The 5 Best Math Competitions for Students

by Yolanda Zhang

Math is like a sport; it requires constant practice and, occasionally, times to show off your skills. The biggest takeaway from math contests is the passion for problem-solving. Most contests place greater emphasis on logical reasoning rather than rote memorization, allowing students’ to develop important problem-solving skills. Competitions also allow students to develop a greater interest in math. Another benefit of math competitions is the fact that many math contests offer scholarships, awards, or invitations to selective camps to high achieving students. There are hundreds of different contests worldwide, all that require different skills and have various formats, but here are 5 of the most popular Canadian and international contests!

1. Pascal, Cayley, Fermat: The University of Waterloo offers these tests. They assess a student’s ability to problem-solve. The tests are offered in February of each year. The questions are all based on concepts from the province’s curriculum. The more challenging questions on the test require logical thinking and problem solving as opposed to content. In order to prepare for the contest, past papers can be used for practice. Anyone under grade 9 can write Pascal, under grade 10 for Cayley, and grade 11 for Fermat. Registration is currently open to schools and individual students. Here is the link for the registration: Pascal, Caley, Fermat Registration
2. Euclid: The University of Waterloo also offers this contest for grade 12 students. The formats are short-answers and full solutions. Students who write the test are eligible for the Faculty of Mathematics Entrance scholarships and distinction awards. The content is mostly based on the BC curriculum; however, unexpected topics do occasionally show up. Registration for the test is currently open to schools and individual students. Here is the link to the registration: Euclid Registration
3. Canadian Team Mathematics Contest: This team-based math contest is open to teams of 6 high school students. The contest includes both individual and team problems. The recommended grade range is from grade 9–11. The contest is in November, and groups may participate from their school. There are prizes for top teams and individuals. Registration is currently open for teams. Here is the link to the registration: Canadian Team Mathematics Contest Registration
4. Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge (COMC)- A national Canadian mathematics competition open to all high school students. The top 80 students will be invited to write the Canadian Mathematical Olympiad (CMO), Math Team Canada, and other national and international math camps and competitions. According to grade level and performance, participants are eligible for many university scholarships, awards, and invitations. The test will take place on Thursday, October 29th; registration is here: Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge Registration
5. Caribou Math Contests: This is a worldwide online math contest held six times in a school year. Due to COVID-19 restrictions this year, students may write the test online from school or at home. This contest was created to challenge grade 3–12 students’ math skills through puzzles and problem-solving questions. Cash prizes and certificates are offered to top-performing students. Here is the link to register: Caribou Math Contest Registration