Are you ready for an exciting math challenge this summer? The 2024 Math League International Summer Challenge is now open for registration! If your child is eager to test their math skills, compete with math enthusiasts from around the world, or aims to apply to prestigious universities in the USA, this summer’s problem-solving contest is a must-attend event! Here’s everything you need to know about this exciting event and how Spark Education can help your child succeed.
About Math League Contests
Math League is a prominent math competition for elementary and middle school students in the United States and around the world. Established in 1977 by two high school mathematics teachers, Steven R. Conrad and Daniel Flegler, it has maintained a 46-year tradition, drawing participation from numerous outstanding schools every year, including the top three high schools and 70% of the top 100 high schools in the United States. The competition is designed to challenge students and enhance their problem-solving skills, making it an excellent addition to any academic portfolio, especially for those aiming to apply to prestigious high schools and universities in the USA, Canada, or other countries.
Please note that the Math League (mathleague.com) mentioned here is different from another Math League competition (mathleague.org). Stay tuned for our future blogs, where we will explain the differences between these two competitions.
Competition Structure and Formats
The Math League annual calendar includes several competitions: the First Round contest, the Second Round contest, the Annual International Summer Tournament (Math Camp), and the International Summer Challenge. These are divided into two formats:
| Math League | Exam Dates | Exam Format |
| Summer Cup | International Summer Challenge: Every August | Online exam (2 rounds: Individual & Speed) |
| Winter Cup | First Round: Every November | Online exam |
| Second Round: January-February of the following year | Open-book exam with online submission; some participants may be randomly selected for phone verification | |
| Annual International Summer Tournament (Final & Math Camp): Held during the summer of the following year | In-person exam held in the US |
Math League offers two ways to participate: individually or through a school, with different processes for each. The above-mentioned First Round and Second Round mainly cover the individual participation details. If you’re interested in school-based participation, please refer to our other article.
International Summer Challenge Details
The Math League International Summer Challenge is a highlight of the Math League calendar, attracting students from the US, Canada, Australia, and various Asian countries. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the event:
Who Can Participate?
Students from grades 1 to 12 from the USA, Canada, Australia, and various Asian countries are welcome to participate. Each student can only participate once per grade level. Students can choose to compete at a higher grade level but cannot participate twice in the same grade. The grade level for registration should be based on the student’s current grade in the spring of 2024, not the grade they will advance to in September 2024.
Important Dates
- Registration Deadline: July 28, 2024 (Beijing Time)
- Exam Schedule:
- Grade 5: August 18, 2024, 9:00 – 11:15 AM (with a 30-minute break from 9:45 – 10:15)
- Grades 3-4: August 18, 2024, 1:00 – 3:15 PM (with a 30-minute break from 1:45 – 2:15)
- Grades 1-2: August 18, 2024, 4:00 – 4:45 PM
- Grades 6-12: August 18, 2024, 4:00 – 6:15 PM (with a 30-minute break from 4:45 – 5:15)
Exam Format
- Language: English
- Type: Online written test
- Equipment: To ensure fairness, students need a laptop or tablet with a camera and a smartphone with a camera and microphone for video monitoring during the exam. Communication tools like WeChat are prohibited.
Duration and Number of Questions
- Grades 1-2: 45 minutes to answer approximately 50 multiple-choice questions.
- Grades 3-12: Divided into Individual Round and Speed Round.
- Individual Round: 1 hour to answer 8-12 challenging questions.
- Speed Round: 45 minutes to answer 60 easier multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions, focusing on speed and accuracy.
