Your child sits down with the SASMO paper in front of them. Twenty-five questions. Ninety minutes on the clock. Some problems look familiar. Others feel impossible. The way they approach these next 90 minutes will determine whether they walk out with a bronze, silver, gold, or nothing at all.

Most students tackle the paper from question one to question 25, spending too much time stuck on problems they can’t solve while easier points sit waiting at the end. This approach costs them dearly. A smart SASMO test taking strategy changes everything.

Understanding the SASMO scoring system

SASMO awards different point values based on question difficulty. Section A contains 10 problems worth one point each. Section B has 10 problems worth two points each. Section C includes five problems worth three points each.

The total possible score is 35 points.

Here’s what matters: a student who answers all Section A and Section B questions correctly but skips Section C entirely scores 30 points. That’s often enough for a silver award. A student who spends 40 minutes wrestling with two Section C problems, gets them both wrong, but misses five easier questions scores far lower.

The math is brutal but clear. Two points from Section B are worth more than gambling on a three-point problem you might not solve.

Your child needs to hunt for points, not prestige.

The three-pass method for maximum points

Professional test takers use a multi-pass approach. Your child should too.

Pass One: Harvest the easy wins (25 minutes)

Start at question one, but don’t stay stuck anywhere. Read each problem. If the solution path is immediately clear, solve it. If not, mark it and move on.

The goal is to collect every problem your child can solve confidently in under two minutes. These are the foundation points. Missing these because time ran out on a hard problem is the most common SASMO mistake.

During this pass, students typically complete 12 to 18 questions depending on their level.

Pass Two: Tackle medium difficulty problems (35 minutes)

Return to the beginning. Now spend time on problems that require more thought but still feel approachable. These might need a diagram, some trial and error, or understanding mathematical logic in competitions.

Work carefully but keep moving. If a problem takes more than four minutes without progress, mark it again and continue.

This pass typically adds another 5 to 8 correct answers.

Pass Three: Attack the hardest problems (30 minutes)

Now use remaining time on the toughest questions. These are often the last few in Section C, which frequently test combinatorics principles or advanced geometry theorems.

Even if your child can’t solve these completely, partial credit thinking helps. Some competitions award points for correct reasoning even with calculation errors.

Recognizing which problems to skip

Not all skips are equal. Your child needs a system for deciding what to skip and when to return.

Skip immediately if:

• The problem uses a concept your child has never seen before
• The question is three or four sentences long with multiple conditions
• The diagram looks complex with many intersecting lines or shapes
• The numbers are unusually large or involve many variables

Skip temporarily if:

• The solution path isn’t obvious within 30 seconds
• Your child has an idea but it feels time-consuming
• The problem is in Section C during Pass One

Return to a skipped problem if:

• Time remains after completing easier questions
• The problem connects to one just solved
• A fresh perspective reveals a new approach

Here’s a comparison table showing common student behaviors versus strategic approaches:

Situation	Typical Approach	Strategic Approach
Hard problem in first 5 questions	Spend 10 minutes trying to solve it	Mark and skip after 2 minutes
Unfamiliar concept appears	Panic and lose confidence	Skip calmly and move to known territory
15 minutes left, 8 questions unsolved	Rush through all of them	Choose 4 solvable ones, skip the rest
Stuck on a calculation	Keep recalculating the same way	Try a different method or skip
Section C problems	Attempt all of them in order	Cherry-pick the most approachable one first

Managing time like a competitor

Time management separates good scores from great ones. Your child should practice with these specific time benchmarks.

1. Aim to complete Pass One by the 25-minute mark
2. Finish Pass Two by the 60-minute mark
3. Use the final 30 minutes exclusively on hard problems
4. Reserve 5 minutes at the end for checking answers

Wearing a watch matters. Not all exam rooms have visible clocks. Your child should glance at the time after every five questions to stay on pace.

If they’re behind schedule, skip more aggressively. If they’re ahead, they can invest extra time in medium-difficulty problems where the return is higher.

Managing time effectively during competition day includes knowing when to cut losses and when to invest extra minutes.

The art of strategic guessing

SASMO doesn’t penalize wrong answers. Every blank is a wasted opportunity.

With five minutes remaining, your child should fill in every empty answer. But not randomly. Strategic guessing improves odds significantly.

For multiple choice sections, eliminate obviously wrong answers first. If a problem asks for an even number, cross out odd choices. If the question involves area, eliminate answers that seem unreasonably large or small.

For numerical answers, look for patterns. SASMO problems often have elegant solutions. An answer like 144 or 100 is more likely than 87 or 143.

If your child solved a similar problem earlier, check whether the answer format matches. Some problem sets follow predictable structures.

The best SASMO performers aren’t always the strongest mathematicians. They’re the students who combine solid skills with smart test strategy. They know which battles to fight and which to skip. They maximize points per minute invested.

Common mistakes that cost points

Even prepared students make preventable errors under pressure. Watch for these traps.

Mistake 1: Solving problems in strict order

The paper isn’t designed to be solved sequentially. Question difficulty jumps around. A problem numbered 8 might be easier than problem 4.

Mistake 2: Spending equal time on all questions

A one-point problem deserves less time than a three-point problem, but only if your child can actually solve the harder one. Time should follow probability of success, not point value alone.

Mistake 3: Leaving answers blank

Some students worry that wrong answers look bad. They don’t. Blank answers guarantee zero points. Wrong answers at least have a chance.

