Math competitions may not be something you’ve considered for your child, but here are some key reasons you may want to participate: 

Critical Thinking

Most math competitions require a different style of mathematical thinking – this means that sometimes students can surprise themselves and do better than they might normally expect. 

Skill Building Opportunities

Math competitions are also an excellent skill building opportunity that can help students enhance their time management and stress management skills, thereby improving their overall productivity. 

Getting Challenged

Math competitions can be great for a wide range of abilities. They are also particularly valuable for your highest achieving students who need to be really stretched. Some students are not getting challenged with school’s routine studies. 

Grow Confidence

Few Kids will one day be required to take STEP papers or other university entrance exams. Math competitions can help pupils gain confidence early on in tacking unfamiliar mathematical challenges. 

Thinking Outside Box

Problem solving skills and thinking outside the box are often tested as part of math competitions. This will really help pupils in their normal math lessons and particularly in tackling the problems which they hardly get challenged in regular school syllabus.

Higher Studies

College applications may ask for resumes, which gives you the opportunity to include details about your math competitions there, but math competition victories can also have benefits beyond college. 

Can be Fun

They can be fun! Sometimes formal exam preparation can start to drain the fun from mathematics and it can be great to remember that math can be fun and enjoyable. 

Mission of Math Competition:

• Encourage students to master their mathematical knowledge.
• Give them confidence in their ability for comprehending mathematics.
• Help them understand how mathematics applies in nature's laws and human activities.
• Develop their ability to derive pleasure and satisfaction through intellectual life.
• Show that mathematical education is significant in every part of the world.

 The Best Math Competitions for School Students 

Math Kangaroo in USA has been helping students from grade 1 thru 12 to reach their potentials in math, and we are very encouraged to continue to do so with the increasing participation.

The test is 75 minutes long, with 24 questions for children in grades 1-4, and 30 questions for children in grades 5 and up. Make sure to leave the calculators at home since those are not allowed in the test!

Eligibility: 1st graders - 12th graders

Prizes: Yes

Application: contact Mathnasium of Nashua

Harvard/MIT Mathematics Tournament (HMMT)

The HMMT is an extremely competitive, student-organized math tournament that occurs each year in November and February. Most students compete in teams of four to six or teams of six to eight. Students can apply to participate in the November or February tournaments online.

Eligibility: 9th graders - 12th graders

Cash Prizes: N/A

Application: HMMT