Copernicus Mathematics Olympiad
Mathematics Olympiad
Mathematics is everywhere: in the rhythm of music, the design of nature, the flow of traffic, and the rise and fall of economies. It’s not just numbers on a page; it’s a language that explains how the world works. The Copernicus Mathematics Olympiad is where this sense of wonder turns into problem-solving power.
This Olympiad isn’t just about formulas and memorization. It’s about the elegance of logic, the beauty of symmetry, and the thrill of unlocking solutions that once seemed impossible. Students dive into challenging problems that stretch their thinking, sharpen their reasoning, and train them to see the world with a mathematician’s eye.
Through the Copernicus Mathematics Olympiad, we invite students to experience the thrill of solving, the elegance of logic, and the beauty of precision. Here, success is not just about getting the right answer—it is about asking the right questions, seeing hidden patterns, and learning to think with clarity and confidence. It’s a space where young problem-solvers, thinkers, and innovators begin their journey.
So whether you find joy in solving riddles, uncovering patterns, or tackling big questions with logic and creativity—this is your arena. Let your curiosity add up, and discover just how far mathematics can take you.
Held globally, the International Spirit of Math Contest gives students from grades 1 to 8 the opportunity to prepare, apply, and showcase their knowledge on the global stage. The contest provides an opportunity for students to have fun and to develop their mathematical problem-solving abilities.
For Grade 3 to Grade 12 Students
Assessment Criteria
Students must take the exam based on their respective grade category:
✔ Category 1 – Grades 3 & 4
✔ Category 2 – Grades 5 & 6
✔ Category 3 – Grades 7 & 8
✔ Category 4 – Grades 9 & 10
✔ Category 5 – Grades 11 & 12
Exam duration: 75 minutes.
Both the Preliminary and Global Rounds include a total of 20 questions. The Preliminary Round would include all multiple choice questions while the Global Round will include 15 multiple choice questions and 5 open-ended questions (i.e. without answer choice) designed to assess deeper understanding and critical thinking.
Preliminary Round Marking Scheme
- 5 easy questions – 4 marks each; 1 mark shall be deducted for each incorrect answer
- 10 average questions – 5 marks each; 2 marks shall be deducted for each incorrect answer
- 5 hard questions – 6 marks each; 3 marks shall be deducted for each incorrect answer
Total: 100 marks
Global Round Marking Scheme
- 5 easy questions – 3 marks each; 1 mark shall be deducted for each incorrect answer
- 5 medium difficulty questions – 4 marks each; 1 marks shall be deducted for each incorrect answer
- 5 high difficulty questions – 6 marks each; 1 marks shall be deducted for each incorrect answer
- 5 open-ended questions – 7 marks each; no negative marking for incorrect answer
Total: 100 marks
Preliminary Round:
✔ All Preliminary Round participants, regardless of score, will receive a Certificate of Participation.
✔ Students who qualify for the Global Round will receive a Certificate of Achievement and a medal (gold, silver or bronze) based on their Preliminary Round performance.
✔ In the Preliminary Round, medals will be awarded based on the following percentages :
- 91% to 100% – Gold Medal + 10% discount in the Global Round registration fees
- 75% to 90% – Silver Medal + 5% discount in the Global Round registration fees
- 50% to 74% – Bronze Medal
- 40% to 49% – Honorable Mention Certificate
✔ Absolute winners (youngest top scorers) of each category will receive free participation in the Global Round.
Global Round
✔ All Global Round participants, regardless of score, will receive a Certificate of Participation.
✔ In the Global Round, medals will be awarded based on the following percentages:
- The top 10% will receive a Gold Medal.
- The next 11-30% will receive a Silver Medal.
- The next 31-60% will receive a Bronze Medal.
- The next 61-75% will receive an Honorable Mention Certificate.
https://copernicusolympiad.com/resources/
Preliminary Round 1: January 16,2027
Preliminary Round 2: February 20,2027
Registration Fees: Rs.1200
Rs. 1200/-
Syllabus
Mathematics
1. NUMBER OPERATIONS
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of numbers up to 10,000.
- Understanding place value and number properties.
- Rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100, or 1,000.
