International Singapore Mathematics Competition (ISMC) — Parent & Student Guide
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)20 Jul 2025, 00:00 Z
TL;DR
ISMC is a two-round, Singapore-based international contest run by SIMCC that attracts over 20,000 students from Primary 2 to Sec 4 each year. Medal winners may qualify for the Singapore Math Global Finals (SMGF), and the credentials are often considered in DSA portfolios. This guide outlines contest rules, syllabus overlap with the IP track, and preparation strategies that fit around the Weighted Assessment calendar.
1 What is ISMC?
| Feature | Details |
| Organiser | SIMCC (Singapore International Math Contests Centre) |
| Levels | Junior (P2-P3), Intermediate (P4-P6), Senior (Sec 1-2), Advanced (Sec 3-4) |
| Rounds | Round 1 (school-based MCQ), Round 2 Singapore Math Global Finals by invitation |
| Paper Format | 25 questions, 90 minutes. Section A: 10 x 2 marks, Section B: 10 x 4 marks, Section C: 5 x 6-10 marks |
| Calculator Policy | Not allowed for P2-P4; allowed from P5 onwards |
| Awards | Gold, Silver, Bronze, Honorable Mention. Gold/High Distinction may qualify for Finals |
2 Key Timeline (Typical Year)
| Milestone | Period | Tip |
| Registration | Jan - Mar | Align with Term 1 WA revision |
| Round 1 sitting | Late Apr | Avoid CCA clashes (e.g. sports season) |
| Results released | Mid Jun | Add to DSA portfolio before 30 Jun cutoff |
| Round 2 Finals | Early Sep (during Sept holidays) | Finalists compete in written + team rounds |
Note: Dates may vary each year. Confirm with SIMCC directly.
3 Syllabus Alignment with IP Math & Physics
3.1 Math Content Buckets
| ISMC Topic | Examples | Relevant IP Topics |
| Number Theory | HCF, modular arithmetic | Sec 1 Factors & Multiples |
| Algebra | Sequence sums, simplification | Sec 3 Binomial, JC sigma notation |
| Geometry & Mensuration | Rotation, loci, shaded areas | Sec 2/3 Geometry, Physics circular motion diagrams |
| Combinatorics & Probability | Paths, stars-and-bars | JC probability & counting |
3.2 Physics Thinking Skills
Section C problems often rely on rates, ratios, or dimensional reasoning, which mirror Physics formulas such as:
- Work Rate: ( P = \frac{W}{t} )
- Density: ( \rho = \frac{m}{V} )
- Speed: ( v = \frac{d}{t} )
4 6-Week Preparation Plan (for Round 1)
| Week | Focus | Daily Target |
| 1-2 | Number Theory & Modulo | 20 MCQs under 25 min |
| 3 | Geometry Sketching | 5 diagrams/day, <2 min each |
| 4 | Section C Problem Solving | 3 non-routine Qs + 2 method logs |
| 5 | Timed Mock Paper | 90 min full paper simulation |
| 6 | Error Journal & Review | Rework all incorrect Qs |
5 Strategic Fit for IP & DSA Preparation
- Gold medal performance strengthens DSA portfolios for Math or Science talent domains.
- ISMC trains mental models transferable to:
- JC H2 Math statistics (combinatorics)
- Physics Paper 4 (uncertainty, estimation)
- Recommended for IP students in Math/Physics tuition to accelerate heuristics and problem schemas.
6 Resources
7 Call-to-Action
Parents: Book a 60-minute ISMC booster clinic in March to front-load the trickiest heuristics.
Students: Attempt one full ISMC past paper this weekend. Time it to 90 minutes. Journal every error. Redo the same paper the next day aiming for ≥ 90%.
Last updated 20 Jul 2025. Next review pending release of the 2026 SIMCC ISMC circular.
