Last year’s Class 8 tests helped kids prepare for competitive level exams such as Olympiads by introducing them to patterns outside of the high-school curriculum. Students may be unfamiliar with international contests, but completing these sample papers will help them develop the critical thinking skills they will need to address difficult-to-answer problems in the real world. It also teaches students how to solve problems in timed situations, assess how long it takes them to answer questions, identify their weakest subject areas, and prepare for the forthcoming exam. The International Mathematics Olympiad, a math competition, is hosted by the Science Olympiad Foundation. The SOF IMO is a test that evaluates pupils’ mathematical abilities. Students that participate in the IMO can compare their knowledge of the subject and abilities to answer a variety of issues with their classmates on a school, local, zonal, and global level. Students can self-evaluate and compete for a range of prizes and scholarships through the International Maths Olympiad.
Syllabus of Class 8:
The Exam’s Total marks are 60 where it has four sections. The first section contains verbal and non-verbal reasoning. In the second section it contains Squares and Square Roots, Cubes and Cube Roots, Exponents and Powers, and Rational Numbers Quantity Comparisons, Algebraic Expressions, and Identities One-variable linear equations Understanding Quadrilaterals, Constructions, Mensuration, Visualizing Solid Shapes, Data Handling, Direct and Inverse Variations, Factorization, Introduction to Graphs, and Playing with Numbers are topics covered in this. The third section has sums with all mathematical problems. The fourth section contains thinking ability in higher order.
Marks Distribution:
| Section | No of Question | Mark per question | Total |
| Logical Reasoning | 15 | 1 | 15 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 20 | 1 | 20 |
| Everyday math | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Achiever Section | 5 | 3 | 15 |
Grand Total | 50 | 60 |
LEVEL-1:
Students in grades 1 through 12 take Level 1 of the exam. It takes 60 minutes to complete the test. Students in grades 1 through 4 must complete 35 Objective-type (Multiple Choice Questions), whereas students in grades 5 through 12 must complete 50 Objective-type (Multiple Choice Questions).
LEVEL-2:
Students in Classes 3 to 12 take part in the SOF IMO’s second level. The following students are regarded as qualified for the IMO Level 2 exam:
The class topper is selected when ten or more students from a class attempt Level 1 and receive a minimum aggregate of 50%. The first-placed student receives a Certificate of Zonal Excellence, a Gold Medal, and a gift of INR 1000/-each. The student whose rank is 2nd gets a Certificate of Zonal Excellence, Silver Medal, Gift worth INR 1000/-each. The third-placed student receives a Certificate of Zonal Excellence, a Bronze Medal, and a gift of INR 1000/- each. Students in the 4th through 10th grades receive a Medal of Distinction, a gift worth INR 500/- apiece, and a Certificate of Distinction (only for Classes 1 & 2).
How to prepare for IMO Exam:
Get your day started
Not only for this but for any competitive Maths exam of this magnitude, getting an early start is critical. Not only are we talking about getting up early in the morning, but we are also talking about starting to study at least two months ahead of time. This will allow you to plan a schedule that is not jam-packed with back-to-back studying throughout the day. You will be able to take plenty of breaks and devote a significant amount of time to revisions and mock tests. It is important to remember that the Math Olympiad Exam is taken by millions of students from all around the world. This is a warning sign that the questions will be more difficult than usual. As a result, you will need a lot of time to go through each idea thoroughly.
Gather your study materials:
Go over the IMO curriculum numerous times and gather all the materials you will need to prepare. Make a call to a few friends who are taking the same test to make sure you have not forgotten anything important from the syllabus. There are also reputable internet sites that can conduct the necessary research and deliver the full course in an easy-to-understand format.
Find the correct tutor for yourself:
Because your tutor will play such a significant role in your learning, make sure you choose someone qualified and comfortable with you. If you cannot locate a good IMO tutor in your area, consider internet tutoring.
Progress checking is a must:
Revision is an essential aspect of preparing for the Math Olympiad. Take notes or make cue cards as you study. When you start revising, the hints in your notes will help you recall what you have learned. The cue cards are another option to go over what you have learned. They do not have to be as detailed as the notes, but they should have enough information to help you recall things if you get lost. However, keep in mind that these adjustments serve as markers of your progress. If areas necessitate frequent reference to your notes, return to the books and devote more time to those themes.
Do not repeat your mistakes:
keep an eye out for frequent blunders like using positive/negative signs, brackets, and changing decimal points, among other things. Even the most accomplished mathematicians are prone to making errors that alter the outcome of calculations. Just be extremely cautious when dealing with these small symbols.
Studying smartly:
Set up time in your schedule to go over sample papers and answer those questions. Arrange for sample tests to assist you to analyze your progress. You will only improve by practicing, practicing, and practicing some more. However, smart studying is just as vital as rigorous studying. Spot patterns in the example papers and make the most of them. Also, rather than taking the long route that leads to multiple pages of mathematics, try to identify simpler solutions to difficulties.
Find out your weakness:
If topics are more challenging for you, then you should devote extra time to them.
You can also refer to IMO Class 8 2015 Question Paper.