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Failed BMO once already — what actually helped you pass?

by emily_w 476 views3 replies
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emily_wOP
May 27, 2026

So I took the BMO back in March and missed the cutoff by 11 points, which honestly stung more than I expected. I'd spent about three weeks studying but looking back I was just rereading my notes over and over instead of actually practicing problems. My weak spots were combinatorics and number theory — I kept making silly arithmetic errors under pressure.

I'm registered for the next sitting and this time I want to do it right. I've been working through a BMO practice test set I found online and timing myself strictly, which already feels different. But I'm curious what actually moved the needle for people who passed on a second attempt. Did you use a specific study guide, or was it more about drilling past papers?

Also wondering about timing strategy — do you go hardest problems first or just work straight through? I burned 40 minutes on problem 3 last time and never recovered. Any honest advice appreciated, not looking for "just work hard" type answers.

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Chloe W.
May 28, 2026
Second attempt here too, passed last November. Honestly the biggest shift for me was treating past papers like timed exams, not casual reading. I'd do a full session, then spend twice as long reviewing every single step I got wrong or guessed on. The study guide from the Canadian Math Society was decent for theory refreshers but the problem drilling is what actually built my speed. Give yourself 6 weeks minimum if you can.
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Amanda H.
May 28, 2026
On the timing question — I skip anything that isn't clicking after 8-10 minutes and come back at the end. Sounds obvious but I used to convince myself I was "almost there" and just needed two more minutes. You're almost never almost there lol. Also combinatorics is way more testable than most people prep for, so if that's your weak spot I'd front-load it in your study schedule.
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Ravi S.
May 28, 2026
The exam tips that actually helped me: write out your reasoning even when you think a step is obvious. Partial credit saved me on two problems last year. Also don't skip the easier-looking questions assuming they're trivial — that's where careless errors hide.

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