Maths Olympiads reward thinking, not memorisation. That's good news: with the right preparation, any motivated child can do well. Here's a roadmap we use with our Olympiad students.
Step 1: Strengthen the fundamentals
Olympiad problems twist familiar concepts in unfamiliar ways. A child can't twist what they don't fully understand. Before chasing tricky problems, make sure the basics — arithmetic, fractions, factors, geometry basics — are rock solid. Mental-maths fluency removes calculation as a bottleneck so the child can focus on the puzzle.
Step 2: Learn to read problems carefully
Half of Olympiad mistakes come from misreading. Train your child to:
- Underline what is asked
- List what is given
- Restate the problem in their own words before solving
Step 3: Build a problem-solving toolkit
Olympiad maths rewards a few powerful strategies:
- Look for a pattern (try small cases first)
- Work backwards from the answer
- Draw a diagram
- Eliminate impossible options
- Simplify a hard problem into an easier version
Step 4: Practise with past papers
Nothing prepares better than real past papers. Practise under timed conditions to build exam stamina, then review every mistake — understanding why an answer was wrong is where the real learning happens.
Step 5: Build the right mindset
Top Olympiad scorers aren't afraid of hard problems — they enjoy the struggle. Encourage your child to sit with a tough question for a few minutes before giving up, and praise persistence over speed. A calm, curious attitude beats raw talent.
A sample weekly plan
- 3 days: concept practice (20 min)
- 2 days: mixed problem-solving (30 min)
- 1 day: timed mini-test
- 1 day: rest and review
Frequently asked questions
When should we start preparing? Ideally 4–6 months before the exam, with steady weekly practice rather than last-minute cramming.
Does abacus or Vedic Maths help in Olympiads? Yes — faster, more accurate calculation frees up mental energy for the actual problem-solving.
Get structured Olympiad support
Self-study works, but guided practice with graded problems accelerates progress. Explore our Maths Olympiad program, or book a free demo to assess where your child stands today.
Priti Gupta
Founder & Lead Instructor
Priti Gupta is a certified abacus and Vedic Maths instructor with over a decade of experience training 5,000+ students across India. She is passionate about making mathematics accessible, enjoyable, and empowering for every child — regardless of their starting level. Through Priti Ganit Guru, she has helped thousands of young learners develop confidence, speed, and a genuine love for numbers.