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International Math Modeling Contest

IMMC 2026

Message from the Head Director

Today, many middle and high school students around the world study mathematics and science primarily by learning theories and solving problems in the classroom. While this process is certainly important, the true purpose of mathematics and science goes far beyond solving textbook problems.

Mathematics and science are disciplines that exist to help us understand the world and improve human life. The theories we learn and the problems we solve in school gain their true meaning when they are applied to real-world challenges.

However, in reality, most middle and high school educational environments have limited opportunities for students to experience how mathematical and scientific knowledge can be used to analyze and solve real-life problems through modeling and critical thinking.

For this reason, we created the International Math Modeling Contest (IMMC).

The goal of IMMC is to provide students with an opportunity to go beyond traditional classroom learning by applying mathematical and scientific ideas to real-world situations, constructing models, and presenting logical solutions as a team.

Through this contest, we hope students will:

  • Discover how mathematics and science connect to real-life problems
  • Develop creative problem-solving skills through teamwork
  • Strengthen analytical thinking and collaborative abilities essential for the future

In addition, we believe that opportunities like this should be accessible to all students. Therefore, the IMMC is offered free of charge to students worldwide, ensuring that talented students can participate regardless of financial background.

We hope that IMMC will provide students with a unique learning opportunity beyond the traditional classroom, and that through this experience, the next generation of scientists, researchers, and innovators will emerge.

Head Director
Shubhrangshu Dasgupta

International Math Modeling Contest (IMMC)

Date
April 24, 2026
Test Duration
• Test A: 8 hours
• Test B: 6 hours
Eligibility
Test A: Students from Grade 9 to Grade 12 worldwide are eligible to apply.
Test B: Students from Grade 6 to Grade 8 worldwide are eligible to apply.
Participation Fee
The contest is completely free of charge.
Team Composition
Test A
  • Teams must consist of students from the same school.
  • Each team must include 2 to 4 students.
  • The application must be submitted by a school teacher.
Test B
  • Teams may consist of students from different schools and different countries.
  • Each team must include 2 to 6 students.
  • The application may be submitted by a mentor or teacher.

Contest Rules & Application

Participants are allowed to use the following resources during the contest:

※ Important Notice:
However, the use of ChatGPT or other AI tools to generate answers is strictly prohibited.

If a team is found to have used AI tools such as ChatGPT in their submission:
  • Their submission will be automatically disqualified, and
  • The team will be banned from participating in future IMMC contests.
Application Period
March 10, 2026 – April 19, 2026 (11:59 PM Eastern Time, USA)

Teams must complete the application form and send it to: admin@imc-impea.org

Download Application Form

Contest Guidelines

Contest Start Time

The contest problems will be distributed on April 24, 2026. Teams may choose their own start time on that date. However, once the problem file is opened, teams must submit their solution within the official time limit:

Submission Guidelines

When submitting the final solution, the cover page must include:

Accepted submission formats: PDF, JPG, DOC

Submissions provided only as Google Docs links will not be accepted. Handwritten solutions are also allowed. There is no strict page limit, but most teams typically submit solutions of 8 to 15 pages (A4 format). A longer solution does not provide any advantage in scoring.

Evaluation Process

Each submission will be independently evaluated by three professors in mathematics and physics. The final score will be determined by the average of the three scores, and awards will be given accordingly.

Awards

Test A
Award Level Number of Teams
Gold1–2 teams
Silver2–4 teams
Bronze2–4 teams
Honorable Mention5 teams

On average, 100–120 teams participate in Test A each year.

Test B
Award Level Number of Teams
Gold1 team
Silver2 teams
Bronze2 teams
Honorable Mention3 teams

On average, 70–90 teams participate in Test B each year.

Guidelines for the Use of Student Submissions

Students are free to use the papers they submit to the IMMC for other academic purposes. The solutions and modeling reports submitted to the contest may be:

Students retain full ownership of their work.

We strongly encourage participants to view their IMMC submission not only as a contest solution, but also as a valuable academic project that can demonstrate their creativity, analytical thinking, and research ability. The paper you produce during the IMMC can become an important intellectual asset for your academic journey.

We hope that the experience of writing and developing a modeling paper through IMMC will support students in building meaningful academic achievements in the future.