The Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad (AIMO) is an open-entry written olympiad for students in Years 7-10, pitched at Year 10 level. There is no qualifying exam to enter — schools register students directly — but strong AIMO results can lead into the Australian Maths Trust's higher olympiad and selection pathway.
Eligibility: one paper for Years 7-10; no qualifying test to enter.
Format: 10 questions in 4 hours — 8 integer-answer plus 2 written-solution problems.
Total: 35 marks, including a bonus investigation.
Pathway: top performers may connect into AMT olympiad programs.
From your child’s result to a practical next step
Find the difficulty that sounds familiar. Choose one action, try it, and use fresh work to check progress.
How can a student build concentration for longer AIMO problems without making every practice session a timed test?
Build longer concentration gradually with one problem and a clear stopping point. Begin with an untimed attempt, record what is known and what has been tried, then return after a break.
A useful session might contain 15 minutes exploring cases, 5 minutes comparing approaches, and a short written explanation. Extend the uninterrupted part when the student can stay purposeful. Alternate deeper work with shorter tasks; not every session needs to imitate the full exam. Track useful attempts and justified steps, not just how long the child sits at a desk.
Which number-theory foundations should a student check before starting AIMO preparation?
Check factors, multiples, prime factorisation, divisibility, parity and remainders before adding elaborate number-theory techniques. The student should explain why a property works, not only apply a memorised rule.
For example, ask why the square of an odd integer is odd: writing it as 2k+1 gives (2k+1)² = 2(2k²+2k)+1. Then ask whether the sum of two odd squares can be odd. Use a small selection of such explanations to choose the next topic; this is a preparation check, not an official AIMO entry test.
How can a student check whether an AIMO counting argument misses cases or counts the same case twice?
Define exactly what counts as one outcome, split cases by a rule that cannot overlap, then check that every outcome belongs somewhere. Small cases can expose a flaw before a long calculation hides it.
Choosing two students from A, B and C gives AB, AC and BC. Listing BA as well as AB counts the same unordered pair twice. If roles are different, such as captain and deputy, order does matter and there are six outcomes. State that distinction before using a formula.
My child relies on the appearance of a diagram in geometry. How can they learn to justify an AIMO geometry solution?
Treat a geometry diagram as a record of stated facts, not as proof. Mark given lengths, angles and parallel lines, and justify every extra relationship with a reason.
A triangle that looks isosceles is not necessarily isosceles. If two sides are explicitly equal, equal base angles become justified; if they only look equal, that step is unavailable. Ask the student to make a statement-and-reason list, then redraw the figure in a less convenient shape and check whether the argument still works.
My child can rearrange algebraic expressions but cannot turn an unfamiliar problem into equations. How should they prepare for AIMO?
Practise translating a situation before practising algebraic manipulation. Name the unknown, write its unit, and express one relationship at a time before solving.
For example, if a rectangle's length is 3 cm more than its width and its perimeter is 26 cm, let width be w: 2w + 2(w+3) = 26, so w = 5 cm and length = 8 cm. Check both the condition and perimeter. Then change the relationship and ask the student to build a new equation without copying the old one.
Can a motivated Year 8 student try an AIMO course?
A motivated younger student can inspect the preparation material, but the Ace Achievers AIMO course is positioned for Years 9–12. Use the free starter material to check reasoning and algebra readiness before choosing it. If explanations and core techniques are not secure, continue AMC foundations first. Course placement is a learning decision, not a statement about official AIMO entry eligibility.
Ace Achievers learning guidance · Updated 5 October 2026. Examples are illustrative, not student results or promises of an award. Course choice and official exam eligibility are separate.
Before choosing AIMO: three checks for your family
Check official entry separately from readiness for a preparation course. A strong AMC award alone does not show whether a student is ready to work through unfamiliar problems and written reasoning.
From interest to a useful preparation plan
Check
Evidence to gather
Action
Entry
Current AMT year-level, registration and supervision information.
Confirm with the school; a course account is not competition entry.
Reasoning
An independent attempt at an appropriate sample, with reasons for the steps.
Browse the full curriculum before committing to advanced work.
The 2026 AIMO date was 10 September and entries closed on 4 September. These are past dates, not an invitation to register now. The AMT page reviewed on 3 October did not provide a 2027 entry date; check its next update.
Reviewed 3 October 2026. AMT AIMO current rules and dates. Worked examples and suggested routines are Ace Achievers guidance; they are not official entry or placement rules.
Do you need to qualify for AIMO?
No. AIMO is open-entry: schools register interested students, and there is no separate qualifying exam beforehand. In practice, though, AIMO is pitched at Year 10 level and is significantly harder than the AMC, so it suits students who already handle the hardest AMC questions comfortably. The AMC is the natural readiness check rather than a formal gate.