Mistake 4: Forgetting to transfer answers

If the exam uses a separate answer sheet, students must transfer their work. Rushing through this step causes careless errors. Build in time for careful transfer.

Mistake 5: Ignoring unit conversions

SASMO loves mixing units. A problem might give measurements in centimeters but ask for an answer in meters. Missing this detail turns a correct method into a wrong answer.

Building speed through practice

Strategy only works if your child has the skills to execute it. Speed comes from pattern recognition and automaticity.

Practice papers should simulate real conditions. Set a timer. No calculator unless the actual exam allows it. No parent hints.

After each practice session, review not just which problems were wrong, but which ones took too long. A correct answer that consumed eight minutes might need a different approach.

Students should master mental math shortcuts that save precious seconds on routine calculations. Knowing multiplication tables through 15, recognizing perfect squares up to 225, and calculating percentages mentally all add up.

Topic-specific practice helps too. If number theory problems always slow your child down, dedicated practice in that area pays dividends.

What to do the week before the competition

The final week isn’t for learning new concepts. It’s for sharpening execution and building confidence.

1. Complete one full timed practice paper every other day
2. Review the three-pass method until it becomes automatic
3. Practice the first 10 minutes of the exam repeatedly to build a strong start
4. Get adequate sleep, especially two nights before the competition
5. Prepare all materials the night before (pencils, eraser, watch, water bottle)

Avoid cramming new topics. A confused mind performs worse than a confident one with gaps.

The night before, your child should do something relaxing. Read a favorite book. Play outside. Watch a movie. The brain needs rest to perform at its peak.

Reading the question carefully saves time

Misreading costs more time than slow reading. Many students rush through the question, miss a critical detail, solve the wrong problem, then wonder why their answer isn’t among the choices.

Teach your child to underline key information:

• What the question actually asks for
• Important numbers and units
• Special conditions or restrictions
• Words like “not,” “except,” or “at least”

A problem might ask “How many ways can you arrange the letters?” versus “How many ways can you arrange the letters if vowels must be together?” That small detail changes everything.

Reading twice, solving once beats reading once, solving twice.

How parents can support strategic practice

Your role isn’t to teach math. It’s to coach strategy and maintain confidence.

During practice sessions, watch for these patterns:

• Does your child skip problems or push through stubbornly?
• Do they check the clock or lose track of time?
• Do they change answers frequently or trust their first instinct?
• Do they show frustration when stuck or stay calm?

After practice, discuss strategy, not just content. Ask “Why did you spend so much time on question 14?” rather than “Why did you get question 14 wrong?”

Celebrate strategic decisions even when they don’t lead to correct answers. If your child skipped a hard problem and came back to it later, that’s worth praising.

Adjusting strategy based on student level

Not every student should use the same approach. Strategy adapts to skill level.

For students targeting bronze or participation:

Focus entirely on Section A and the easier half of Section B. Don’t touch Section C until every possible point from easier sections is secured. Ten correct answers from Section A and B beats three correct answers scattered across all sections.

For students targeting silver:

Master all of Section A and most of Section B. Attempt one or two Section C problems that match your child’s strongest topic area. If ratio and proportion is a strength, look for those problems in Section C.

For students targeting gold:

Use the three-pass method fully. These students should attempt every problem but still prioritize strategically. Even gold medalists skip problems temporarily.

Practicing the mental game

Competition pressure affects performance. Your child needs mental preparation alongside mathematical preparation.

Teach simple breathing techniques for moments of frustration. When stuck, take three deep breaths, reread the question, then decide whether to continue or skip.

Visualization helps too. Have your child imagine sitting in the exam room, feeling confident, moving through the paper smoothly. Mental rehearsal builds actual confidence.

Remind them that every competitor faces hard problems. The winners aren’t the ones who never get stuck. They’re the ones who handle being stuck without panic.

Making every practice session count

Random practice helps less than structured practice. Each session should have a specific focus.

One day, practice only the first pass under time pressure. Another day, practice returning to skipped problems. A third day, practice strategic guessing on problems your child hasn’t studied yet.

Keep a practice log tracking:

• Total score
• Time used
• Number of skips
• Questions answered correctly after skipping initially
• Careless errors versus genuine knowledge gaps

Patterns emerge. Maybe your child consistently runs out of time because they don’t skip aggressively enough in Pass One. Maybe they skip too much and leave solvable problems blank. Data reveals the truth.

Turning strategy into instinct

On competition day, your child won’t have time to think about strategy consciously. It needs to be automatic.

That means practicing the three-pass method on every single practice paper for at least four weeks before the competition. No exceptions.

It means wearing a watch during every practice session and checking time at regular intervals until it becomes habit.

It means physically marking problems with a small dot or check mark during practice so the motion feels natural during the real exam.

Repetition turns strategy into instinct. When the pressure hits, instinct takes over.

Your child’s path to a stronger performance

The difference between a disappointing result and a proud achievement often comes down to approach, not ability. Your child likely knows more math than they demonstrate under timed pressure. The right SASMO test taking strategy unlocks that knowledge.

Start implementing the three-pass method in your next practice session. Time each pass. Notice how many more problems your child completes when they’re not stuck on question three for 15 minutes. Watch their confidence grow as they learn to navigate the paper strategically rather than hopefully.

The competition is coming. The preparation time you have is fixed. But how your child uses those 90 minutes on test day remains completely within their control. Teach them to be strategic, not just smart. The scoreboard will reflect the difference.