Elementary
Explore & build confidence
Develop number sense, visual reasoning, logical thinking, and the habit of explaining a solution.
- MOEMS
- Canada Jay Mathematical Competition
- School science investigations and presentations
Mathematics & Science Competitions
Find your challenge.
Build your next level.
From a first mathematical puzzle to an olympiad proof, a team model, or an original science project. Explore competitions by stage and format, then build a focused preparation plan.
01
Start with the student
A pathway for every school stage.
Use these as starting points for planning. The right contest depends on subject knowledge, problem-solving experience, interests, and the organizer's entry requirements.
Middle School
Connect & stretch
Build flexible strategies and learn to work independently, in teams, and with evidence.
- AMC 8, MATHCOUNTS, and Gauss
- MidMCM mathematical modeling
- Regional science fairs
High School
Specialize & deepen
Choose a direction: competition mathematics, modeling, physics, or original scientific research.
- CEMC, COMC, AMC, HMMT, and SMT
- HiMCM and PhysicsBowl
- CWSF and ISEF qualification pathways
02
First Competitions
Curiosity is a strong starting point.
Early competition preparation develops reasoning through manageable challenges, discussion, and careful review.
Elementary & Middle School
MOEMS
Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools offers a setting for developing mathematical problem solving.
Preparation focus
Official competition information Number relationships, counting, geometry, logical deduction, and clear explanations.
CMS · Early Competition Pathway
Canada Jay Mathematical Competition (CJMC)
A Canadian Mathematical Society competition introducing younger students to mathematical challenges. Formerly known as the Gray Jay competition.
Preparation focus
Official competition information Accessible non-routine problems, persistence, and comparing different solution methods.
03
Canadian Mathematics
Two organizers. Clearly defined contest families.
CEMC is the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing at the University of Waterloo. CMS is the Canadian Mathematical Society. Each runs its own competitions.
University of Waterloo
CEMC Mathematics Contests
A range of grade-oriented contests, written-solution challenges, and team mathematics.
CEMC contest directory| Contest family | Stage / orientation | Preparation focus |
|---|---|---|
| Gauss | Grades 7 & 8 | Flexible problem solving |
| Pascal · Cayley · Fermat | Grades 9 · 10 · 11 | Accuracy and increasingly challenging problems |
| Fryer · Galois · Hypatia | Grades 9 · 10 · 11 | Written reasoning and full solutions |
| CIMC · CSMC | Intermediate & senior | Short answers and full solutions |
| Euclid | Senior secondary | Multi-step reasoning and mathematical communication |
| CTMC | Secondary teams | Individual and collaborative problem solving |
Canadian Mathematical Society
CMS: COMC & Olympiad Pathways
COMC is a competition run by CMS. Olympiad participation follows the organizer's qualification and invitation process.
CMS competition directoryCOMC
Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge: an opportunity to tackle challenging secondary mathematics and demonstrate deeper reasoning.
COMC informationCMO & CJMO
Canadian Mathematical Olympiad and Junior Olympiad: invitation-based challenges for advanced competitors. COMC performance is a key route to consideration.
Olympiad pathway04
Individual & Team Mathematics
AMC pathways and university student-run tournaments.
Some events emphasize individual problem solving; others add team strategy and collaboration. Preparation should match the actual format.
Middle & High School
AMC 8 · AMC 10 · AMC 12
The Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions provide distinct entry points for developing competitors.
Preparation focus
Official competition information Algebra, geometry, number theory, counting, probability, and timed decision making.
Qualification-Based
AIME · USAJMO · USAMO
Advanced stages in the MAA competition pathway, subject to qualifying performance and eligibility.
Preparation focus
Official competition information Deeper problem solving for AIME; rigorous proof construction and solution writing for olympiads.
Middle School
MATHCOUNTS
A middle-school competition series combining individual mathematics with team participation.
Preparation focus
Official competition information Fluency, strategy, collaborative problem solving, and confident work under time pressure.
University Student-Run Tournament
HMMT
A mathematics tournament organized by students at Harvard, MIT, and nearby schools, bringing together strong competitors.
Preparation focus
Official competition information Challenging topic problems, team communication, strategic allocation of work, and review of official past rounds.
University Student-Run Tournament
Stanford Math Tournament (SMT)
A high-school mathematics tournament run by Stanford students. SMT Online offers a separate participation option; check the current event's location and entry rules.
