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About IMAS
The International Mathematics Assessments for Schools (IMAS) is an annual mathematics competition for students in Grades 3-8, run by an international executive council and administered by the Chiu Chang Mathematics Education Foundation in Taipei, Taiwan. It has two rounds: an open First Round of 25 questions, and a Second Round for the top scorers in each country with harder questions and written solutions.
IMAS past papers are useful for students who want structured competition practice between the primary and lower secondary years, since the same three divisions and the same scoring pattern are used every year. This page explains the IMAS levels, rounds, exam format and how to prepare.
Overview
IMAS has been held since the 2011-2012 school year. It is governed by the IMAS Executive Council, made up of organisations from the participating countries and regions, with the Chiu Chang Mathematics Education Foundation handling administration. In each country, a local partner registers schools and students and runs the rounds. Students take part in places such as Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.
The organisers describe IMAS as an assessment as well as a competition. Questions are designed to measure three dimensions of mathematical thinking: knowing, applying and reasoning. Results are reported in detail so that students, teachers and parents can see strengths and weaknesses, not just a rank.
One IMAS season runs across two calendar years, following the school year, for example IMAS 2025-2026. The international papers are published in English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese.
IMAS levels and grades
| Level | Grades | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Primary | Grade 3-4 | |
| Upper Primary | Grade 5-6 | |
| Junior Secondary | Grade 7-8 |
IMAS does not have papers for Grades 1-2, kindergarten or upper secondary. All participating countries use the same three divisions.
Rounds
- First Round. Open to all registered students in the three divisions. It is usually held in the last months of the calendar year, with exact dates set by each country.
- Second Round. Only the top-performing students from the First Round are invited, around the top 10% in each country (some local partners use a range such as 5-10%). It is usually held a few months later, in the first half of the following year.
There is no central international final. Each country runs the Second Round itself, but all countries use the same international paper.
IMAS exam format and scoring
First Round: 25 questions in 75 minutes, 100 marks in total.
| Questions | Type | Marks each |
|---|---|---|
| 1-10 | Multiple choice | 3 |
| 11-20 | Multiple choice | 4 |
| 21-25 | Integer answer from 0 to 999 | 6 |
Second Round: 15 questions in 120 minutes, 100 marks in total.
| Questions | Type | Marks each |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | Multiple choice | 4 |
| 6-13 | Short answer | 5 |
| 14-15 | Full written solution | 20 |
The questions in each round are grouped by difficulty: the first group is the easiest, and the final group is where the top scores are decided. In the Second Round, the last two problems alone are worth 40 marks, and partial credit depends on clear reasoning.
When is it held
The First Round is usually held between late November and December, and the Second Round between February and April of the following year. Registration opens a few weeks before the First Round and is handled by the IMAS partner in each country, often through schools. Dates differ from country to country within the same season, so check with your local organiser.
How to prepare with past papers
- Make questions 1-20 automatic. In the First Round these 20 multiple-choice questions are worth 70 of the 100 marks. Timed practice on them builds accuracy and saves time for the integer-answer section.
- Get used to integer answers. Questions 21-25 have no options to choose from, and the answer is a whole number up to 999. Practise checking your answer by substituting back or estimating, since there is no list to guide you.
- Write full solutions for Second Round practice. Questions 14-15 of the Second Round are marked on your written reasoning. Practise writing short, organised solutions with each step justified, not just the final number.
- Practise reasoning, not only calculation. Because IMAS measures knowing, applying and reasoning, many questions combine a familiar topic with an unusual twist. After each paper, note which questions needed a new idea and revisit them.
- Work through both rounds. Even if you are preparing for the First Round, Second Round papers are good stretch practice for the last five questions.
On Edupiad you can take IMAS past papers online with a timer, get automatic marking for the questions with a fixed answer when you submit, and review each question afterwards. Questions that require a full written solution cannot be marked automatically. Available years and solutions depend on what has been added to the library.
Frequently asked questions
What grade is IMAS for?
IMAS is for students in Grades 3-8, in three divisions: Middle Primary (Grades 3-4), Upper Primary (Grades 5-6) and Junior Secondary (Grades 7-8).
Is IMAS from Taiwan or Korea?
IMAS is administered by the Chiu Chang Mathematics Education Foundation in Taipei, Taiwan, under an executive council of organisations from the participating countries.
Does IMAS have negative marking?
The scoring published by the organisers awards marks for correct answers and does not list deductions for wrong answers in the First Round. Students should still check the rules from their local organiser for their season.
How do you qualify for the IMAS Second Round?
Students are invited based on their First Round results, typically around the top 10% in each country.
Is IMAS hard?
The early questions in the First Round are within reach of students who are confident with school maths. The integer-answer questions and especially the Second Round problems are much harder and need olympiad-style thinking.