[5] In 2016, the SMS attempted to make the SMO more inviting to students by aligning questions more closely with school curriculum, although solutions still require considerable insight and creativity in addition to sound mathematical knowledge.
The Junior section is geared towards Lower Secondary students, and topics tested include number theory, combinatorics, geometry, algebra, probability and sometimes even calculus.
The Senior section is geared towards Upper Secondary students, and topics tested include number theory, combinatorics, geometry, algebra, and probability.
Topics tested include number theory, combinatorics, geometry, algebra, calculus (occasionally), probability, but of a higher difficulty level than the Senior Section.
Since 2006, in each of the Junior, Senior and Open sections, prizes are awarded to the 30 individuals with the highest total scores in the first and second rounds.
[6] Schools may receive gold, silver, bronze or participation, in decreasing order of merit.
Individuals who do not place in the top 30 may also receive gold, silver, bronze, honourable mentions or participation, in decreasing order of merit.