In the fast-paced world of math competitions, every detail can shift at a moment’s notice – dates, venues and even the names of events! Staying on top of upcoming events and when to sign up for them is absolutely crucial for aspiring students and their supportive parents alike.
Our Spark Math teachers have carefully put together a guide listing the major math contests scheduled or opening for registration from April to June 2024. Take a look to see if your child has enrolled in any of these competitions. And, keep an eye out for more blogs from us, where we’ll share useful info about competitions, preparation tips, and results analysis.
Overview of Math Competitions in Q2 2024
We’ve outlined 9 math competitions taking place in the second quarter of 2024, along with 2 contests open for registration. Take a look at the infographic below before diving into the specifics.
Competitions Taking Place in Q2
Caribou Contests, Fifth & Sixth Round – April
Introduction
Caribou Contests is a global online math competition initiated by Dr. Thomas Wolf and officially endorsed by the Canadian Mathematics Society. It draws students worldwide with its creative and interactive math problems.
Held six times per school year, from October to May, Caribous Contests engage 160,000 students in grades 1-12 from 29 countries annually. With global rankings based on performance, Caribou Contests serves as a practice and showcase platform for new math contest participants and math lovers, expanding their skills and interests beyond traditional classroom learning.
Exam Date
Annually from October to May, consisting of 6 rounds of exams per school year.
5th Round: April 3 & 4, 2024
6th Round: May 1 & 2, 2024
Suitable for
Grades 1-12
Exam Venue
Online
Euclid Mathematics Contest – April
Introduction
The Euclid Mathematics Contest, hosted by the University of Waterloo‘s Center for Education in Mathematics and Computing, is Canada’s most recognized high school math competition. Attracting over 20,000 international participants from 2,000 schools globally each year, it challenges senior secondary students to apply their comprehensive secondary school math knowledge and creativity to solve novel problems.
It emphasizes problem-solving skills over rote memorization, featuring a mix of short-answer and full-solution questions, with some of the most challenging in all math contests at the end. Achievements in the Euclid Contest, particularly for those ranking in the top 25%, are highly valued by universities in North America. They play a key role in assessing international students’ math proficiency, admissions, and scholarship allocations.
Exam Date
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 for North & South America
Thursday, April 4, 2024 for outside of North & South America
Suitable for
Grade 12
Exam Venue
Written at school
SASMO – April
Introduction
Established in 2006 by the Singapore International Math Contests Centre (SIMCC), the Singapore & Asian Schools Math Olympiad (SASMO) is one of Asia’s most influential math competitions. In 2023, SASMO attracted over 44,000 participants from 39 countries, including 107 schools from Singapore.
SASMO is renowned for its wide reach and the opportunities it offers young mathematicians. The top 40% SASMO winners are qualified for the Singapore International Math Olympiad Challenge (SIMOC). Exceptional performers at SIMOC may receive recommendation letters from prestigious institutions, which can greatly enhance their applications to top-tier schools and universities worldwide.
Exam Date
Between March 18 and April 14, 2024
Suitable for
Grades 1-12
Exam Venue
Participating Singapore schools or online (paper-based)
APMOPS, First & Invitation Round – April & May
Introduction
The Asia-Pacific Mathematical Olympiad for Primary Schools (APMOPS), organized by Hwa Chong Institution, is an influential annual event for primary school students across the Asia-Pacific region. It began in 1990 as the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad for Primary Schools (SMOPS) and expanded in 2002 to include participants from over 21 centers in countries like Australia, China, and Malaysia, becoming one of region’s leading math competitions.
APMOPS involves a two-round competition that challenges students’ problem-solving skills. Exceptional performers have the chance to gain admission to Hwa Chong Institution, one of Singapore’s premier schools, with scholarships covering tuition, boarding, and living stipends. The competition is known for its rigorous standards, requiring specialized training for success.
