Teacher Smith has rich experience in teaching primary school math Olympiad and currently teaches students in P2 to P4. His lectures and public classes are always very popular, often filled to capacity. Many parents and students have highly praised his teaching methods. He focuses on developing students’ mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills, using lively methods to help students understand complex math concepts, and is deeply loved by children.
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At the same time, to help everyone better prepare for SASMO, Kangaroo Study’s primary competition teachers have carefully compiled and designed the SASMO P3 Exam Topic Classification Guide, which is available for free!
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Next, I will give you a detailed introduction to SASMO, so you can understand everything about the competition!
This article includes:
• Overview of the SASMO
• Grade Groups and Divisions
• Rounds and Registration Process
• Detailed Competition Information
• Award Setup
• Notable Achievements of Kangaroo.Study Students
• Exclusive SASMO P3 Exam Analysis
• Preparation Materials
1. Overview of SASMO
SASMO is a math Olympiad competition that was established in 2006. It is one of the largest math competitions in Asia.
The competition aims to spark children’s interest in mathematics and is closely aligned with school curriculums. Preparing for SASMO helps children get ready for future PSLE and O-Level exams.
2. Grades Groups and Divisions
SASMO is open to the following student categories:
• Primary: Grades 1 to 6
• Secondary: Grades 1 to 4
• International Schools and Junior Colleges (JC): Grades 1 to 2
3. Rounds and Registration Process
SASMO has only one round, and there are three registration methods: school, individual, and international student registrations.
• School Registration:
SASMO will be organized by major primary and secondary schools in Singapore from March 7 to April 7, 2025.
(If your child’s school is listed, they can register through the school.)
• Individual Registration:
Individual students can register through the official portal.
Competition Date: March 29, 2025
The schedule will be announced one week before the competition.
• International Student Registration:
Overseas students can contact the event’s local partner or email admin@simcc.org for registration inquiries.
4. Competition Details
• Question Types
The competition lasts for 90 minutes. Each grade level has a different set of 25 questions divided into two sections:
Part A: 15 multiple-choice questions (2 points for a correct answer, 0 for no answer, -1 for an incorrect answer)
Part B: 10 non-routine questions (4 points for a correct answer, no points deducted for an incorrect answer)
Total Score: 85 points (To avoid negative scores, each student starts with 15 points).
• Result Announcement
Results will be announced on the official platform, with the specific date to be confirmed.
5. Award Setup
• PERFECT SCORE AWARD: Full score winners receive a certificate + $100 voucher + prize money (Total prize pool up to $5,000; if more than 50 winners, prize money will be evenly distributed)
• Gold Medal: Top 8%
• Silver Medal: Next 12%
• Bronze Medal: Next 20%
• Honorable Mention: Next 10%
• Participation Certificate: Last 50%
The top 50% of winners will receive certificates and medals, and all participants will receive a certificate of participation.
6. Notable Achievements of Kangaroo Study Students
2023:
• P3 Primary School Students: A student from Kangaroo.Study placed 5th in Singapore in SASMO.
2024:
• P3 Primary School Students:
87.5% of participating students earned medals, with 25% winning gold. One student also placed 3rd globally in the SIMOC.
7. Kangaroo Study’s Exclusive SASMO P3 Exam Analysis
SASMO P3 does not test on journey modules. The focus is on word problems, comprehensive problems, and calculations. Let’s go through each module.
1. Word Problem Module
There are many types of word problems, but they are not difficult. These include difference, multiple, page number, periodic, interval, average, and reverse problems. These are tested every year, with periodic problems usually focusing on dates.
Example (2020 Q4):
Example (2019 Q13)
2. Calculation Module
There will be two “easy” questions: basic addition and subtraction, and simple calculations involving place value.
Example (2020 Q2)
However, there are also harder topics like arithmetic sequences. Arithmetic sequences are tested every year and include questions on terms, sums, and more.
The module will also test concepts like defining new operations and applying equivalent substitutions, such as in 2018 Q21.
2019 Q17:
This question is not a direct application of a given example, and it requires a higher level of numerical sense from the students.
3. Comprehensive Module
Commonly tested: patterns in geometric sequences, logical reasoning, vertical arithmetic puzzles, and number grids. Other occasional topics include planning, statistics, and bottle exchange problems.
Example (2020 Q25)
Example (2019 Q25)
Example (2018 Q24)
Example (2017 Q24)
It can be seen that the exam setters continue to treat this topic as a challenging point, but the difficulty of this question is not high. “Guess and check” is the basic method, and besides that, knowing the numbers “1, 0, 9” can quickly solve certain special problems. For example, in the 2019 question, using “1, 0, 9” solved it instantly.
4. Geometry Module
Geometry questions focus on basic solid shapes, including three-view diagrams and unfolding figures. These are not difficult. Basic geometry questions may include calculating areas and perimeters of squares and rectangles.
Example (2015 Q20)
For example, in 2015 Q20, the question tested the area of a square, the area and perimeter of a rectangle, and also assessed the overall reasoning. Of course, the geometry module will also include some simpler questions, such as identifying congruent shapes, axis-symmetric figures, etc., which test students’ spatial reasoning skills.
5. Number Theory Module
The Number Theory module covers only a few key concepts, primarily focusing on divisibility rules and multiples. Almost every year, the rule for divisibility by 3 is tested. The question format is usually consistent—given a four-digit number with one unknown digit, students must determine the missing digit based on certain constraints.
Similarly, problems related to multiples follow a fixed pattern. For example, in 2018 Q19, SASMO frequently features this type of question, with only numerical values changing across different years.
6. Counting Module
The Counting module always includes geometric counting, which involves counting shapes. Besides enumeration, some problems require counting through calculations.
For example, the 2020 question was solved using enumeration, while the 2018 question could be solved directly with calculations.
Example (2018 Q)
In addition to geometric counting, SASMO also tests top-down numbering methods and basic counting principles.
Summary:
SASMO is not only a platform for primary and secondary school math enthusiasts to sharpen their thinking and challenge themselves, but also an important stepping stone to more advanced math competitions! If your child is planning to participate, join us now for efficient preparation and to maximize their potential.
We also look forward to seeing more students achieve outstanding results in SASMO 2025!