Students who are interested in pursuing a STEM field in college should showcase a rigorous and competitive profile by the end of high school. Math competitions can be one of the ways to show your passion in a STEM subject.
Math competitions can help spark interest in mathematics and inspire students to learn more about the subject. They provide an opportunity for students to showcase their skills and talents in a competitive environment. Competitions usually feature complex and challenging problems. Participating in these competitions can help you develop and improve your creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
Math competitions not only help build your confidence, they also help improve your collaborative skills. When the students participate in a team competition they get an opportunity to solve complex problems by communicating effectively.
Many competitions can also help you gain admission to top colleges and universities or lead to scholarships and awards.
Here is a list of some international math competitions that can help you thrive and pursue your passion in math:
The American Math Competition (AMC) is an initial exam in high school mathematics for the United States. The competition identifies the best students in each country and serves as the first level of the International Mathematics Olympiad. Administered by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), this test is attempted by numerous students globally and assesses their critical thinking, problem-solving, and computational abilities. It also provides a pathway for students aspiring to pursue STEM courses in the future.
Archimedes Math Competition gives every high school student a chance to experience Mathematical Olympiads. The students are compared to other students within their region. The competition consists of 2 main contests and a training camp.
Cantor Dust Math Tournament is an international online mathematics team event. This unique competition has been designed in order to test your mathematical problem solving skills and find the best brains in the field of mathematics.
inteGirls as the name suggests, is a girls only math competition. The virtual math competition consists of individual and team math competition rounds and fun STEM related activities!
Math Kangaroo (also known as International Mathematical Kangaroo, or Kangourou sans frontières in French) is an international mathematical competition that was established in 1991 by André Deledicq, a professor of mathematics at the University of Paris 7, and Jean-Pierre Boudine, professor of mathematics at Marseille. Over 92 countries are represented in the competition. There are twelve levels of participation, ranging from grade 1 to grade 12. The questions focus on not just the pure knowledge of formulas but the logical and creative thinking of participants.
Online International Math Challenge aims to encourage students to study and excel in math and critical thinking skills. It is one of the leading mathematics based competitions for various grades of school age in the world. And promotes international-mindedness and global perspectives among students.
The Canadian Senior and Intermediate Mathematics Contests (CSMC and CIMC) are two contests conducted by The University of Waterloo. The contests are designed to give students the opportunity to have fun and develop their mathematical problem-solving ability.
The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is the World Championship Mathematics Competition for High School students and is held annually in a different country. The first IMO was held in 1959 in Romania, with 7 countries participating. It has gradually expanded to over 100 countries from 5 continents. The IMO Board ensures that the competition takes place each year and that each host country observes the regulations and traditions of the IMO.
Math competitions provide a platform for students to showcase their mathematical skills, develop problem-solving abilities, build confidence, foster teamwork, and open doors to further opportunities.