Please refer to the provided chart for detailed exam schedules and formats for each grade.
| Grade Level | Date and Time | Challenge | Question Type | |
| Grade 1 | August 18, 2024 (Sunday) 4:00 – 4:45 PM | Solve approximately 50 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes | Multiple-choice | |
| Grade 2 | August 18, 2024 (Sunday) 4:00 – 4:45 PM | Solve approximately 50 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes | Multiple-choice | |
| Grade 3 | August 18, 2024 (Sunday) 1:00 – 3:15 PM (includes 30-minute break) | Speed Round (Solve 60 questions in 45 minutes) | Individual Round (Solve 8-12 questions in 1 hour) | Multiple-choice and Fill-in-the-blank |
| Grade 4 | August 18, 2024 (Sunday) 1:00 – 3:15 PM (includes 30-minute break) | Speed Round (Solve 60 questions in 45 minutes) | Individual Round (Solve 8-12 questions in 1 hour) | Multiple-choice and Fill-in-the-blank |
| Grade 5 | August 18, 2024 (Sunday) 9:00 – 11:15 AM (includes 30-minute break) | Speed Round (Solve 60 questions in 45 minutes) | Individual Round (Solve 8-12 questions in 1 hour) | Multiple-choice and Fill-in-the-blank |
| Grade 6 | August 18, 2024 (Sunday) 4:00 – 6:15 PM (includes 30-minute break) | Speed Round (Solve 60 questions in 45 minutes) | Individual Round (Solve 8-12 questions in 1 hour) | Multiple-choice and Fill-in-the-blank |
| Grade 7 | August 18, 2024 (Sunday) 4:00 – 6:15 PM (includes 30-minute break) | Speed Round (Solve 60 questions in 45 minutes) | Individual Round (Solve 8-12 questions in 1 hour) | Multiple-choice and Fill-in-the-blank |
| Grades 8-9 | August 18, 2024 (Sunday) 4:00 – 6:15 PM (includes 30-minute break) | Speed Round (Solve 60 questions in 45 minutes) | Individual Round (Solve 8-12 questions in 1 hour) | Multiple-choice and Fill-in-the-blank |
| Grades 10-12 | August 18, 2024 (Sunday) 4:00 – 6:15 PM (includes 30-minute break) | Speed Round (Solve 60 questions in 45 minutes) | Individual Round (Solve 8-12 questions in 1 hour) | Multiple-choice and Fill-in-the-blank |
Awards
The 2024 Math League International Summer Challenge offers the following awards for each grade:
- Gold Medal: Top 5%
- Silver Medal: Top 15%
- Bronze Medal: Top 30%
- Proficiency Award: Top 50%
- Certificate of Participation: For all other participants
Individual Round and Speed Round are awarded separately (for grades 3-12). Students in grades 8-9 are awarded together, students in grades 10-12 are awarded together, and other grades are awarded separately by grade level. The list of awardees will be published on the Math League website.
Register for the International Summer Challenge at Spark Education
Why Choose Spark Education?
Registering on the Math League website costs $66 and is only available for grades 3-12. However, by registering through Spark Education, students from grades 1-2 can also participate, and the registration fee is 200 RMB. For grades 3-12, the fee remains the same as the official website, but with additional services and benefits:
- Study Materials: Access to preparation materials upon completion of equipment testing on the official website.
- Live Lectures: Expert-led sessions on exam planning and predictions.
- Online Testing: Pre-exam online tests to familiarize with the exam interface.
- Full Exam Support: Dedicated support from tutors throughout the preparation and examination process.
- Post-Exam Analysis: Expert feedback, analysis of student performance, and additional practice materials.
Additional Learning Resources After Registration via Spark Education
- Past Exam Papers and Video Solutions:
- Grades 1-2: Two practice sets per grade, each with approximately 50 questions.
- Grades 3-12: Past exam papers from 2017-2023, with detailed solutions (text and video) by Math League professors.
- Other Resources:
- Counting: Videos on multiplication rule and inclusion-exclusion principle by Math League professors.
- Math Vocabulary: Explanations of commonly misunderstood English math terms, in text and video formats by Math League professors.
Please note that while the International Summer Challenge is in English, registration through Spark Education requires some Chinese language proficiency for accessing pre-exam materials and certain websites.
Don’t miss this opportunity to let your child compete in a globally recognized math competition. Register now and give your child the chance to excel! Stay tuned for our upcoming blog posts, where we will introduce Spark Math’s short-term courses designed to help your child excel in the Math League International Summer Challenge!
