100+ Free SOF IMO Practice Questions

Pass your Science Olympiad Foundation International Mathematics Olympiad exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately

~5% qualify for Level 2 Pass Rate

100+ Questions

100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More Indian School Olympiads

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: SOF IMO Exam

50 / 35

Total Questions (depending on class)

SOF Exam Guidelines

60 mins

Time Limit

SOF Exam Guidelines

₹170

Registration Fee (India)

SOF 2026 Circular

Top 5%

Level 2 Cut-off (Class-wise)

SOF Level 2 Criteria

4 Sections

Exam Paper Divisions

SOF Pattern

Offline

Exam Mode

OMR sheets in school

The SOF IMO is an annual math competition for Classes 1-12. The Level 1 exam consists of a 60-minute offline OMR paper costing ₹170 in India. To qualify for the Level 2 exam, students must rank in the top 5% class-wise, top 25 in their zone, or be the school topper with a minimum 50% score.

Sample SOF IMO Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your SOF IMO exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Identify the missing number in the following series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?

A.36

B.40

C.42

D.46

Explanation: The differences between consecutive terms are increasing by 2: 6 - 2 = 4, 12 - 6 = 6, 20 - 12 = 8, 30 - 20 = 10. The next difference must be 12, so the next term is 30 + 12 = 42.

2If the word MATHEMATICS is coded as NBUIFNBUJDT in a certain language, how will the word OLYMPIAD be coded?

A.PMZNQJBE

B.PMZNPIAE

C.NKYLOHZC

D.QNZORJCF

Explanation: Each letter in the word is replaced by its succeeding letter in the alphabetical order (M -> N, A -> B, T -> U, etc.). Applying this to OLYMPIAD gives O -> P, L -> M, Y -> Z, M -> N, P -> Q, I -> J, A -> B, D -> E, resulting in PMZNQJBE.

3A man walks 5 km East, then turns right and walks 12 km. How far is he from his starting point?

A.17 km

B.13 km

C.7 km

D.15 km

Explanation: His movement forms a right-angled triangle where the legs are 5 km and 12 km. Using the Pythagorean theorem, the distance from the starting point is the hypotenuse: sqrt(5^2 + 12^2) = sqrt(25 + 144) = sqrt(169) = 13 km.

4Pointing to a photograph, Amit says, 'He is the son of the only son of my grandfather.' How is the man in the photograph related to Amit?

A.Brother

B.Uncle

C.Father

D.Cousin

Explanation: Amit's grandfather's only son is Amit's father. The son of Amit's father must be Amit's brother (or Amit himself, but 'Brother' is the only matching option).

5Find the missing term in the alphabet series: A, C, F, J, O, ?

A.T

B.U

C.V

D.W

Explanation: The positions of the letters in the alphabet are: A=1, C=3, F=6, J=10, O=15. The differences between consecutive positions are increasing: +2, +3, +4, +5. The next step must be +6, which leads to 15 + 6 = 21, corresponding to U.

6In a certain code, 'sky is blue' is written as '481', 'blue is cold' is '248', and 'cold wind' is '29'. What digit represents 'sky' in this language?

A.4

B.8

C.1

D.2

Explanation: Comparing 'sky is blue' (481) and 'blue is cold' (248), we see that 'is' and 'blue' are common, corresponding to the digits '4' and '8'. Thus, the remaining word 'sky' in the first phrase corresponds to the remaining digit '1'.

7Starting from point A, Rahul walks 10m North, turns left and walks 15m, then turns left again and walks 10m. Finally, he turns right and walks 5m to reach point B. How far and in which direction is he now with respect to A?

A.20m West

B.15m West

C.20m East

D.10m North

Explanation: Rahul first moves 10m North. The left turn moves him 15m West. The second left turn moves him 10m South, returning him to the horizontal baseline of A. The final right turn (while facing South) points him West, and he walks 5m. Total displacement is 15m + 5m = 20m West.

8Six people A, B, C, D, E, F are sitting in a circle facing the center. B is between F and C. A is between E and D. F is to the immediate left of D. Who is sitting opposite to B?

A.A

B.D

C.E

D.C

Explanation: Let's arrange them in order: F is to the left of D. B is between F and C, so the sequence is C-B-F-D. A is between E and D, which means the sequence continues D-A-E. Connecting the circle gives C-B-F-D-A-E. The person opposite to B in this 6-person circle is E.

9If X is the sister of Y, Y is the brother of Z, and Z is the son of W, how is W related to X?