Exam Date
Round 1: April 18, 2024 for Singapore and Malaysian Schools
Invitation Round: May 25, 2024
Suitable for
Grades 5-6
Exam Venue
The online APMOPS First Round competition will be held at various centres across the Asia-Pacific region.
The competition for Singapore and Malaysian schools will be held at the premises of the schools with participating students.
RMO (RIPMWC), Round 2 – April
Introduction
The Raffles Mathematical Olympiad (RMO), originally known as the Raffles Institution Primary Mathematics World Contest (RIPMWC) since 1996, is a distinguished competition aims to foster a love for mathematics and enhance problem-solving skills among students of MOE Primary Schools.
Starting in 2024, the RMO offers two competitive categories: the Junior Category for Primary 4-5 students and the Open Category for Primary 6 students. Each category includes two rounds of competition. Advancing to the second round is highly competitive, with only the top 2% or top 40 students from the Junior Category and the top 3% or top 60 students from the Open Category being invited to proceed.
The RMO stands as Singapore’s toughest and most prestigious primary school math competition. Typically, only students who have previously earned gold or silver in contests such as the National Mathematical Olympiad of Singapore (NMOS) secure top positions.
Exam Date
Round 2: April 19, 2024
Suitable for
Grades 4-6
Exam Venue
Written and to be held at Raffles Institution
CAT – May
Introduction
The Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) competition, hosted by the Australian Maths Trust (AMT), aims to foster computational thinking and algorithmic understanding among students worldwide. It uses ‘three-stage tasks’ to encourage participants to develop and apply informal algorithms to progressively complex data, promoting abstract thought and problem-solving strategies without prior programming knowledge. This approach makes CAT accessible to all maths students, sparking interest and potential in computer programming beyond traditional coding competitions.
Renowned for its rigorous standards and interdisciplinary skill development, CAT is a key platform for enhancing logical reasoning and computational literacy. With the increasing prevalence of technology and artificial intelligence, the demand for skilled problem-solvers in STEM fields is rising. CAT provides foundational training for future programmers and data scientists, while offering practical experience in computational and algorithmic thinking to learners across disciplines. Schools, teachers, and parents highly value this competition as a means to expand horizons, sharpen thinking, and bolster global competitiveness.
Exam Date
May 21-23, 2024
Suitable for
Grades 5-12
Exam Venue
- Online
- Printed
Gauss Mathematics Contests – May
Introduction
The Gauss Mathematics Contests are for students in Grades 7 and 8, and those in lower grades with a passion for math, aiming to broaden their math exposure. These contests challenge participants with a variety of math problems covering algebra, geometry, probability, and number theory. Characterized by their creativity and moderate difficulty, the problem sets requires a strong math foundation and flexible applicaton of knowledge.
Hosted by the University of Waterloo, home to Canada’s only faculty of mathematics and one of the largest in the world, the Gauss contests are highly esteemed in Canada. This multiple-choice format contest also carry weight in the university admissions processes in Canada and the United States, akin to a “math TOEFL” for Canadian students.
Exam Date
May 15, 2024 for North & South America
May 16, 2024 for outside North & South America
Suitable for
Grades 7-8
Exam Venue
Written at school, participants write individually on paper or online
ARML – May
Introduction
The American Regions Mathematics League (ARML), originally established in 1976, has grown into one of the longest-standing and most influential team-based international math competitions in the United States. Attracting nearly ten thousand participants from around the world each year, ARML is a testament to the global unity in the pursuit of mathematical excellence. Supported by numerous renowned tech companies and top educational institutions in the U.S., ARML engages thousands of students and teachers across every state annually.
Focused primarily on high school students, the ARML competition is structured into three main events: the Local contests organized by schools in various cities open to all math enthusiasts, the Power Contest for top-ranking teams from the Local rounds, and the International competition hosted by prestigious universities such as the University of Pennsylvania, Georgia State University, and the University of Iowa.