2. FRACTIONS
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions.
- Understanding equivalent fractions.
- Simplifying fractions.
- Comparing and ordering fractions.
3. DIVISIBILITY AND PRIME NUMBERS
- Rules of divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13.
- Identifying prime and composite numbers.
- Finding factors and multiples of numbers.
- Prime factorization.
4. MEASUREMENT
- Understanding systems of measurement (length, area, volume, mass, and time).
- Converting between different units of measurement.
- Solving problems involving units of measurement in real-life contexts.
geometry
5. GEOMETRY
- Recognizing and classifying geometric figures (e.g., triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, etc.).
- Understanding properties of shapes (sides, angles, and symmetry).
- Parallel and perpendicular lines.
- Area and perimeter of rectangles.
- Introduction to the area of other basic geometric shapes.
6. MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
- Using logical reasoning to solve mathematical puzzles.
- Understanding statements that are true or false.
- Applying logical thinking in problem-solving contexts.
- Data Interpretation
- Reading and interpreting bar graphs.
- Understanding and creating Venn diagrams.
- Solving problems using data presented in different formats (tables, charts, graphs).
7. WORD PROBLEMS
- Solving word problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- Applying mathematical concepts to real-life scenarios.
- 1 Multi-step word problems.
- Patterns and Sequences
- Recognizing and continuing patterns in sequences.
- Identifying arithmetic and geometric sequences.
- Understanding number patterns and finding missing elements.
8. TIME AND CALENDAR
- Reading time on analog and digital clocks.
- Understanding AM and PM.
- Calculating elapsed time.
- Understanding days, weeks, months, and years.
Mathematics
1. NUMBERS AND ARITHMETIC
1.1 Arithmetic Operations:
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with whole numbers.
- Operations with decimals, fractions, mixed fractions, and improper fractions.
- Order of operations (using parentheses).
Factors and Multiples:
- Understanding factors, multiples, and divisibility rules.
- Identifying prime and composite numbers.
- Greatest Common Divisor (GCD) and Least Common Multiple (LCM).
1.2 Percentage:
- Converting between fractions, decimals, and percentages.
- Solving simple percentage problems (e.g., finding percentages, increasing or decreasing a
quantity by a percentage).
2. ALGEBRA AND EQUATIONS
2.1 Linear Equations:
- Solving simple one-step linear equations.
- Understanding and using variables in equations.
- Applying linear equations to solve word problems.
2.2 Simple Interest Calculations:
- Understanding the concept of interest.
- Calculating simple interest using the formula, where P is the principal amount, R is the rate,
and T is the time period.
mathematic
3. GEOMETRY
3.1 Properties of Geometric Figures:
- Understanding properties of squares, rectangles, triangles, parallelograms, and trapeziums.
- Identifying sides, angles, and diagonals.
3.2 Angles:
- Identifying and measuring acute, right, and obtuse angles.
- Understanding complementary and supplementary angles.
3.3 Perimeter and Area:
- Calculating the perimeter of polygons.
- Finding the area of triangles, squares, rectangles, parallelograms, and trapeziums.
3.4 Volume:
- Calculating the volume of cubes and cuboids using the formula, where l, w, and h are the length,
width, and height, respectively.
3.5 Line of Symmetry:
- Identifying lines of symmetry in various shapes.
- Understanding symmetry in regular polygons.
4. MEASUREMENT AND SIMPLE STATISTICS
4. 1 Measurement:
- Understanding different units of measurement for length, area, volume, and mass.
- Converting between different units of measurement.
4.2 Simple Statistics:
- Calculating and interpreting mean, median, and mode.
- Reading data from charts, graphs, and tables.
- Understanding range as a measure of data variability.
5. RATIOS AND PROPORTIONS
5.1 Understanding Ratios:
- Solving problems involving ratios.
- Using ratios to compare quantities.
5.2 Proportions:
- Solving simple proportions.
- Applying proportions to solve real-life problems.
- Problem solving and logical thinking
6. PROBLEM SOLVING AND LOGICAL THINKING
6.1 Word Problems:
- Translating word problems into mathematical expressions or equations.
- Solving multi-step word problems using arithmetic and basic algebra.
