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Math competitions for students under 18

Math competitions are the most structured pathway a young student can enter. Most run as a ladder: an open entry exam that anyone can sit, then invitational rounds for high scorers, then a national or international team. Almost all of them are cheap or free, and the past papers are public, which makes math the easiest category to start preparing for on your own.

15 in this category · 5 free to enter · 4 available online

Math AIME Fifteen problems, three hours, integer answers only. Invitation required.

Grades1 to 12
CostUp to $25
PreparationA qualifying score on AMC 10 or AMC 12
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person

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Math AMC 10 and AMC 12 The 75-minute exam that opens the door to the US math olympiad ladder.

Grades1 to 12
CostFree to $70
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person

33 days left

Math AMC 8 A 40-minute, 25-question exam for middle schoolers and the natural first step into contest maths.

Grades1 to 8
CostFree to $30
RecommendedGrades 6 to 8
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person

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Math ARML Fifteen-student regional teams competing in relays and a power round over one intense weekend.

Grades1 to 12
Cost$100 to $800
PreparationComfort with olympiad-style problems, and a place on a regional team
FormatTeam
WhereIn person

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Math CEMC Contests Canada's national contest ladder, from grade 7 puzzles to the Canadian Computing Olympiad.

Grades7 to 12
CostUp to $20
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person

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Math HMMT One of the hardest and best-run student math tournaments in the world, held twice a year in Boston.

Grades6 to 12
Cost$20 to $100
PreparationRegular practice on olympiad-level problems
FormatEither
WhereIn person

8 days left

Math IM²C A team modelling challenge with national rounds worldwide feeding an international judging round.

Grades9 to 12
CostFree
PreparationA strong result in COMAP's HiMCM or MidMCM
FormatTeam
WhereOnline

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Math Math Kangaroo A friendly international puzzle contest that starts in grade 1.

Grades1 to 12
Cost$21 to $30
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person

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Math Math Prize for Girls The largest cash prize in pre-college mathematics, open to girls and non-binary students.

Grades1 to 12
CostFree
PreparationAn AMC 10 or AMC 12 score above the year's cutoff
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person

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Math MATHCOUNTS The national middle school math league, from your classroom to a televised countdown round.

Grades6 to 8
Cost$42 to $80
FormatEither
WhereIn person

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Math MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge Fourteen hours, one open-ended real-world problem, and a written mathematical model. Free, with six figures in scholarships.

Grades11 to 12
CostFree
FormatTeam
WhereOnline

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Math Modeling the Future Challenge Analyse a real dataset, quantify a risk, and make a recommendation, mentored by a working actuary.

Grades11 to 12
CostFree
FormatTeam
WhereOnline

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Math MOEMS Five short contests across the school year, designed as a first taste of olympiad problem solving from grade 4.

Grades4 to 8
CostNot confirmed
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereIn person

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Math PUMaC A team math tournament at Princeton with a live power round and a strong international field.

Grades6 to 12
Cost$20 to $100
PreparationExperience with proof-based problems
FormatTeam
WhereIn person

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Math Purple Comet! Math Meet A free, online, team-based maths contest open to any school or club in the world.

Grades6 to 12
CostFree
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereOnline

184 days left

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