Ranked as one of the top seven math-related academic activities that significantly boost the chances of admission to American universities, ARML provides participants not only the platform to showcase their mathematical talents but also to demonstrate their ability to collaborate effectively in teams. Excelling in ARML competitions can offer a substantial advantage in U.S. college applications, highlighting a candidate’s mathematical prowess and teamwork skills.
Exam Date
May 31 – June 1, 2024
Suitable for
Grades 10-12
Exam Venue
ARML 2024 will be an in-person competition. It will take place at four locations:
- Penn State University
- The University of Iowa
- The University of Alabama at Huntsville
- Reno, Nevada
ZIML- April & May & June
Introduction
The Zoom International Math League (ZIML), initially launched as the Southern California Mathematical Olympiad in 2008, has emerged as a cornerstone for students worldwide to foster and showcase their mathematical enthusiasm. Sponsored by the renowned Areteem Institute and established by the non-profit Zoom Education Foundation & Resources, ZIML represents an enhanced version of the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) series, aiming to cultivate students’ skills for prestigious colleges and future careers. Notably, it now offers competitions monthly during the academic year, in addition to its traditional summer and fall sessions.
ZIML sets itself apart by offering a wide range of problems that encompass and extend beyond the AMC series, with difficulty levels paralleling those of AMC 8, 10, 12, AIME, and USAMO. Many of ZIML’s question designers also contribute to the AMC, ensuring a rich variety of problems that emphasize application, fundamentals, and concept mastery. This strategic approach enables participants to solidify their mathematical foundation, apply concepts flexibly to solve real-world problems, and enhance their ability to think critically across various academic endeavors.
Exam Date
The contest takes place the first weekend of each month of the school year (October through June).
2024 Q2 Exam Dates:
- April 5-7
- May 3-5
- June 7-9
Suitable for
Grades 4-12
Exam Venue
Online
Competitions Opening for Registration in Q2
NMOS – April
Introduction
The National Mathematical Olympiad of Singapore (NMOS), hosted by the NUS High School of Math and Science, is an esteemed annual national competition in Singapore designed to select members for the national team, highlighting its significance and the challenging nature of its questions. Targeted primarily at Primary 5 students, the competition has historically seen participation from younger prodigies as well, reflecting its appeal to a broad spectrum of mathematically gifted students. With around 5,000 participants each year, NMOS is a pivotal event for those looking to distinguish themselves in the field of mathematics at an early age.
Conducted in partnership with the Singapore Mathematical Society, NMOS is a key event for students aiming to secure a Direct School Admission (DSA) spot at NUS High School of Math and Science, emphasizing its role in fostering mathematical talents who can represent Singapore on an international level. The competition is known for its rigorous problems that test problem-solving skills and mathematical reasoning, making it a critical stepping stone for young mathematicians. Starting from 2024, the registration fee is set at SG$24 per participant, the competition is open exclusively to Primary 5 students, and the paper will consist of 35 questions, with no special round.
Open for Registration
The period of registration is from 25th March 2024 to 19th April 2024.
Suitable for
Grade 5
Exam Venue
School
ZIML – April & May & June
Introduction
See above
Open for Registration
Registration for the next monthly competition opens on the 20th of the preceding month.
Suitable for
Grades 4-12
Exam Venue
Online
Spark Math Competition Program by Spark Education
The Spark Math Competition Program is meticulously crafted to enhance children’s logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Our registration and training services for esteemed international math competitions are now available, showcasing our exceptional educators, innovative teaching strategies, and child-centric materials. Through our program, students develop a profound appreciation for mathematics, yielding significant enhancements in their competition performance.
Our regular programs are designed to thoroughly prepare children for math contests, complemnted by short-term intensive training courses tailored to specific competitions. Our students have achieved remarkable results in numerous contests, including the Caribou Contests and SASMO, among others.
If your child is passionate about mathematics and aspires to excel in competitions, sign up for our free trial class today! Explore how we can help them achieve success in math contests!
