Recommended Math Contests > NEWS

Recommended Math Contests:

At IMC, we are delighted to introduce the following outstanding Math Contests:

1) AMC 10/12

The American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 10/12 is an opportunity for high school students in grades 10 to 12 to test and improve their problem-solving skills. These exams consist of 25 multiple-choice questions to be completed within a 75-minute time limit.

Participating in the AMC 10/12 opens doors to a series of math exams that progress from local to national and international levels. Exceptional performance on the AMC 10/12 can earn students invitations to more challenging exams in the AMC series, which we'll discuss later.

The AMC 10 focuses on the U.S. high school curriculum up to the 10th grade and is open to students in the 10th grade or lower, and younger than 17.5 years old. On the other hand, the AMC 12 covers the entire high school math curriculum, including trigonometry, advanced algebra, and advanced geometry, but does not include calculus. Students in the 12th grade or lower, and younger than 19.5 years old on the day of the contest, can take the AMC 12.

Although the AMC 10/12 exams themselves do not offer cash prizes, they serve as an important prerequisite for other math competitions and scholarships. By participating in the official AMC 10 and AMC 12 exams, you increase your chances of qualifying for more challenging invitational math competitions with bigger rewards.

2) ARML

The ARML competition welcomes students in grades 9 to 12 and offers cash prizes. It is a nationwide annual event that takes place simultaneously at four distinguished university campuses across the United States: University of Iowa, Penn State, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and University of Alabama in Huntsville.

To participate in the ARML, students must form teams of 15 members and register online. The competition format includes both individual and team-based problem-solving. While calculus is not a requirement, having knowledge of it can be beneficial for solving problems efficiently.

ARML challenges encompass various mathematical topics such as algebra, geometry, number theory, combinatorics, probability, and inequalities. Participants tackle these problems individually and collaborate within their teams.

Competitors have the opportunity to win monetary awards. The top two teams in the different divisions receive smaller gift card prizes, and the top 20 individual participants are awarded $2000 in gift cards. Additionally, the highest-ranked individual competitor overall earns an extra $100 gift card.

3) Purple Comet Math Meet

The Purple Comet Math Meet is an annual international math competition open to students in the 7th through 12th grade. It offers a team-based format, allowing groups of one to six students to collaborate and submit solutions to a series of math problems. The competition is completely free and offers a high degree of flexibility, as teams can choose their preferred time to participate within a ten-day window.

Middle school participants are given 60 minutes to solve 20 problems, while high school students tackle 30 problems within a 90-minute timeframe. The specific math topics covered in the competition are not explicitly mentioned, but you can access previous contest questions on the organization's website to get an idea of the content.

Although the Purple Comet Math Meet does not offer cash prizes, it presents an excellent opportunity for students to engage in problem-solving activities alongside a team and connect with other math enthusiasts from around the globe.

4) Math Prize for Girls

The Math Prize for Girls is an annual math competition held at MIT that is exclusively open to students who identify as female and are in the 11th grade or lower. Participants are required to solve 20 challenging mathematical problems that assess their creativity and insight. The contest focuses on high-school level mathematics and does not include questions related to calculus.

To participate in the Math Prize for Girls, interested students must complete an online application process. One of the key requirements for applying is having taken an official administration of either the AMC 10 or AMC 12 exam.

The competition awards a total of $50,000 in cash prizes to the top ten winners.

5) DMM

Duke Math Meet (DMM) is an annual regional mathematics competition held at Duke University, exclusively for high school students. This prestigious event is meticulously organized by the dedicated members of the Duke University Mathematics Union (DUMU) and generously sponsored by the Duke Mathematics Department.

6) USMCA

The US Math Competition Association (USMCA) serves as a unifying platform for various math competitions organized by colleges across the United States. It strives to foster a deep interest in mathematics among students and ensures an exceptional contest experience for all participants. As part of its endeavors, the USMCA culminates in the grand USMCA National Championship held in the month of May.

7) HMMT

The HMMT is a highly competitive math tournament organized by students, open to students in grades 9 through 12 worldwide. It takes place annually in November and February. Participants can compete either individually or in teams of four to six or six to eight members. Applications to participate in the November or February tournaments can be submitted online.

In the individual test rounds, students have 50 minutes to solve ten short-answer problems. The team rounds, on the other hand, are 60-minute tests where all team members collaborate to solve ten problems together.

The HMMT attracts top math talents, including high scorers from national and international math olympiads. It serves as a platform for these accomplished students to showcase their skills and compete against their peers from around the world.

Although cash prizes are not awarded, recognition is given to the highest-scoring individuals overall, the top ten scorers on each individual test, the five highest-scoring teams on the Team Round, and the five highest-scoring teams on the Guts Round. Additionally, the top ten teams overall are honored as the Sweepstakes winners.

8) Math League High School

Math League organizes a series of high school competitions throughout the academic year, where individual students can register independently to participate. Exceptional performers in the qualifying meets held during the year will receive invitations to compete in the prestigious state and national championships. Although the contest is not affiliated with your school, students from the same school have the opportunity to come together and form a team of up to four members, aiming for the highly coveted sweepstakes award.

9) Math Kangaroo

Math Kangaroo is a mathematics competition that presents a wide range of puzzles and logic-based problems. It offers various prizes to the top 20 scorers at both the state and national levels. To participate, individuals must register at a test center between September and early December. There are numerous test centers located throughout the United States where the contest can be taken.

10) Pi Math Contest (PiMC)

Pi Math Contest (PiMC), organized by AlphaStar Academy, is an engaging competition designed for students up to the 8th grade, divided into two divisions. This annual online contest consists of a single round, and participants have the opportunity to earn recognition on the contest page, as well as winner certificates and awards.

11) MMATHS

The Math Majors of America Tournament for High Schools (MMATHS) is a virtual event hosted by Columbia University, University of Florida, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, and Yale University. It serves as a platform for high school students to showcase their mathematical skills and compete against one another.

12) FFM

The Fall Math Meet (FMM), organized by NanoMath, is an annual online math competition and event tailored for high school and advanced middle school students. Apart from contest rounds, FMM also includes engaging activities and presentations by esteemed mathematicians.

13) BMT

The Berkeley Math Tournament Group, established at the University of California-Berkeley, is an organization that hosts the Berkeley Math Tournament and Berkeley mini-Math Tournament. These events bring together students from the Bay Area and beyond to celebrate mathematics and engage in competitive problem-solving.

14) SMT

The Stanford Math Tournament (SMT) is a yearly math competition organized by students for high school students, taking place at Stanford University. SMT aims to foster interest in mathematics by presenting participants with enjoyable and challenging problems and providing them with an opportunity to connect with like-minded students from around the world.

15) CHMMC

The Caltech Harvey Mudd Math Competition (CHMMC) is jointly organized by students from Caltech and Harvey Mudd College. Notably, top performers at CHMMC qualify for the USMCA national championship, adding an extra level of significance to the competition.

16) PUMaC

The Princeton University Mathematics Competition (PUMaC) is an annual competition run by the Princeton University Math Club. Completely organized by students, PUMaC has been a fixture since 2006 and offers participants an opportunity to showcase their mathematical prowess through various problem-solving challenges.

17) CMIMC

The Carnegie Mellon Informatics and Mathematics Competition (CMIMC) is held annually at Carnegie Mellon University and is organized by CMU students. This competition combines elements of mathematics and computer science, allowing participants to tackle problems in both fields and demonstrate their skills in an intellectually stimulating environment.