The Ultimate Guide to the NMOS, RMO, APMOPS (Part 2): 2025 RMO Registration Ends This Month! Latest Exam Trends + Preparation Strategies You Must Know! ❓ "What grade levels can participate in RMO?" ❓ "Approximately how many children can win awards in RMO?" ❓ "Is there a detailed breakdown of RMO exam topics?" ❓ "What preparations can be made before the first round of RMO?" The registration period for the 2025 RMO runs from February 3rd to March 31st. Many parents and children are currently preparing for the RMO, while some are still unclear about the details and preparation methods for the competition. As the second instalment of the “The Ultimate Guide to the NMOS, RMO, APMOPS” series, this article will provide you with an in-depth introduction to the RMO, including a professional analysis of the competition content and preparation strategies. This article will clarify what RMO is and how to prepare for it! This article includes: - Competition Overview - Key Dates for RMO 2025 - Participating Grades and Categories - Rounds and Registration Methods - Competition Details - Award Settings - Significance of the Competition - Kangaroo.Study's Achievements - Exam Trend Analysis - Preparation Advice At the end of this article, we will offer generous benefits: - Free access to past RMO exam papers (with solutions) - Exclusive preparation materials - Join our WhatsApp competition group for professional guidance on study planning and competition preparation! (Code) For the first instalment of the " “The Ultimate Guide to the NMOS, RMO, APMOPS” series" series—NMOS—please refer to our previous article: --- 1. Competition Overview The Raffles Mathematical Olympiad (RMO), formerly known as the Raffles Institution Primary Mathematics World Contest (RIPMWC), was established in 1996. Hosted by Raffles Institution, it is Singapore's most challenging and prestigious mathematics competition. --- 2. Key Dates for RMO 2025 --- 3. Participating Grades and Categories RMO 2025 has two categories: - Junior Category: For Primary 4 and 5 students - Open Category: For Primary 6 students Both the Junior and Open categories use the same exam paper. --- 4. Rounds and Registration Methods The competition consists of two rounds. Students will register through their respective primary schools. Individual/private registrations are not allowed. --- 5. Competition Details Round 1 - Format: Online exam conducted at the student's school - Question Type: 20 multiple-choice questions (same for Junior and Open categories) - Duration: 60 minutes Round 2 - Format: Offline written exam at Raffles Institution - Question Type: - Junior Category: 15 short-answer questions - Open Category: 7 short-answer questions + 4 full-solution questions - Duration: 60 minutes Advancement Rules - Junior Category: Top 2% or top 40 students (whichever is smaller) from the first round advance to the second round. - Open Category: Top 3% or top 60 students (whichever is smaller) from the first round advance to the second round. Note: Calculators are not allowed. --- 6. Award Settings Individual Awards - High Distinction (HD): Awarded to the top 2% of participants. - Distinction: Awarded to the next 13% of participants. - Merit: Awarded to the next 15% of participants. - Participation Certificate: Awarded to all other participants. School Awards - Team prizes, in the form of certificates, will be awarded to the top 3 schools that score the highest total marks of their top 4 rankers. Schools with less than 4 participants will not be eligible for the team prize. --- 7. Significance of the Competition 1. A Platform for True Mathematical Elites As Singapore's most challenging and prestigious mathematics competition, RMO attracts over 3,000 participants annually. Only 2% advance to the second round, making it a true test of mathematical prowess. 2. Ideal for Students with Strong Olympiad Foundations Seeking DSA Admission RMO is an excellent opportunity for students with a solid foundation in Olympiad mathematics, particularly those aiming to enter top schools like RI, RGS, and HCI through DSA program. A high ranking in RMO can significantly enhance a student's DSA application. --- 8. Kangaroo.Study's Recent Achievements 2023 - RMO: 25 participants, 11 advanced to the second round (44% success rate), including one student who secured first place in the Open Category. 2024 - RMO: 4 students advanced to the Junior Category second round (representing 1/9 of all Junior Category finalists); 9 students advanced to the Open Category second round (representing 15% of all Open Category finalists). --- 9. Kangaroo.Study's Targeted RMO Preparation After the 2024 RMO exam, we discovered that two of the questions were identical to those from the SCMO (Spring Cup MathematicalOlympiad) , with no changes to the data. The questions are as follows: Since Math Olympiad learning follows a structured system, Kangaroo.Study’s curriculum team has specially designed our materials and practice papers based on Singapore’s local syllabus and students’ learning patterns. By following our learning path, students can gradually build and enhance their problem-solving abilities in a structured and progressive way!