- Pattern Recognition and Logical Reasoning:
- Identifying patterns and sequences in numbers.
- Using logical reasoning to solve math puzzles.
All topics of Category 1 (Grades 3-4)
Mathematics
1. NUMBERS AND ARITHMETIC
1.1 Arithmetic Operations:
Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with whole numbers.
Operations with decimals, fractions, mixed fractions, and improper fractions.
Order of operations (using parentheses).
Factors and Multiples:
Understanding factors, multiples, and divisibility rules.
Identifying prime and composite numbers.
Greatest Common Divisor (GCD) and Least Common Multiple (LCM).
1.2 Percentage:
Converting between fractions, decimals, and percentages.
Solving simple percentage problems (e.g., finding percentages, increasing or decreasing a
quantity by a percentage).
2. ALGEBRA AND EQUATIONS
2.1 Linear Equations:
Solving simple one-step linear equations.
Understanding and using variables in equations.
Applying linear equations to solve word problems.
2.2 Simple Interest Calculations:
Understanding the concept of interest.
Calculating simple interest using the formula, where P is the principal amount, R is the rate,
and T is the time period.
Geometry
3. GEOMETRY
3.1 Properties of Geometric Figures:
Understanding properties of squares, rectangles, triangles, parallelograms, and trapeziums.
Identifying sides, angles, and diagonals.
3.2 Angles:
Identifying and measuring acute, right, and obtuse angles.
Understanding complementary and supplementary angles.
3.3 Perimeter and Area:
Calculating the perimeter of polygons.
Finding the area of triangles, squares, rectangles, parallelograms, and trapeziums.
3.4 Volume:
Calculating the volume of cubes and cuboids using the formula, where l, w, and h are the length,
width, and height, respectively.
3.5 Line of Symmetry:
4. 5. Identifying lines of symmetry in various shapes.
Understanding symmetry in regular polygons.
4. MEASUREMENT AND SIMPLE STATISTICS
4. 1 Measurement:
Understanding different units of measurement for length, area, volume, and mass.
Converting between different units of measurement.
4.2 Simple Statistics:
Calculating and interpreting mean, median, and mode.
Reading data from charts, graphs, and tables.
Understanding range as a measure of data variability.
5. RATIOS AND PROPORTIONS
5.1 Understanding Ratios:
Solving problems involving ratios.
Using ratios to compare quantities.
5.2 Proportions:
Solving simple proportions.
Applying proportions to solve real-life problems.
Problem solving and logical thinking
6. PROBLEM SOLVING AND LOGICAL THINKING
6.1 Word Problems:
Translating word problems into mathematical expressions or equations.
Solving multi-step word problems using arithmetic and basic algebra.
Pattern Recognition and Logical Reasoning:
Identifying patterns and sequences in numbers.
Using logical reasoning to solve math puzzles.
All topics of Category 1 (Grades 3-4)
Mathematics
1. NUMBERS AND ALGEBRA
1.1 Advanced Topics in Fractions:
Operations with fractions and mixed numbers.
Simplifying complex fractions.
Conversion between improper fractions and mixed numbers.
1.2 Squares and Square Roots:
Understanding perfect squares.
Calculating square roots (exact and approximate).
Simplifying square roots.
1.3 Rational and Irrational Numbers:
Identifying rational and irrational numbers.
Operations involving rational numbers.
Understanding decimal representations (terminating, repeating, and non-repeating).
1.4 Simple Algebraic Expressions:
Simplifying expressions using the distributive property and combining like terms.
Evaluating expressions for given variable values.
1.5 Equalities and Inequalities:
Solving linear equalities and inequalities.
Graphing inequalities on a number line.
Understanding absolute value inequalities.
2. EQUATIONS AND FUNCTIONS
2.1 System of Equations:
Solving systems of linear equations using substitution and elimination methods.
Application of systems in word problems.
2.2 Linear Functions:
Understanding slope and intercept.
Graphing linear functions.
Solving real-life problems using linear equations and graphs.
3. RATIOS, PROPORTIONS, AND COMBINATORICS
3.1 Ratio and Proportion:
Solving problems involving ratios, rates, and proportions.
