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About ITMC
The International Talent Mathematics Contest (ITMC) is an individual mathematics competition for students from Grade 2 to Grade 11, organized by Thai Talent Training in Thailand. There is a separate paper for each grade, ten levels in all, and every paper is written in English. Students take a National Round run by a partner organizer in their own country, and those who qualify are invited to the International Final in Thailand.
ITMC past papers are useful for students who want a steady, grade-by-grade contest with a clear structure and an unusual scoring system. This guide explains the ITMC levels, the rounds, the ITMC exam format and scoring, and how to prepare.
Overview
ITMC is run by Thai Talent Training, a mathematics education organization in Thailand, together with partner organizers in other countries. Each partner registers students, runs the national stage and selects students for the International Final. Partners have included GMaths Education in Vietnam, the Taiwan Math and Science Circle in Taiwan and Asia Maths in Hong Kong. Students from Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Brazil, among others, have taken part.
According to the organizer, each paper is built so that about 60 percent of the problems are at a foundation level and 40 percent at a competition level. That makes ITMC approachable for good students who are new to contests, while still separating the top scorers.
ITMC levels and grades
| Level | Grades | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 2 to Grade 11 | Grade 2-11, one level per grade | Ten levels, one paper for each grade |
There is no kindergarten, Grade 1 or Grade 12 paper. Some national partners accept only part of this range in a given year, so check which grades are open in your country.
Rounds
| Round | Who takes it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National Round | Registered students in each country | Run by the national partner, often on paper at test centres |
| International Final | Students who qualify from the National Round | Held in Thailand |
The National Round and the International Final use the same structure, so practising one prepares you for the other. Qualification rules for the final are set by each national partner.
ITMC exam format and scoring
Each paper has 29 problems plus 1 bonus problem, to be solved in 90 minutes. The scoring below is the one published by the organizer for ITMC 2022.
| Section | Questions | Type | Correct | Wrong | No answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section 1 | 12 | Multiple choice | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Section 2 | 12 | Multiple choice | 6 | 0 | 1.5 |
| Section 3 | 5 | Fill in the answer | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Bonus | 1 | Fill in the answer | 20 | -7 | 0 |
The maximum is 155 points for Sections 1 to 3, plus 20 points for the bonus problem. Two things stand out:
- A blank multiple-choice answer earns points. Leaving a question empty gives 1 point in Section 1 and 1.5 points in Section 2, while a wrong answer gives 0. Random guessing is therefore not free.
- The bonus problem can cost you points. A wrong answer loses 7 points, so it only makes sense to answer it when you are confident.
The official language is English.
When is ITMC held
ITMC runs once a year. National Rounds are usually held towards the end of the calendar year, and the International Final in Thailand has been held early in the following year, around February or March. Dates differ between countries. Registration is done through the ITMC partner in your country, usually a few weeks before the National Round.
How to prepare with ITMC past papers
- Practise your exact grade. Each grade has its own paper. Start with your grade, then try the next grade up when you score well.
- Learn the scoring before the contest. Decide in advance how you will handle uncertain multiple-choice questions. Guess only when you can rule out some options; otherwise a blank is worth more than a wrong answer.
- Secure the foundation problems. Around 60 percent of the paper is foundation level. Careless errors here cost more than missing a hard problem.
- Save time for Section 3. The five fill-in problems are worth 7 points each and have no options to check against. Aim to reach them with at least 20 minutes left.
- Treat the bonus as optional. Attempt it only after checking your other answers, and only write an answer you can justify.
- Read in English every time. Papers are only in English, so practise the vocabulary of geometry, number and word problems.
On Edupiad you can practise the ITMC papers we have online with a timer, automatic marking and a review of every question. We do not have every year for every grade, and some questions do not yet have a worked solution.
Frequently asked questions
What grade is ITMC for?
ITMC is for students from Grade 2 to Grade 11. Each grade has its own paper.
Does ITMC have negative marking?
Only on the bonus problem, where a wrong answer loses 7 points. In the multiple-choice sections a wrong answer scores 0, while a blank scores 1 or 1.5 points.
How long is the ITMC test?
90 minutes for 29 problems plus 1 bonus problem.
Is ITMC in English?
Yes. English is the official language of the contest papers.
Is ITMC the same as TIMO?
No. Both have links to Thailand, but they are different contests with different organizers, levels and formats. ITMC covers Grade 2 to Grade 11 and has its own scoring with a bonus problem.