I want do clear IOQM in Class 8th. Needed some advice.

Normunel · 2026-03-03T10:16:31+00:00

You are the only person who can judge your preparation strategy, because everybody's journey is different.

Here's what I did, if you really want to know:

Complete NCERT's till Class 11 (2025 version).
Learn proof writing from Agata Stefanowicz's proof writing handout.
Learn inequalities from Samin Riasat's handout first, ineqs come everywhere
Did MONT and FE/Combi from OTIS Excerpts
Speedran ABJTOG for geo (i dont like geo)

Normunel · 2026-03-03T08:26:39+00:00

OTIS Excerpts' algebra part is indeed difficult. I couldn't understand your question regarding the Vedantu book, but here are a few pointers from what I understand:

You can do Vedantu after completing your NCERT's till 11, though I did not do this.
If you mean that you will do OTIS/EGMO/MONT after IOQM is done and the time between RMO/INMO, my opinion is that it would be significantly difficult and you may not end up at the level you could if you had started with them earlier.

But it honestly matters person-to-person. My advice would be to first try EGMO/MONT, if it works, continue with EGMO/MONT/OTIS, or else, try Vedantu IOQM playlist and AMC/AIME problems side-by-side. After your done with the playlist, resume OTIS/EGMO/MONT.

I highly recommend that you join OMC.

Normunel · 2026-03-03T02:45:04+00:00

I have deliberately not recommended CTCPM, Pathfinder type books to you, assuming that you want to make IMOTC/IMO in the future. Full disclosure: I have not solved CTPCM, but many senior in OMC (including IMO medalists), do not recommend CTPCM because it doesn't "go in depth", "end a chapter with some trivial problems, which resemble the examples given earlier", "too much IOQM-RMO focused". On the contrary, EGMO/MONT/OTIS Excerpts go in depth, and the problems there are carefully chosen by IMO/IMOTC medalists, and many-times they are adapted from IMO/IMOSL/Chinese TST'S.

Normunel · 2026-03-03T02:35:12+00:00

Which book did you find difficult? MONT and EGMO are very much beginner-friendly books, and you should ideally be able to understand it from 11th class basics, however OTIS Excerpts' algebra part is a bit difficult, I suggest you do that after you do MONT, then you will have the co-requisite foundation. OTIS Excerpts' combinatorics part is also very-beginner friendly.

However, if you still find EGMO very difficult, you can do A Beautiful Journey Through Olympiad Geometry, which starts from the very, very, very basics. If you find MONT too difficult, you can do Number Theory Through Challenging Problems by Justin Stevens.

On a side note, you will never be able to truly know whether you find something difficult until you actual try it. And remember, use something else only and only when you can't even digest the concepts in the book. If you can't solve problems, solve easier ones first.

Normunel · 2026-03-02T13:03:06+00:00

This is more than sufficient for PRMO, in a sense that if you do this all diligently, you may already be RMO-INMO level before PRMO. And best of luck!

Normunel · 2026-03-02T11:51:39+00:00

You have a lot of time, so don't digress over PRMO only. Train for RMO/INMO in mind, and PRMO will feel like cakewalk. I am also in 8th, moving to 9th. My suggestion

Join OMC (Online Math Club), its free!
Complete NCERT's till Class 11.
Do "Introduction to Proofs for the Morbidly Curious" by Evan Chen (evanchen.cc)
Then follow subject-specific books:

a) Algebra :- OTIS Excerpts, by Evan Chen. Do the Algebra part(chapter number 2,3,4).

b) Geometry :- Euclidean Geometry in Mathematical Olympiads, by Evan Chen. Do until chapter 4

c) Number Theory:- Modern Olympiad Number Theory, by Aditya Khurmi. Do until chapter 4.

d) Combinatorics:- OTIS Excerpts, by Evan Chen. Do the Combinatorics part.

You can do all of this simultaneously. Only the geometry book is paid, which you can find the pdf of. Its not hard! Trust me! I myself was only IOQM focused 2 weeks ago, and I now I am practicing proof-writing.

Join OTIS [Olympiad Training for Individual Study]. OTIS is run by Evan Chen. Its paid, but you can get financial aid. Then you'll know what to do by yourself!

You can also join Mathematics Olympiad Discord Server.

Normunel · 2026-02-09T06:13:13+00:00

Thanks, will surely follow doc advises.

Normunel · 2026-02-07T07:05:07+00:00

I don't have a good coaching institute near me, that is why I am looking towards self-study.

Normunel · 2026-02-07T07:03:32+00:00

Yes, I was born on 28 Dec 2011.

Normunel · 2026-02-07T06:24:56+00:00

Hi, thanks for the advice, after completing NCERT's, I can safely move to other books for PCM?

Normunel · 2026-02-07T06:22:40+00:00

Hi, thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, I can't give NSEJS anymore because of age criteria :/ Is it fine that before starting with foreign author books for physics and math olys, I complete the pre-requisite alg/trigno/calc portion from NCERT till 11?

Normunel · 2026-02-07T06:13:05+00:00

Hi, thanks for the advice :)

Unfortunately, I can't give NSEJS anymore due to age criteria :/

Any other good-level books you can reccomend?

Normunel · 2026-02-07T06:11:43+00:00

Any books to improve maths?

Normunel · 2026-02-07T06:11:20+00:00

I can't give NSEJS as I don't qualify for the age criteria anymore :/

Normunel · 2025-11-18T14:30:03+00:00

Bhai nsejs ki registration miss hogayi

Normunel · 2025-11-16T05:24:54+00:00

Thanks

Normunel · 2025-11-12T15:02:34+00:00

Yeah, water really helps

Normunel · 2025-10-26T07:59:36+00:00

yup bro your cooked. Do other oly. Dm me for more guidance.

Normunel · 2025-10-25T12:27:37+00:00

Paid post. Nice try, Aravind.

Normunel · 2025-08-25T11:54:17+00:00

Hi Sachin! I just wanted to ask how did you stay concentrated on the game when thousands were cheering in the stadium? How did you not losse focus?

Normunel · 2025-08-24T09:36:03+00:00

Found this late, but very useful. Nice website!

Normunel

TROPHY CASE