Announcing the rules of the Asian Mathematical Olympiad

At 2:00 p.m. on September 26, a press conference was held in Hanoi to launch the Asian Mathematics Competition - AIMO for the 2025-2026 school year.

The Asian Mathematics Olympiad – AIMO was first organized in 2012 by the Asian Mathematics Olympiad Committee, with the annual participation of about 150,000 students from more than 20 countries and territories, including: China, Japan, Korea, Russia, India, Brazil, Taiwan (China), Singapore, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Macau (China), Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Bulgaria, Turkey, Hong Kong (China), Vietnam, Cambodia….

Students of Hanoi Amsterdam High School for the Gifted excellently won the Championship of the Asian Mathematics Competition - AIMO 2025.

Vietnam officially participated in AIMO in 2019 and quickly affirmed its position with more than 220 international medals; in 2025 alone, Vietnam achieved its highest achievement ever with 1 Championship, 10 Gold Medals, 7 Silver Medals and 4 Bronze Medals, affirming Vietnamese intelligence on the international Mathematics map.

Under the direction of the Central Youth Union, the contest is organized by Tien Phong Newspaper and Hanoi University of Science and Technology. The contest's Advisory Board includes professors, associate professors, doctors and prestigious mathematics experts at home and abroad.

The Organizing Committee would like to announce the contest rules as follows:

I. Contest subjects and conditions

1. Conditions and contestants

Students from grades 2 to 12 (school year 2025-2026) are studying at public schools in the country.

2. Contest format

Candidates take the exam individually, on a voluntary basis. Each candidate takes an independent test, ranked separately by block.

3. Application form & fees

- Registration channel: Electronic portal https://aimo.tienphong.vn/ .

- Required information: Full name; date of birth; student code (ID/CCCD); 3x4 photo; class information, school currently attending; contact address; parent's email & phone number.

- Registration period: from September 26, 2025 to November 15, 2025

- Exam fee:

(1) Preliminary Round

+ Online test: Free

(2) Regional Round (North – Central – South)

+ Direct exam: 350,000 VND/01 candidate;

(3) National Finals

+ Direct exam: 500,000 VND/1 candidate;

(*) Candidates with difficult circumstances and a confirmation letter from the School will be exempted from exam fees.

II. CONTENT AND ORGANIZATION ROADMAP

1. Launch of the competition (September 2025)

- Organize a press conference in Hanoi to announce the contest rules.

2. Preliminary Round (Round 1)

- Time: From November 2025 - December 2025

(Expected Phase 1: November 23, 2025; Phase 2: November 30, 2025; Phase 3: December 5, 2025)

- Nationwide scale, 3 exam sessions are organized. Each student can only take 1 exam session.

- Target: Students from grade 2 to grade 12

- Exam format: Online; exam language: Bilingual English - Vietnamese

- The online round will confirm whether the candidate is eligible to participate in the live round.

- Winners will be granted an electronic Certificate, updated on the system.

3. Regional Round (Round 2)

- Time: In March 2026

- The organization scale is in 03 regions: North - Central - South. Students take the exam directly at the exam location selected by region.

- Exam format: Candidates take the test on paper; exam language: Bilingual English - Vietnamese

- Candidates with excellent results and reaching the minimum score threshold as prescribed by the Organizing Committee will be awarded certificates according to the following categories: A, B, C and encouragement. Candidates with C prize or higher will be selected for the National Final Round.

- The winning contestants will have their photos and information posted on the contest's official website.

- Schools with many contestants participating and/or winning excellent prizes will be communicated on the press platforms, social networks of Tien Phong Newspaper and press agencies affiliated with the Organizing Committee.

- Students will receive 01 gift bag from the Organizing Committee, including: Contest card; AIMO Vietnam shirt; carrying bag.

4. National Finals (Round 3)

- Time: Before April 20, 2026

- Location: Held in Hanoi and/or Ho Chi Minh City

- Subjects: Students who won C prize or higher in the Regional round

- Exam format: Candidates take the test on paper; exam language: English

- Candidates with excellent results and reaching the minimum score threshold as prescribed by the Organizing Committee will be considered for awards including medals, certificates and gifts from the Organizing Committee, depending on the award structure each year.

