One of the best ways to encourage aspiring mathematicians is to participate in math competitions. Today I'll outline competitions suitable for students at all ages of their primary education, from elementary to high school. Some of these contests even have generous prizes!
Statistics show some interesting facts about Math education. First, a majority of people report that math remains the most important school subject for their daily lives as adults. Second, math is also the subject which a large percentage of people regret not paying close enough attention to during school. According to a Yougov.com survey, 31% of respondents claimed that they wished they had applied themselves better in math in middle school, high school, and university. Current students should take note. It also behooves parents to help their children to apply themselves in math, to understand the deeper concepts and meaning of mathematics in their lives, and to build community with others to help make math education a positive experience.
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Discover Math Competitions For Kids
There are a lot of contests out there for aspiring students in any subject, but it can be a challenge to look for them and to connect with the available resources. Picking the right organization can mean the difference between a successful and positive experience, and one that leads to discouragement or aversion to math altogether.
Generally, it’s a good idea to look for organizations with a solid history of commitment to education, who have a high-quality website and supporting information, and who are sponsored by non-profit organizations such as federal or State governments, local and regional school boards, and NGOs. Considering also how math can be applied, it’s a good idea to consider competitions with a multi-disciplinary approach, such as those that blend math with computer science or engineering projects.
If you feel overwhelmed, don’t worry. I will help break down some of the major contests, who can apply, and possible prizes which can help you find the right one for your budding STEM learner.
Math Competitions For High School Students And Teens
Enterprising high school students will want to check out these competitions.
1. MathWorks Math Modeling (M3) Challenge
The MathWorks competition is an all-online opportunity for eleventh and twelfth grade students to showcase their problem solving skills. Participants work in teams to solve an open-ended problem within a 14 hour window. Extra credit is given to students who use coding in their solutions. More than 125 Ph.D.-level applied mathematicians serve as judges throughout three rounds of judging. The contest is free to join.
Dates: The contest runs from November to April, with an application deadline in February.
Prize:
- Honorable Mention: 22 prizes of $1,000 each are awarded to teams whose papers are judged to be worthy of recognition for their superior efforts.
- M3 Challenge Semi-finalist: six prizes of $1,500 each are awarded to teams whose papers were highly ranked and underwent in-depth, specific discussion by judges.
- Finalist Awards honor the top six teams overall for outstanding mathematical approaches to the three main prompts in the Challenge problem.
- Scholarship Amounts: Champion – $20,000; Runner Up – $15,000; Third Place – $10,000; Finalist (3) – $5,000 each
2. United States Academic Decathlon
The USAD is a national competition featuring students from grades 9 - 12, who compete in all subjects including Math (permutations, combinations, algebra and statistics), Science, English, History, and more. The U.S. Academic Decathlon has announced that the overall curricular theme for the 2024–2025 Academic Decathlon will be Our Changing Climate. The subject area outlines for the 2024–2025 Academic Decathlon are available here.
Dates: Apply by December 31 for the following year’s competition
Prize: A variety of prizes are available. Winning teams are awarded medals, while certain students and teams can win cash prizes.
3. Test of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAMS)
TEAMS is an annual exam competition that takes place in February and March each year, where middle and high school students can use their math and science skills to discover the potential of engineering and applied sciences - including a data science and analytics competition.
Dates: Apply by March
Prize: Trophies and Certificates
4. Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
Sponsored by the Society for Science, The Regeneron Science Talent Search is the oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors in the USA. Each year, around 2,000 students enter the Regeneron STS, submitting original research in critically important scientific fields of study and full application for holistic review. The STS identifies promising young scientists who will become the problem solvers of tomorrow, awarding $3.1 million annually.
Dates: Application Deadline is November 7, 2024 at 8pm ET
Prize: First prize is $250,000
5. American Mathematics Competitions
The AMC is a series of competitions designed to cultivate and recognize the mathematical talent of students in grades 6 through 12. The AMC 10 and AMC 12 are specifically aimed at high school students and involve solving multiple-choice questions that test mathematical problem-solving skills. Today, over 300,000 students in 50 states and over 30 countries take the AMC.
Dates: AMC 10 and AMC 12 competitions usually take place in February. The exact dates can vary from year to year, so checking the official website for current details is recommended.
Prize: High scorers are eligible for various awards, including certificates and invitations to advanced competitions like the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). Top performers in the AMC 12 can also qualify for the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), furthering their chances of national recognition.
Math Competitions For Middle School Students
While many of the most prestigious prizes and competitions await high school students, middle schoolers and their parents also have many opportunities to strengthen their STEM skills. Aside from the TEAMS competition above, the following contest would be perfect to help your middle school student discover math’s many applications.
5. Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge
Sponsored by the Society for Science, Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge competition is the most prestigious contest open to middle school math whizzes. Only open to the top 10% of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. Those participating compete online for a chance to win prizes and to compete at the national level.
Dates: Applications open February 1, 2024 and close June 12, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET
Prize: Finalists win a $500, an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC for finalist and a parent/guardian and the opportunity to win more awards:
- $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND Award (Aspiring Scientists Cultivating Exciting New Discoveries)
- $10,000 Broadcom Coding with Commitment™ Award
- $10,000 DoD STEM Talent Award
- $10,000 Lemelson Award for Invention, sponsored by The Lemelson Foundation
- $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement
- 1st and 2nd place STEM awards awarded in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math categories. First place receives $3,500 and second place receives $2,500 to support a summer camp of the winner’s choosing and an iPad. Both first and second place winners also receive an iPad.
