Q: What does Raffles Mathematical Olympiad (RMO): Parent & Student Guide cover? A: Formerly the Raffles Institution Primary Math World Contest (RIPMWC).
TL;DR Registration quick answer (Singapore): Schools register pupils via Raffles Institution's official RMO portal; there is no individual sign-up. Always follow RI's RMO page for current instructions and dates: https://www.ri.edu.sg/rmo > RMO = RIPMWC 2.0. Started in 1996, re-branded in 2024, it tests Primary 4-6 pupils across two rounds (MCQ prelim → written final) with strict no-calculator rules. Only the top 2% or top 40 from each category reach Round 2; High Distinction sits at the same 2% cut. Registration is school-based \approx $12 \text{per pupil} and usually runs for 3-4 weeks from late January or early February - check each year's circular for exact dates. Round 1 papers arrive ≥5 working days before the contest, and Round 2 is always held at Raffles Institution. Treat the Junior Category as a safe sandbox for IP Direct School Admission (DSA) portfolios; treat the Open Category as a rehearsal for RI, HCI or NUS High pre-selection tests.
1 What is RMO?
Then (1996-2023)
Now (2024-)
RIPMWC — Raffles Institution Primary Mathematics World Contest
RMO — Raffles Mathematical Olympiad
Focus on friendly overseas exchange (pre-COVID)
Full Singapore MOE primary-school reach
Papers mailed overseas; physical finals in RI hall
Round 1 in schools → top \( 2 \% \) invited back to RI
The rebranding kept the original aims: “to promote interest in Mathematics and develop students' problem-solving abilities through a friendly contest.”
2 Eligibility & Categories
Category
Year Levels
Round 2 format
Junior
Primary 4-5
15 short-answer questions
Open
Primary 6
7 short-answer + 4 long-response
Both papers are 60 minutes and no calculators are permitted.
3 Contest Timeline (typical year)
Stage
Window
Notes
Registration
Late Jan ⇢ Late Feb (varies by ±1 week)
Schools submit names via RI portal; fee \( \$12 \text{/pupil} \)
Round 1
Late March (Term 1 Wk 10)
20 MCQs, sat in own school halls
Round 2 invitation
2 weeks after marking
Top \( 2 \% \) or top 40 in each category
Round 2
Mid-May (Term 2 Wk 8)
Held at Raffles Institution
Results ceremony
Late June
Certificates + school trophies
Round 1 packets reach schools ( \geq 5 ) working days before the test, sealed and numbered for integrity.
4 Awards & Cut-offs
Band
Approx. percentile
Certificate colour
High Distinction
\( \approx 2 \% \)
Gold
Distinction
\( \text{next } 13 \% \)
Silver
Merit
\( \text{next } 15 \% \)
Bronze
School team trophies (Gold / Silver / Bronze) are computed from the best three Round 2 scores per school.
5 Why RMO matters for IP aspirants
DSA edge - HD certificates regularly appear in RI & HCI selection portfolios.
Early Olympiad mindset - geometry tricks and parity puzzles steer pupils toward RI's Year 1 Maths Talent Programme.
No-calculator discipline - mirrors the no-CAS policy in A-Math and H2 Math written papers.
Tuition signal - an HD or Distinction flags readiness for IP proof-heavy topics (e.g. binomial identities, modular arithmetic).
6 Preparation blueprint (8 weeks)
Week
Focus drill
Mini-task
1-2
Times-table snap to 12×12
Finish 200 mixed products \( \le 5 \text{ min} \)
3-4
Geometry angles & parity
Solve 30 RIPMWC-style angle-chase Qs
5-6
Factors & remainders
Prove: if (a-b) divides (a^n-b^n)
7
Mock Round 1 (20 MCQ)
Mark & error-log in 60 min
8
Mock Round 2 (category-specific)
Hand-write full solutions under 60 min
Parents: use past RIPMWC booklets (1996-2023) - still ( 90 % ) syllabus-aligned.
7 Key logistics answers
Who registers? Only a school teacher-in-charge can submit entries - parents cannot “walk-in”.
Can homeschoolers join? Only via a registered MOE primary school.
Special needs? Attach a school endorsement letter; RI provides extra time / enlarged scripts case-by-case.
Dress code for Round 2? School uniform, mask optional since MOH 2023 easing.
Parents - lock a 60-min RMO crash-clinic by late February to iron MCQ careless slips. Pupils - print last year's Round 1 paper, strip to T-shirt, set a 60 min timer, and try beating 18/20 tonight.
Last updated 15 Jul 2025 - dates and fees subject to the yearly RI circular.
