Overview
The Olimpíada Brasileira de Matemática das Escolas Públicas e Privadas (OBMEP) is a national school mathematics competition run with IMPA. The details below are from the rules of the 21st edition, held in 2026.
Who can apply
Students from Year 6 to Year 9 of Ensino Fundamental and all years of Ensino Médio can take part, in municipal, state and federal public schools and in private schools in Brazil. Public schools take part free of charge. Private schools pay an enrolment fee. Schools register their students, and public schools registered between 4 February and 16 March 2026.
Levels or stages
There are three levels by school year.
Level 1: Years 6 and 7 of Ensino Fundamental
Level 2: Years 8 and 9 of Ensino Fundamental
Level 3: Ensino Médio
Exam pattern
| Phase | Format | Details |
|---|---|---|
| First phase | Objective paper, held and marked by the school | 20 multiple-choice questions, 1 point each, 2.5 hours. Held on 9 June 2026 |
| Second phase | Written paper, run by IMPA at designated centres | 6 written questions, up to 20 points each, 120 in total, 3 hours. Held on 17 October 2026 |
Marking and results
Schools mark the first phase and send forward the top performers. How many advance depends on how many students the school entered.
| Students entered | Advance to second phase |
|---|---|
| 1 to 40 | 2 |
| 41 to 80 | 4 |
| 81 to 140 | 7 |
| 141 to 240 | 12 |
| 241 or more | 5% of those enrolled, rounded up |
After the exam
National medals are awarded separately to public and private schools.
| School type | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public | 500 | 1,500 | 4,500 |
| Private | 150 | 450 | 1,350 |
Up to 51,000 honourable mentions are also given. The 6,500 public school medallists may join the Programa de Iniciação Científica Jr. (PIC), with possible CNPq scholarships. Private school medallists may take part as observers without a scholarship.
Preparation tips
Past first-phase and second-phase papers are on the official site and are the best practice material.
For the second phase, practise writing out full reasoning, not just final answers.
Is OBMEP free?
Yes for public schools. Private schools pay an enrolment fee.
How are students chosen for the second phase?
Schools advance their top first-phase scorers, with the number set by how many students the school entered.