6. Science Olympiad
Now open to students K-12 and sponsored by NASA, Google, and other major institutions in science and tech, the Science Olympiad is the largest organization in the country running tournaments and competitions for STEM students. They serve over 6,000 teams from grades 6-12. The organization offers resources for students, teachers, and parents to help bolster science education fundamentals, in which math plays an important role. They also run hand-on activities and labs for younger learners to begin strong in STEM. This link has a breakdown of events by US state.
Dates: Application deadline is March 1, and the competition runs throughout the school year. The 2025 Science Olympiad National Tournament will be hosted by University of Nebraska-Lincoln on May 23-24, 2025.
Prize: At the National level, winning teams of 5 students compete for a shared $50,000 scholarship, while local and regional events also award a variety of prizes.
7. MATHCOUNTS
Sponsored by 3M and Texas Instruments, MATHCOUNTS is a national math competition that provides middle school students the opportunity to challenge themselves in a variety of mathematical problem-solving scenarios. It involves local, state, and national levels of competition, offering a series of individual and team problems.
Dates: Local competitions typically start in December, with state competitions held in the spring and the national competition occurring in May.
Prize: At the national level, top competitors receive medals, trophies, and other awards. There are also scholarships and prizes for top-performing individuals and teams, including an all-expense-paid trip to the national competition for finalists.
Math Competitions For Elementary School Kids
With math becoming an even more fundamental and popular skill, especially for students interested in programming, machine learning, game design, and robotics, math competitions can play a key role in waking small children up to the joys of problem solving.
8. Math Kangaroo International Math Competition
Since 1998, Math Kangaroo has grown from the US to an international competition of young learners to get excited about communicating their Math skills. The contest has taken place online for the past several years, and it draws participants from dozens of countries globally. They are driven by the mission of getting kids excited about Math, which their ample prizes and exciting practice material are sure to do.
Dates: Registration for Math Kangaroo runs Sept 15 - Dec 31, 2024 with the contest typically taking place in March
Prize: Two $1,000 scholarships awarded yearly and a variety of other cash and non-cash prizes
Are Math Competitions For Kids Worth It?
Yes math competitions are worth it, when your child is genuinely interested in them! While we all want the best for our kids, it’s important to consider the different contests carefully before deciding if it’s right for you. First, ask yourself if your child is interested in participating. It’s important to remember that, while extracurricular activities might give your child a competitive edge, it’s important to treat them as extracurricular, especially when substantial prizes are involved. It’s important for both students and their well-intentioned parents to maintain perspective, and to have fun.
While students may thrive on their intelligence alone, they will also be tested on communication skills, team work, and stress management, which may overwhelm some students. Most importantly, students should walk away from the contest feeling confident and eager to learn, and not burnt out or deflated by monumental expectations.
How to Prepare for Math Competitions: Tips and Resources
Preparing for math competitions can make a significant difference in a child's performance and enjoyment. With the right approach and resources, students can enhance their problem-solving skills and boost their confidence. Here are some practical tips and resources to help parents and students effectively prepare.
1. Practice Materials
Start with the official websites of the math competitions. These often provide practice problems, past exam papers, and sample questions. For example, the AMC and AIME websites offer past exams that can help students familiarize themselves with the format and difficulty of the questions. Try other problem solving practice such as:
- Art of Problem Solving (AoPS): Known for its comprehensive resources, AoPS provides online classes, problem-solving forums, and an extensive problem archive.
- Brilliant.org: Offers engaging guided interactive problems in math and science that help build critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Consider using apps and online tools designed for math practice. Apps like Mathigon and Khan Academy Kids offer interactive exercises and tutorials that can supplement traditional study methods. And get help and support from education companies such Create & Learn's math tutoring.
How Math Competitions Can Help Your Child
Math competitions are not just about winning prizes—they can also have a lasting impact on your child's academic and personal lives.
- Scholarships and College Admissions: Participating in prestigious math competitions can enhance a student's resume and potentially open doors to scholarships and favorable college admissions. Many math competitions offer scholarships as part of their awards. For instance, the MathWorks Math Modeling (M3) Challenge and the Regeneron Science Talent Search provide substantial scholarships to top performers.
- Skill Development: In addition to their math skills, kids can develop problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, and public speaking skills, which impact fields well beyond math.
- Future Opportunities: Early participation in math competitions can pave the way for your child's future involvement in advanced math and science programs, internships, and career opportunities in STEM fields. For example, some former AMC and USAMO participants have gone on to attend top universities such as MIT and Stanford, and have excelled in fields such as engineering, finance, and academia.
Enter Math Competitions For Kids in Grades 2-12
Math skills are fundamental to learners, and preparing them for a tech-driven future begins with math education. Whether young or old, students can benefit from competitions that push them outside their comfort zone both mathematically and socially, while the excitement of a win or a cash prize might be the catalyst for a lifelong love of math, or at least an adult life not plagued by regret for not paying closer attention in Algebra. Up next, enjoy fun math games for kids and join the best online math classes for kids today to set your young learner up for success.
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Written by Bryan Gordon. After ten years of working as an English teacher, Bryan began studying Math and Computer Science over the past few years. Aside from writing and teaching, he likes cooking, gardening, playing guitar, and hanging out with his cats, Baguette and Wally.