A.Father or Mother

B.Uncle

C.Grandfather

D.Brother

Explanation: X, Y, and Z are siblings because X is Y's sister and Y is Z's brother. Since Z is the son of W, all three siblings are children of W. Therefore, W is either their father or their mother.

10A square paper is folded twice (first diagonally and then in half to form a smaller triangle), and a circular hole is punched in the center. When unfolded, what will the pattern of holes look like?

A.One hole in the center

B.Four holes forming a diamond pattern

C.Two holes on opposite sides

D.No holes at all

Explanation: Since the square paper is folded to form four layers of overlapping material over the central region, punching a single hole through the layers will create four separate symmetric holes arranged around the center of the sheet when it is completely unfolded.

About the SOF IMO Exam

The Science Olympiad Foundation International Mathematics Olympiad (SOF IMO) is one of the most prestigious mathematics competitions for school students in India and abroad. Designed for students in Classes 1-12, the exam evaluates mathematical proficiency, analytical capabilities, and reasoning skills. The Level 1 exam features logical reasoning, mathematical reasoning, everyday mathematics, and an Achievers Section containing higher-order thinking questions. High achievers qualify for the Level 2 exam (for Classes 3-12) to compete for zonal and international ranks.

Assessment

50 multiple-choice questions for Classes 5-12 (60-minute duration)

Time Limit

60 minutes

Passing Score

Top 5% class-wise, top 25 per zone, or school topper scoring 50%+

Exam Fee

₹170 (Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF))

SOF IMO Exam Content Outline

30%

Logical Reasoning

Verbal and non-verbal reasoning topics including series, coding-decoding, direction sense, blood relations, and pattern identification.

40%

Mathematical Reasoning

Academic syllabus-based concepts such as algebra, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, probability, statistics, and number systems.

20%

Everyday Mathematics

Real-world word problems applying percentages, simple & compound interest, speed-time-distance, and ratios.

10%

Achievers Section

Higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) questions that require complex multi-step application of mathematical concepts.

How to Pass the SOF IMO Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Top 5% class-wise, top 25 per zone, or school topper scoring 50%+
Assessment: 50 multiple-choice questions for Classes 5-12 (60-minute duration)
Time limit: 60 minutes
Exam fee: ₹170

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

SOF IMO Study Tips from Top Performers

1Dedicate consistent time to Logical Reasoning; solving puzzles, code patterns, and spatial reasoning problems can yield easy marks.

2Thoroughly cover your NCERT or school math textbooks, as 60% of the questions are drawn directly from the current class syllabus and 40% from the preceding class.

3Practice solving word problems quickly to build speed and accuracy for the Everyday Mathematics section.

4Work through previous years' papers specifically looking at the Achievers Section (HOTS), which has a higher marking weight (3 marks per question for Classes 5-12).

5Learn and use shortcut formulas for arithmetic progressions, coordinate distance, and algebraic expansions to save valuable time during the 60-minute exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to participate in the SOF IMO?

All students studying in Classes 1 to 12 are eligible to participate in the Level 1 exam. There are no minimum mark requirements. However, registrations must go through a participating school; individual registrations are not accepted.

What is the registration fee for the SOF IMO in India?

The standard registration fee is ₹170 per student (inclusive of GST). Schools may charge an additional ₹30 to cover local administrative expenses, making the total cost around ₹200. Students with major physical disabilities or children of martyred defense personnel are exempt from this fee.

What is the qualification criteria for the Level 2 exam?

Students from Classes 3 to 12 can qualify for the Level 2 exam by meeting one of three criteria: (1) Rank in the top 5% class-wise nationally, (2) Rank in the top 25 class-wise within their designated zone, or (3) Be the class topper in their school, provided at least 10 students from the class took the exam and the topper scored 50% or higher.

What is the exam pattern and duration?

The exam is a 60-minute offline OMR-based test. For Classes 1 to 4, it contains 35 questions (total 40 marks). For Classes 5 to 12, it contains 50 questions (total 60 marks). The questions are divided into Logical Reasoning, Mathematical Reasoning, Everyday Mathematics, and the Achievers Section.

How are tie-breakers resolved for rankings?

If two or more students secure the same marks, rankings are determined by looking at section-wise scores in this priority order: Achievers Section, Mathematical Reasoning, Everyday Mathematics, and Logical Reasoning. If a tie still remains, the student's previous class rank or age may be considered depending on official guidelines.