabus for 2023 is pre-degree college Mathematics. Although the RMO Syllabus is distributed through Classes 11 and 12, the problems within each subject are of a high degree of complexity and sophistication. The following are the subjects that were covered:

RMO Syllabus 2023

Topic Names

Arithmetic of Integers

Co-ordinate 

Geometry Geometry

Quadratic Equations & Expressions

Trigonometry

System of Linear Equations

Permutations & Combinations 

Probability Theory

Inequalities

Elementary Combinatorics

Number Theory

Elementary Graph Theory

Finite Series & Complex Numbers

Factorization of Polynomial


Preparatory books will help you better prepare for the exam's questions. To prepare for PRMO, RMO, or IMO, there are numerous books available both online and offline. The following is a list of recommended books and collections aimed specifically at Olympiad students.

Suggested Books for the Preparation of RMO or IMO:

Books

Editors

An Excursion in Mathematics

M.R. Modak, S.A. Katre, and V.V. Acharya

Challenge and Thrill of Pre-College Mathematics

V. Krishnamurthy, C.R. Pranesachar, K.N. Ranganathan, and B.J. Venkatachala

Functional Equations

B.J. Venkatachala

Inequalities an Approach Through Problems (Texts & Readings in Mathematics)

B.J. Venkatachala

Mathematical Circles: Russian Experience

Dmitri Fomin, Sergey Genkin, and Ilia Itenberg

Problem Solving Strategies

Arthur Engel

Problem Primer for the Olympiads

C.R. Pranesachar, B.J. Venkatachala, and C.S. Yogananda


RMO exam is an Olympiad exam that each Maths lover needs to have a hand at, at least once in one of the exams which are both exciting and competitive. Due to the exams, there are a lot of students who are quite anxious as to how they can get the desired results for the exam! Well, you need not worry as you will have Vedantu guide you through the RMO exam pattern that will give you an idea about the RMO exam and its overall structure and what you need to prepare for.

RMO Exam Application Form

RMO, an exam held to check the Mathematical and Analytical Skills of the students needs registration to be completed to be eligible for the Exam. If you are among one of those students who wish to apply for the RMO Exam then you need to check what the process of registration is.

The registration of the RMO Exam starts right about when the PRMO exam results are released. All those who are eligible after the PRMO Exams can apply for the RMO Exams. The registration form is available on the official website. By clicking on the registration link, the students need to provide details such as the date of birth and PRMO roll number to be eligible. This step is necessary as only those who have passed the PRMO exams can take part in the next level, which is the RMO Exam.

FAQs on RMO Exam Pattern

1. What is the Syllabus for RMO?

Ans: The syllabus for Maths Olympiad including RMO covers pre-college level mathematics. Some of the chapters that students need to cover are quadratic equations, combinatorics, algebra, factorisation of polynomials, complex numbers, integers, probability etc. They also need to practise graph theory and coordinate geometry and number theory. While preparing for the Olympiad, students should keep in mind that the difficulty level will increase with each stage in the selection procedure and modify their preparation accordingly.


It is essential to know the syllabus thoroughly as it will enable a student to form a comprehensive idea of the type of questions. Besides that, they can also refer to previous year questions and sample papers to understand the RMO exam pattern better.

2. What are the Books to Prepare for RMO?

Ans: Some of the books that one can opt for to know the RMO exam pattern includes the following:

  1. Problem Primer for the Olympiads

  2. Challenge and thrill of pre-college mathematics

  3. An excursion in mathematics

  4. Inequalities: an approach through problems

  5. Functional Equations

These textbooks are specially designed to help students who are preparing for the maths Olympiad. The mathematical problems given in these books are according to the exam pattern of RMO and INMO. Candidates can practise these problems to gain a better idea of the RMO exam pattern and the type of questions they will be facing during the Olympiad. Furthermore, the books also cover the topics in such a way so that students can find them interesting.

3. How Many Steps are Involved in the International Mathematical Olympiad Exam?

Ans: Children will participate in the International Mathematical Olympiad to gain exposure to different cultures and meet peers from all over the world. Each country is represented by a team of up to six students, a team leader, and one or two official observers. The students who will represent their country are chosen based on their performance in various workshops and exams. 

There are six steps involved in the International Mathematical Olympiad exam. Below are the steps - 

  • Pre-Regional Mathematics Olympiad (PRMO)

  • Regional Mathematics Olympiad (RMO)

  • Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM)

  • Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO)

  • IMO Training Camp (IMOTC)

  • Pre Departure Camp (PDC)

4. How is the Exam conducted and what happens once the RMO Exam is over?

Ans: This examination is conducted in particular regions and manyA total centres are set up for the same. The total duration of the exam is 3 hours and has a total of 6 questions. This exam is mostly conducted in either English or Hindi and some of the regional countries, there are other languages in which the exam is conducted. The candidates are then selected through the exam then appear for the training program which takes place at Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education and is later sent out for the International Mathematics Olympiad.

5. Who are the regional coordinators for RMO Exams and what is their role?

Ans: The regional coordinators for RMO exams are as follows:

  1. CBSE also called as Central Board of Secondary Education

  2. NVS also called as Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti

  3. KVS (Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan)

These are the regional coordinators who work together to conduct the RMO exams. Their role is to set the paper according to the syllabus provided and to properly examine the question included. They also check the level of the questions included to check what is the maximum capability of the students who are participating.

6. What are the important dates involved in the RMO Exam 2023?

Ans: The students who would like to participate in the RMO exams are supposed to be up to date with the important dates of the exam. The exam dates for the RMO being conducted in 2023 are as follows:

Start of registration Process:

July 10, 2023

End of registration for students:

August 2023

Availability of Admit card:

October 2023

Date of Examination:

October 29, 2023

Results:

December 2023 (Tentative)


To know what the other requirements to be eligible for the NCO exam are then you can now head over to Vedantu to get your doubts cleared and get accurate information. 

7. What is the marking scheme of the RMO Exam and how is the Exam conducted?

Ans: A total of 6 questions are asked in the exam and it is descriptive type math problems. It consists of 102 marks. However, there will be no negative marking involved in the exam. This makes it a benefit for students as they can score higher if they attempt the questions properly. The exams are conducted region-wise and there are certain centres where the exams take place. The exams are conducted in an offline mode as the COVID situation has subsided allowing the students to attend the exams through exam centres.

8. What happens to those Students that pass RMO and INMO?

Ans: As the students pass both RMO and INMO, they are called for an interview with I.S.I which is also called the Indian Statistical Institute and by C.M.I also known as the Chennai Mathematics Institute. Both of these institutes are one of the main leading institutes for Mathematics in India. There are various prestigious courses such as B. Stat, B. Math, and B. Sc. Math which is held in high esteem throughout the world. Having a chance to graduate through these institutes allows students to be accepted at some of the best universities in the world such as Harvard and Princeton among others. Vedantu is the best bet for you to prepare for RMO, find study material, test papers and more!