Math Competitions Calendar for 2020-2021

Students of all ages can benefit from participating in math competitions. Competitive, timed tests allow children to showcase their knowledge and compare themselves to their peers. They can also be a confidence booster and, in later grades, look great on college applications. Scroll down for a list of recommended math competitions for the 2020-2021 school year as well as descriptions of each and registration information. 

***Check back as we will update the blog regularly with any COVID-specific information as it becomes available. 

AMC8 (Grade 8)

Date: Tuesday, November 10th, 2020

About the Contest: The American Mathematics Contest (AMC) is a challenging and prestigious national competition, administered by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). Recommended for students in grade 8, the AMC 8 consists of 25 problems - all based on knowledge and logic.  

This year, the competition will be held online. Read more>>

How to prepare: 

• Try your hand at solving these AMC8 - style practice problems created by RSM. Download here. 
• We will be running a series of webinars with two-time International Math Olympiad (IMO) winner Dr. Hayk Sedrakyan to dive into the most challenging math problems that appear in AMC 8 competitions. During this interactive and engaging webinar, Dr. Sedrakyan will work through problem solving strategies for the most challenging and interesting problems seen on the AMC 8 competition.

AMC 10/12 - Contest A

Date: Thursday, February 4th, 2021  

About the Contest: The AMC 10 and AMC 12 are both 25-question, 75-minute, multiple choice examinations in high school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. 

The AMC 10 is for students in 10th grade and below, and covers the high school curriculum up to 10th grade. 

AMC 10/12 - Contest B

Date: Wednesday, February 10th, 2021 About the Contest: The AMC 12 covers the entire high school curriculum including trigonometry, advanced algebra, and advanced geometry, but excluding calculus. Students in grade 12 or below and under 19.5 years of age on the day of the contest can take the AMC 12.  Read more>>

AIME I

Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2021

About the Contest: Students who perform exceptionally well on the AMC 10/12 are invited to continue participating in the AMC series of examinations that culminate with the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). The first in this series is the American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME), followed by the USA Mathematical Olympiad and Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO and USAJMO). 

AIME II

Date: Thursday, March 18, 2021

MOEMS (Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools)

MOEMS Contest 1  (Div E- Grades 4-6, Div M- Grades 6-8) November 16th, 2020 - December 12th, 2020

MOEMS Contest 2  (Div E- Grades 4-6, Div M- Grades 6-8) December 14th, 2020 - January 16th, 2021

MOEMS Contest 3  (Div E- Grades 4-6,   Div M- Grades 6-8) January 11th, 2021 - February 13th, 2021

MOEMS Contest 4  (Div E- Grades 4-6,   Div M- Grades 6-8) February 8th, 2021 - March 6th, 2021

MOEMS Contest 5  (Div E- Grades 4-6,   Div M- Grades 6-8) March 8th, 2021 - March 31st, 2021

About the Contest: MOEMS, short for Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools is a large and popular mathematics competition for students in grades 4 through 8.  It is held yearly from November through March with one test administered each month. Tests are given at individual schools and results are sent to MOEMS for scoring.

Math Kangaroo (Grade 1-12)

Date: Thursday, March 18, 2021

About the Contest: The Math Kangaroo is a great way to introduce elementary school students to the world of competitive math. An interactive competition complete with prizes, the test is not based on knowledge but is rather replete with puzzle and logic-type problems. Open to students in grades 1 - 12, the competition offers 24 problems to be solved within 75 minutes for grades 1-5 and 30 questions for students in grades 5 and up. 

Register and Read More>>

International Math Contest (Online Challenge)

Date: February 2021 (Registration Opens January 1st)

About the Contest: The International Math Contest is a 30-minute Online Challenge based on leading math curricula from across the world. Participation in the challenge is FREE. The IMC enables parents to compare their childrens' level of knowledge to that of their international peers.

Read more>>

Russian Math Olympiad (RMO)

Date: April 2021 (By invitation only to qualifiers from Online Challenge)

About the Contest: The first round of the IMC is online, with detailed analysis emailed to parents within weeks. Qualifying students proceed to the Russian Math Olympiad, a written competition that keeps with the rich tradition and prestige of mathematical Olympiads, featuring challenging non-routine problems that promote a deeper level of thinking.

Johns Hopkins CTY

Registration through the talent search website. The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth was the brainchild of professor Julian Stanley, who determined after years of research that 8th grade students who scored in the top 1% of university entrance exams were often destined for greatness in the world of STEM. 

Students can choose which standardized test to take (SCAT, SAT, PSAT (8/9), ACT, STB are all options) and qualifying students are eligible to enroll in the Johns Hopkins' Center for Talented Youth. Fun fact: Lady Gaga, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sergei Brin are alumni of the CTY enrichment programs. 

The competition is open to students grades 2 - 8, and even if the goal isn't to enroll in the Center, participation itself is a good idea for any college-bound student.