- Candidates with high achievements and meeting the requirements of the international AIMO of each grade will be nominated to the Vietnamese AIMO team to participate in the International Final round.

- The winning contestants will have their photos and information posted on the contest's official website.

5. International Finals (Round 4)

- Time: Expected from August 1 to 5, 2026

- Expected location: as announced by the International AIMO Organization

- Scale: About 3,000 candidates and 5,000 teachers and students' families from more than 20 countries and territories around the world .

- Exam format: Candidates take the test on paper; exam language: English

- Fee: according to regulations of the international AIMO Organization

- The winning candidates will receive medals and certificates from the AIMO Asian Mathematical Olympiad Committee.

III. Exam content and format

a) All exam questions and answers are presented in Vietnamese and/or English in the Preliminary and Regional rounds. In the National round, all exam questions and answers are presented in English. Each question consists of 20 questions, total score 100, divided into 3 parts:

- Part A: 08 questions × 04 points

- Part B: 08 questions × 05 points

- Part C: 04 questions × 07 points

b) Exam time: Grade 2 (60 minutes), Grades 3-9 (70 minutes), Grades 10-12 (90 minutes).

c) Exam format:

- Round 1: Online exam

- Round 2, 3, 4: Direct exam according to AIMO international regulations

IV. Professional Council and Examination Board

To ensure the professional quality and reputation of the contest, the Organizing Committee established a Professional Council and an Examination and Grading Council.

1. Professional Council

The expert council is selected from university lecturers, high school teachers and prestigious and experienced mathematics experts. The council has the following duties:

- Advise and consult the Organizing Committee on professional issues arising during the implementation process.

- Monitor the professional quality of the competition, ensure that the exam questions, answers and grading results comply with international AIMO standards.

2. Examination Board and Marking Board

The examination and marking council is established for each round, including lecturers, teachers and carefully selected staff. The council is responsible for:

- Organize and closely supervise the exam at the exam sites to ensure the exam takes place safely and seriously.

- Conduct the exam marking according to regulations, applying the international AIMO scale and standards.

- Synthesize and verify results, submit to the Organizing Committee for approval before official announcement.

3. Scoring method

- Online Preliminary Round : Exams are graded on the system according to standard answers, combined with data analysis to detect cheating.

- Direct rounds : Exams are graded according to the international Olympic scale. Results will only be announced after confirmation by the Head of the Examination Board and the representative of the Organizing Committee.

4. General principles

The examination and marking process strictly adheres to the principles: Objectivity - Transparency - Fairness. The candidates' examinations must be done by the candidates themselves; any cheating will result in the cancellation of the results. Data and results are sealed, securely stored and only published with official approval.

5. Appeal

In case of complaints or requests for re-examination, candidates or parents can submit an application according to the instructions of the Organizing Committee and pay the prescribed fee. The Examination Board will review the exam and make a final decision. This decision is final and applies to all candidates.

V. Rights and obligations of candidates

“Asian Mathematics Competition - AIMO 2025-2026” is an international intellectual playground with the participation of many different subjects. To ensure the success and prestige of the competition, the rights and obligations of each party are specifically stipulated as follows:

1. Candidates have the following rights: To register and participate in the competition rounds according to the regulations of the Organizing Committee; To receive certificates and medals depending on the achievements in each round; To have the opportunity to receive scholarships and gifts, and to be selected to join the AIMO Vietnam team to compete internationally; To have access to review materials, official instructions and to have personal information kept confidential throughout the participation process.

2. Candidates have the following obligations: Fully comply with the rules, regulations of the exam and instructions of the Organizing Committee; Be honest and proactive in the process of taking the exam; Do not ask others to take the exam for you or commit any fraudulent acts; Provide accurate information when registering and be responsible for the honesty of the documents; Maintain a serious and civilized attitude, contributing to building the image of a prestigious exam.