Format and scoring
AIMO is a four-hour written paper — a major step up from the AMC's 75 minutes. The structure rewards depth and stamina:
Section
Marks
Nature
Questions 1-4
2 marks each
Integer-answer problems
Question 5
3 marks
Transition question
Question 6
4 marks
Harder reasoning
Questions 7-10
5 marks each
Olympiad-depth problems
Investigation
4 bonus marks
Extension opportunity
The last questions require written solutions, not just answers, so clear reasoning and correct proof structure earn marks that a bare number would not.
AFTER THE RESULT · YOUR ACTION PLAN
From AMC to AIMO: choose your next step
Choose the situation that fits your child. Start with one clear action today.
EXPLORE THE NEXT CHALLENGE
Strong AMC result — ready for AIMO?
Next step: move from quick answers to deeper reasoning.
Try the free AIMO lesson to check the level.
Write down why the method works, not just the answer.
Already comfortable with AIMO? Explore the curriculum or another science challenge.
AIMO is an intermediate rung. A typical progression runs: school maths → AMC (broad benchmark) → AIMO (written olympiad) → AMT's senior olympiad and selection programs for the strongest students. Performing well in AIMO is one of the signals AMT uses to identify students for further olympiad opportunities. For the official definitions and any pathway updates, see the AMT AIMO page.
What preparation looks like
AIMO is not "harder AMC". It needs stronger number theory, clean algebra, geometry reasoning, careful casework, and the ability to write a full, logical solution. Students also need stamina to stay with one problem for 20-40 minutes. Effective preparation builds the topic map first, then works a small number of hard problems slowly with written solutions — the approach in our AIMO Preparation course.
What "written solutions" actually require
The shift from integer answers to written solutions is the part families underestimate most. In the AMC, a correct number earns the marks regardless of how it was found. In AIMO's written questions, the marker is reading the argument: a student can reach the right answer and still lose marks for an incomplete justification, or earn partial marks for a correct line of reasoning that did not finish. This means students must learn to state assumptions, justify each step, handle every case, and conclude clearly. It is a genuinely new skill, closer to writing a short mathematical essay than filling in a bubble.
A realistic preparation timeline
Phase
Focus
Foundation
Secure the hardest AMC content; confirm readiness with a diagnostic
Topic depth
Number theory, algebra, geometry and combinatorics to olympiad depth
Written solutions
Practise full proofs; learn what a complete argument looks like
Timed papers
Build four-hour stamina and case-checking discipline
The 2026 AIMO has finished. Use your child's recent problem-solving work to choose the next focus: topic gaps, explaining a method, or timed practice. Check AMT for the next competition calendar; our AIMO course is self-paced, so students can start building those skills now.
Common misconceptions about AIMO entry
Two myths are worth clearing up. The first is that a student must "win" the AMC or be invited to sit AIMO — not so; entry is open and arranged through the school. The second is that AIMO is only for Year 10 students because it is pitched at that level. In fact a strong Year 7 or Year 8 student can sit it, and doing so early — with realistic expectations about the score — can be a valuable stretch experience rather than something to postpone. The pitch level describes the difficulty of the questions, not a restriction on who may attempt them. What matters is whether the student is ready for sustained, written problem solving, which the AMC band breakdown helps you judge.
FAQ
Do you need to qualify to sit AIMO?
No. AIMO is open-entry and schools register students directly. There is no separate qualifying exam, though it is pitched at Year 10 level and suits students who already handle the hardest AMC questions.
When is AIMO in 2026?
AIMO 2026 took place on Thursday 10 September; entries closed on Friday 4 September. Check AMT for the next competition dates and ask your school about results.
Which year levels can sit AIMO?
There is one AIMO paper for students in Years 7 to 10, pitched at Year 10 level.
What is the AIMO format?
AIMO is a four-hour paper with 10 questions: 8 integer-answer questions and 2 written-solution problems, for a total of 35 marks including a bonus investigation.
Where does AIMO lead?
AIMO is an intermediate step in the Olympiad pathway. Strong performers may be connected into the Australian Maths Trust's higher olympiad and selection programs.
An AMC award alone is not a readiness test. Ask your child to work on an unfamiliar problem for longer, organise cases and write a clear explanation. AMT describes AIMO as pitched at Year 10, also of interest to motivated Years 7–9 students. Our preparation course is designed for Years 9–12; check fit rather than assuming the contest and course age ranges are identical.
How can a student learn to write mathematical explanations before attempting AIMO?
Begin with a problem the student can solve and ask them to explain why each step follows. State the information given, describe the method and justify the conclusion. Compare with a reliable worked solution and identify any unstated assumption. Gradually introduce unfamiliar problems and proof methods. A page of calculations alone may not communicate a complete argument; aim for clear reasoning before speed.
Official event reference: organiser information. Study routines are Ace Achievers suggestions; confirm current entry and selection rules with the organiser.