Preparation focus
Official competition information Individual depth, collaborative rounds, clear reasoning, and coordinated team practice.
05
Mathematical Modeling
Turn an open-ended problem into a defensible model.
Modeling competitions combine mathematics, assumptions, evidence, computation, and written explanation. A successful report makes the reasoning visible.
High School · Team Modeling
HiMCM
COMAP's High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling asks teams to develop and communicate a mathematical response to a real-world problem.
Preparation focus
Official competition information Problem definition, assumptions, data analysis, model construction, validation, and a coherent team report.
Middle School · Team Modeling
MidMCM
COMAP's Middle Mathematical Contest in Modeling offers a modeling pathway for younger teams.
Preparation focus
Official competition information Translate a situation into variables, compare approaches, test assumptions, visualize results, and explain limitations.
Define the questionBuild the modelTest the resultWrite the report
Preparation uses practice projects and completed past problems. Students carry out their own competition work under the organizer's current rules.
06
Physics Competitions
From physical intuition to quantitative precision.
Physics competition preparation combines conceptual understanding, mathematical fluency, and careful interpretation of physical situations.
High School · AAPT
PhysicsBowl
An international high-school physics competition organized by the American Association of Physics Teachers. Division I and Division II distinguish levels of physics experience.
Preparation focus
Official competition information Broad physics concepts, efficient calculations, units, estimation, and timed multiple-choice practice.
Advanced Physics · Qualification Pathway
F = ma Exam & USAPhO
The F = ma exam and USA Physics Olympiad (USAPhO) are part of the AAPT U.S. Physics Team selection pathway. Entry and advancement depend on the current eligibility rules.
Preparation focus
Official competition information Mechanics, mathematical reasoning, multi-step analysis, and detailed written solutions at advanced stages.
07
Science Fairs & Research
Ask a question. Build evidence. Present your findings.
Science fairs center on an original investigation or engineering project. Students develop a question, document their methods, analyze results, and explain what they learned.
Local & Regional Entry
School & Regional Science Fairs
Start with a suitable local fair and understand its project categories, entry process, and review requirements. Regional fairs are the starting point for many larger events.
Preparation focus
Official competition information A manageable research question, experimental design, a project log, data analysis, and presentation practice.
Canada · Regional Selection
Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF)
Youth Science Canada's national fair brings together students in Grades 7–12 selected through regional STEM fairs.
Preparation focus
Official competition information Develop a well-documented project, connect conclusions to evidence, and prepare to discuss methods and limitations with judges.
International · Affiliated-Fair Selection
Regeneron ISEF
The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair is reached through qualifying Society for Science-affiliated fairs. It is a research and engineering project competition.
Preparation focus
Official competition information Independent research, reproducible methods, thoughtful analysis, clear visual communication, and confident project discussion.
Plan required project reviews and approvals before starting research. The research question, investigation, analysis, and final presentation remain the student's own work.
08
Preparation at Math House Academy
A focused plan, built around the chosen challenge.
Tell us the student's school stage, previous experience, target competition, and timeline. We can discuss the preparation format and subject support that fit.
Review the starting point
Look at subject knowledge, past work, reasoning habits, and the demands of the chosen event.
Build the core skills
Strengthen concepts and practise strategies suited to the competition format.
Practise the performance
Use timed sets, full written solutions, team simulations, or project presentations.
Review & refine
Identify recurring errors, improve explanations, and plan the next round of preparation.
Choosing the right competition
Should a student enter every available competition?
A small number of well-chosen events gives students time to develop the necessary skills. Choose a primary direction and add events that complement it.
Are the school-stage labels official eligibility rules?
The stage guide helps families explore options. Age limits, school grades, residency, team requirements, and qualification rules differ by event. Use the official links to confirm current eligibility and registration details.
How are modeling and science fairs different from a math contest?
Mathematics contests focus on solving given problems. Modeling develops and evaluates a mathematical response to an open-ended situation. Science fairs present evidence from an original investigation or engineering project.
Where do AP, IB, and admissions tests belong?
Use AP or IB for curriculum-specific mathematics and science. SSAT, ISEE, and SAT preparation is in Standardized Tests. General school mathematics and science are in Programs.
Competition names identify external events. Math House Academy provides independent preparation and is not affiliated with or endorsed by these organizers. Official links provide current rules, dates, and registration information.
Find Your Direction
Build a competition learning plan.
Start with the student's interests, experience, and goals.
Discuss Competition Preparation →