Applying proportions to real-world problems.
3.2 Simple Combinatorics and Probability:
Basic counting principles (addition and multiplication rules).
Introduction to permutations and combinations.
Basic probability concepts and calculations.
Geometry
4. GEOMETRY
4.1 Regular Polygons:
Properties and characteristics of regular polygons.
Calculating interior and exterior angles.
4.2 Area and Circumference of a Circle:
Using formulas to calculate the area and circumference of circles.
Solving problems involving arc length and sector area.
4.3 Area and Perimeter of Composite Figures:
Calculating the area and perimeter of shapes composed of multiple geometric figures.
4.4 Pythagorean Theorem:
Applying the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of a side in a right triangle.
Solving real-world problems using the Pythagorean Theorem.
4.5 Congruence and Similarity:
Understanding the properties of congruent and similar shapes.
Solving problems involving scale factors and transformations.
5. MEASUREMENT
5.1 Volume and Surface Area:
Calculating the volume and surface area of prisms and cylinders.
Solving problems involving composite three-dimensional figures.
6. COORDINATE GEOMETRY
6.1 Basic Concepts:
Plotting points on the Cartesian plane.
Understanding the distance between two points and the midpoint formula.
6.2 Graphing Linear Equations:
Finding the equation of a line given two points or a point and a slope.
Understanding the relationship between graphical and algebraic representations of lines.
7. MATHEMATICAL REASONING AND PROBLEM SOLVING
7.1. Solving Word Problems:
Translating word problems into mathematical expressions or equations.
Using algebraic and geometric approaches to solve complex problems.
7.2 Logical Reasoning and Pattern Recognition:
Identifying patterns and sequences.
Solving puzzles using logical reasoning techniques.
All topics of Category 2 (Grades 5-6)
Mathematics
1. ADVANCED ALGEBRA
1.1. Advanced Topics in Algebra:
Polynomial equations and inequalities.
Rational expressions and functions.
Techniques for solving higher-degree equations.
1.2. Remainder and Factor Theorems:
Understanding and applying the Remainder Theorem.
Using the Factor Theorem to factorize polynomials.
Solving polynomial equations using these theorems.
1.3. Non-Linear Equations:
Solving quadratic, cubic, and higher-degree equations.
Understanding the nature of roots (real, complex, equal, etc.).
Application of the quadratic formula and Vieta’s formulas.
2. INEQUALITIES AND MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS
2.1. Advanced Topics in Inequalities:
Absolute value inequalities.
Systems of inequalities.
2.2. Summation of Series:
Arithmetic and Geometric series.
Summation techniques for more complex series.
Using sigma notation and properties of summation.
3. LOGARITHMS AND EXPONENTIALS
3.1. Advanced Topics in Logarithms:
Properties and laws of logarithms.
Solving logarithmic and exponential equations.
Applications in growth and decay problems.
4. BINOMIAL THEOREM
4.1. Application of the Binomial Theorem:
Expanding expressions using the binomial theorem.
Finding specific terms in a binomial expansion.
Applications in combinatorics and algebra.
5. COMBINATORICS AND PROBABILITY
5.1. Advanced Topics in Combinatorics:
Permutations and combinations.
Pigeonhole principle and inclusion-exclusion principle.
Advanced counting techniques.
5.2. Advanced Probability:
Conditional probability and Bayes’ theorem.
Probability distributions (basic concepts).
Solving complex probability problems.
Geometry
6. GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY
6.1. Advanced Topics in Coordinate Geometry:
Equations of lines, circles, ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas.
Solving geometric problems using coordinate methods.
Loci and geometric transformations.
6.2. Advanced Topics in Trigonometry:
Solving trigonometric equations.
Using identities and formulas (sum, difference, double-angle, half angle).
Trigonometric applications in geometry.
7. ADDITIONAL TOPICS
7.1. Functions and Graphing:
Understanding different types of functions (linear, quadratic, polynomial, trigonometric,
exponential, and logarithmic).
Analysing graphs of functions and their transformations.
7.2. Basic Calculus (Introductory Level):
Understanding limits and continuity.
Differentiation and simple applications.
