SASMO 2027 exam dates
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About SASMO
The Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiad (SASMO) is an annual mathematics competition organized by the Singapore International Mastery Contests Centre (SIMCC) for students from Kindergarten 2 to grade 12. Every grade sits its own paper, and the whole contest is a single sitting: there is no qualifying round and no second round.
Because each grade has a dedicated paper with a fixed structure, SASMO past papers are a reliable way to practise. This page covers the SASMO levels, the exam format, the penalty for wrong answers and how to prepare.
Overview
SASMO was created in 2006 and is run from Singapore by SIMCC. The organizer describes it as one of the largest mathematics olympiads in Asia, with participants from more than 50 countries and territories. In each country the contest is run through a local partner, and students usually sit the paper at their school or at a test centre.
The questions mix school mathematics with non-routine olympiad problems, such as number patterns, divisibility, spatial visualisation and logic puzzles. The goal is to reward careful reasoning, not only fast calculation.
SASMO is often confused with SIMOC. SIMOC (Singapore International Math Olympiad Challenge) is a separate competition held in Singapore. SASMO award winners can be invited to SIMOC, but SIMOC is not a second round of SASMO.
SASMO levels and grades
SASMO has one paper per grade, from the final year of kindergarten to the last year of high school.
| Level | Grades | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | Kindergarten | Kindergarten 2 only (the final kindergarten year), 15 questions |
| Grade 1 to Grade 6 | Grade 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | Six levels, one paper per grade (Primary 1-6 in Singapore) |
| Grade 7 to Grade 10 | Grade 7, 8, 9, 10 | Four levels, one paper per grade (Secondary 1-4) |
| Grade 11 and Grade 12 | Grade 11, 12 | Two levels, one paper per grade (Junior College 1-2) |
Local partners do not always open every grade in every country, so check which papers are offered where you register.
Rounds
SASMO has only one round. Results and medals are decided from that single paper. Students who win an award may be invited to other SIMCC events, including SIMOC in Singapore, which combines an individual written contest with team games played in mixed-country teams.
SASMO exam format and scoring
SASMO papers have two sections. Section A is multiple choice with a small deduction for wrong answers; Section B uses short answers with no deduction.
| Paper | Section A | Section B | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1-12 | 15 multiple-choice: +2 correct, -1 wrong, 0 blank | 10 short-answer: +4 correct, no penalty | 90 minutes |
| Kindergarten 2 | 10 multiple-choice: +4 correct, -1 wrong, 0 blank | 5 short-answer: +7 correct, no penalty | 60 minutes |
To avoid negative totals, each candidate starts with a base score (15 marks for grades 1-12, 10 marks for kindergarten). This is why a blank answer in Section A is safer than a random guess.
Awards are given by global ranking within each grade: Gold for the top 8 percent, Silver for the next 12 percent, Bronze for the next 20 percent and Honourable Mention for the next 10 percent.
When is it held
SASMO is held once a year, usually around March to April, with school-based and test-centre sittings spread over several days. Exact dates and fees are set by the local partner in each country. Registration normally goes through your school or the official partner listed by SIMCC.
How to prepare with past papers
- Practise the penalty strategy. In Section A a wrong answer costs 1 mark while a correct one earns 2. Guess only if you can eliminate at least two options. In Section B there is no penalty, so always write an answer.
- Remember where the marks are. For grades 1-12, Section B carries 40 marks against 30 in Section A. Do not spend so long on Section A that you rush the short-answer questions.
- Practise non-routine topics. SASMO regularly includes number patterns, divisibility, counting, logic and spatial reasoning. After each past paper, group your mistakes by topic.
- Work on your own grade first. Each paper is pitched at one grade, so the paper for your grade is the best measure of readiness. Older papers for the grade above are good extra practice for strong students.
- Train the full timing. Sit a whole paper in 90 minutes (60 for kindergarten) without breaks, then review every question you missed or skipped.
On Edupiad you can take SASMO past papers online with a timer, get your answers marked automatically and review each question after submitting. The years and solutions available differ from paper to paper.
Frequently asked questions
What grades can take SASMO?
SASMO is open from Kindergarten 2 to grade 12, with a separate paper for each grade. Younger kindergarten years are not included.
Does SASMO have negative marking?
Yes, but only in Section A. A wrong multiple-choice answer loses 1 mark, while blanks score 0. Section B has no penalty.
How many rounds does SASMO have?
Only one. SIMOC, held in Singapore, is a separate competition that invites SASMO award winners; it is not a second SASMO round.
How long is the SASMO exam?
Grades 1-12 have 90 minutes for 25 questions. The Kindergarten 2 paper has 15 questions in 60 minutes.
Is SASMO hard?
Section A is close to school mathematics, while Section B uses olympiad-style problems. Gold goes to the top 8 percent, so high awards are competitive, but half of all candidates receive some form of recognition.