--- 10. RMO Exam Trend Analysis 1. Key Focus Areas Our high-level Olympiad teachers have analyzed over 200 questions from the past decade and categorized them into seven modules: - Calculation - Counting - Word Problems - Geometry - Number Theory - Speed-Distance-Time - Miscellaneous RMO First Round Module Distribution The distribution of question types each year is shown in the chart above. A large portion of the tested topics is concentrated in three main areas: Arithmetic, Geometry, and Number Theory. On average, Number Theory has the highest proportion, accounting for 22.5% of all questions. Out of the seven main modules, it alone takes up more than one-fifth of the entire paper. It’s fair to say — Master Number Theory, and you’ll master the RMO. For a detailed breakdown of the 7 major knowledge modules, please refer to this “RMO & APMOPS Knowledge Point Self-Check List”:
2. Exam Challenges RMO is characterized by three main challenges: - High Question Complexity: Questions often integrate multiple concepts. - Extensive Knowledge Base: The RMO exam covers over 100 topics, and taking number theory as an example, there are many theorems that students may not have encountered in school, but these theorems are crucial for solving the problems. For instance, consider the following questions from the 2023 RMO: To solve this problem, a solid understanding of the divisibility rules for 11 is essential; without this, it’s impossible to proceed.
- Flexible Question Formats: Questions often require creative problem-solving approaches. For example, consider the following question from the 2022 RMO: This problem doesn’t directly test a number theory theorem; instead, it requires students to have strong problem-solving skills. They need to start with the basics and analyze the characteristics that the number must satisfy to meet the requirements of the question. This is an area where most students fall short. --- 11. RMO Preparation Advice 1. How to Practice Effectively - Step 1: Practice past 10 years' exam papers. - Step 2: Review and re-practice the same papers. - Step 3: Attempt mock exams. At the same time, practicing problems should not be done blindly. It’s important to focus on three key aspects: - Detailed Steps: Ensure a deep understanding of each step in the solution process. - Scientific Questioning: Ask targeted questions to clarify doubts and deepen understanding. - Summarize Lessons Learned: Reflect on the mathematical principles and problem-solving strategies used in each question. 2. RMO Resources and Activities 1) RMO Past Papers (2009-2023): RMO Round 1 Past Paper: RMO Round 1 Past Paper Solutions:
RMO Round 2 Past Paper (Junior): RMO Round 2 Past Paper Solutions (Junior):
RMO Round 2 Past Paper (Open):
RMO Round 2 Past Paper Solutions (Open):
2) More Practice and Free Q&A Join our ‘Math Olympiad P4-6 Study Group’ to get access to free Q&A sessions, reviews, and targeted exercises that continuously help children fill in knowledge gaps and ensure complete mastery of each module’s key concepts.
3) P6 Term 1 / Spring Term Schedule In addition, for parents who have questions about the content planning for different stages of the spring term, I have created the following chart to clearly show the key concepts that the children will learn at each stage.
Detailed Introduction to Term 1:
4) RMO Past Paper Explanations Our teachers have recorded many free RMO past paper explanation videos on YouTube. Feel free to check them out and reach out to us anytime for further explanations Please follow our YouTube channel ‘Maths Olympiad in Singapore’
5) Other activities are being arranged, stay tuned~ 1 - RMO Mock Exam and Paper Review Class 2 - RMO Pre-exam Sprint Class 3 - RMO Past Paper Practice and Q&A Class
Please join our WhatsApp group to receive the latest updates and details about these activities!
Past RMO Mock Exam Papers and Solutions:
--- Conclusion RMO is not just a highly challenging competition but also a comprehensive test of a student's mathematical abilities, logical thinking, problem-solving skills, and mathematical literacy. Through systematic preparation, students can not only excel in the competition but also build a strong foundation for future mathematical learning. With Kangaroo.Study's professional Olympiad teaching system and precise exam analysis, we are committed to helping students prepare efficiently and achieve steady progress!
For more detailed information, please contact Teacher Gao Xuming.
Next Preview: The Ultimate Guide to APMOPS – Coming Soon!
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