Introduction

The United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT) was founded in 1996 and stands as a registered charity, whose charitable aim is to advance the education of young people in mathematics by offering a wide range of national-level competitions and activities for students from 11 to 18 years old in the UKUKMT is also responsible for selecting UK National Mathematical Olympiad team to participate in the IMO. UKMT has a comprehensive mathematics assessment system, which not only encourages wide participation, develops interest, and experiences JMC/IMC/SMC and also includes BMO for selecting a national team.

BMO has two rounds: BMO Round 1 and BMO Round 2. Only the top 10% in BMO Round 1 can participate in Round 2. UKMT will select the top UK students from Round 2 to take part in the UK National Mathematical Olympiad camp and select the national team. Different from the multiple choice questions of the SMC, BMO is mainly a proof question, which requires students to specify the steps and process of solving the problem, and to investigate students’ comprehensive mathematical academic strength in depth. In the UK, only students with excellent SMC results are eligible to participate in BMO Round 1. In China, Chinese students can directly register for BMO Round1.

Founded by the largest UK organization – UKMT

A difficult test

for high school students to select UK Olympiad team

Investigated

comprehensive mathematics academic strength

Top students

from all over the world competed together

BMO Round 1

Language: English

Date: Nov. 20, 2025 (Thursday, 210 mins)

Eligibility:

BMO1 is an open entry competition for high school students, and BMO2 is an open entry competition for those who sat BMO1.

The registration fee is waived for candidates who satisfy both the following criteria:

• The candidate is qualified by virtue of nationality or residency to represent the UK at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) (see below).
• The candidate has achieved at least the BMO threshold mark in the SMC (for BMO1) or at least the BMO2 threshold mark (depending on school year) in BMO1 (for BMO2).

The UK team
The normal method of qualification to represent the UK at the IMO is that a candidate either (a) holds British citizenship, or (b) will have completed at least 3 full years of full-time secondary education in the UK at the time they leave school.

Time allowed
3.5 hours

Scoring
Proof questions, Each question carries 10 marks, Answers left blank will be marked as 0; Partial marks are awarded depending on the clarity of the participants Mathematical presentation. We advise working in rough first, then writing up your best attempt. One complete solution will gain more credit than several unfinished attempts.

Form: Online

Award

• Gold Medal: Top 20 in UK, the cut-off score in 2025 is 48+

• Silver Medal: 21-50 in UK, the cut-off score in 2025 is 37+

• Bronze Medal: 51-100 in UK, the cut-off score in 2025 is 31+

• Distinction: the cut-off score in 2025 is 18+, around the top 15% of students achieved this aware

• Merit: the cut-off score in 2025 is 7+, around the top 45% of students achieved this award

• Best in School

• Best in Year

*International participants will be awarded based on the UK cut-off scores above.

BMO Round 1 qualification threshold from SMC

• 2025 BMO Round 1 cut-off scores: SMC 104+

BMO Round 2 qualification threshold:

Around 100 top-scorers in UK will qualify in BMO Round 2, International students will qualify according to the following cut-off scores.

• 2026 BMO Round 2 cut-off scores: 7+

BMO Round 2

Language: English

Date: Jan. 22, 2026 (Thursday)

Eligibility: BMO Round 1 qualified students

Time allowed: 3.5 hours (210 mins)

Form: Online

Scoring:
Proof questions, Each question carries 10 marks, Answers left blank will be marked as 0; Partial marks are awarded depending on the clarity of the participants Mathematical presentation. We advise working in rough first, then writing up your best attempt. One complete solution will gain more credit than several unfinished attempts.

Award

• Distinction: the cut-off score in 2025 is 18+

• Merit: the cut-off score in 2025 is 8+

*International students will be awarded according to these cut-off scores.

BMO China Camp

Teaching: Language English

Date: July 25-July 29, 2025 (5 days)

Eligibility: Asian participants who won award in the 2024 – 2025 British Mathematical Olympiad (BMO)

Location: Shanghai, China

Number of Students: Enrolled 150 students (limited seats, Registration closed due to full capacity.)

The Coaches:

Dr. Geoff Smith MBE

Chair of the British Mathematical Olympiad (BMO) Academic Committee.

Head Coach of the British Mathematical Olympiad National Team.

Recipient of the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) honor.

Former President of the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).

Benjamin Gillott