A thorough and detailed article to satisfy all of your needs regarding MATHCOUNTS information and resources 

With the 2021 MATHCOUNTS National Competition coming up on May 8th, the interest around the event is at its peak! Every year countless students from across the United States partake in the MATHCOUNTS competition with the goal of improving their skills, finishing high, and having fun. However, there are still a lot of parents and students who are unfamiliar with what the MATHCOUNTS competition is. If you are in this group, have no fear! In this article, we will provide you with an abundance of MATHCOUNTS information and resources to ensure that you are equipped with everything you need to know about the competition. 

Before we get started, if you would like to receive the most up-to-date and hard-hitting information about Bay Area schools (both public and private). Feel free to join this Facebook group below! 

Bay Area Schools & Parents Discussion 

What is MATHCOUNTS? 

MATHCOUNTS is a nationwide math competition for middle school students of all ability levels. The competition was first founded in 1983. As we all know, middle school is a crucial period in a student’s academy journey. It is a time where parents and teachers should encourage their students to enjoy math and not feel intimidated by the subject. Because of this, the MATHCOUNTS competition aims to help students both strengthen their problem solving skills and discover how math is beautiful. 

MATHCOUNTS Accolades

To start, MATHCOUNTS is one of the nation’s most effective STEM learning programs. Furthermore, the competition earned a spot on the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) national lists of approved contests, programs, and activities for students in 2019-2020.

At the 2013 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition, 325 MATHCOUNTS students, coaches, and volunteers set a Guinness World Record for the fastest time to create a human formation of the first 25 rows of Pascal’s Triangle. In addition, the MATHCOUNTS Foundation has been recognized in White House ceremonies by Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Ronald W. Reagan. It has also received two White House citations as an outstanding private sector initiative.

During the 2011 BoardSource Leadership Forum, the MATHCOUNTS Foundation was awarded Honorable Mention in the Prudential Leadership Awards for Outstanding Nonprofit Boards. On top of that, it was rated a four-star charity as the Foundation “exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its Cause.” The MATHCOUNTS Foundation also holds the Platinum GuideStar Nonprofit Profile Seal of Transparency which is the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar. 

MATHCOUNTS Levels and Rounds 

Levels

The competition consists of four different levels which include school, chapter, state, and national. The exact number of participants who advance to the later rounds varies by region. In addition, the level of difficulty increases as competitors move on to the later rounds. During the 2020-2021 season, there were also four levels of official competition which included chapter, chapter invitational, state and national, and four unofficial online practice competitions.

Rounds 

• Sprint Round: (speed and accuracy) 40 minutes to complete 30 math problems without a calculator.
• Target Round: (problem-solving and mathematical reasoning) Four pairs of problems in total and six minutes to complete each pair, assuming the use of calculators.
• Team Round: (problem-solving and collaboration) 20 minutes to complete 10 math problems, assuming the use of calculators. Only four students on a school’s team can take this round officially. The online practice competitions will have team rounds.
• Countdown Round: (speed and accuracy) 45 seconds per problem without a calculator. This round is optional at the school, chapter, and state level.

An Overview of a Typical MATHCOUNTS Season Timeline 

Schools register in the fall and work with students during the year. Students have the opportunity to take four online practice competitions beginning in October. There are between 1 and 15 individuals from each school who participate in the Chapter Competition. The top scoring students from each school and the top 20% of individuals from each chapter advance to the Chapter Invitational Competition. 

After the Chapter Invitational Competition, the top five students from each chapter and the 10 next highest scoring students in the state (based on their scores on the Sprint and Target Rounds) advance to the State Compe­tition. 

The top individuals (up to four) from each state will participate in the Raytheon Technologies MATHCOUNTS National Competition. This year, the National Competition will take place online from May 8th to May 10th. 

MATHCOUNTS Registration 

Unfortunately, registration is now closed for the 2020-2021 MATHCOUNTS season. However, you can check back in the summer time to register for the 2022 season!

School Registration: 

Eligible students must be in grades 6-8.

June 15 – October 30: Early Bird Registration ($30 per student*)

October 31 – December 1: Regular Registration ($35 per student*)

December 2 – January 15: Late Registration ($40 per student*)

Non-School Competitor Registration:

Students in grades 6, 7, or 8 may compete as a NSC.

August 7 – October 30: Early Bird Registration ($60 for one student)

October 31 – December 1: Regular Registration ($65 for one student)

December 2 – January 15: Late Registration ($70 for one student)

Local Competition Information

Information of Coordinator

https://www.mathcounts.org/findmycoordinator

Critical 2020-2021 Dates

• Jun. 16 – Jan. 15 Submit school registration
• Oct. 1 Early birds registration deadline
• Oct. 15 Practice competition 1 released
• Nov. 15 Practice competition 2 released
• Dec. 1 Regular registration deadline
• Dec. 15 Practice competition 3 released
• Jan. 15 Final day to register, pay, and add students 
• Jan. 22-23 Practice competition 4 
• Feb. 5-6 2021 Chapter competition 
• Feb. 25 2021 Chapter invitational
• Mar. 25 2021 State competition
• May. 8-11 2021 Raytheon Technologies MATHCOUNTS National Competition

Detailed schedule:

https://www.mathcounts.org/sites/default/files/Critical%20Dates%20for%20Website%20KC.pdf

Information of 2021 Registered Competition Schools

https://www.mathcounts.org/2021-registered-school

Information of 2021 Registered Non-school Clubs

https://www.mathcounts.org/programs/math-club/registered-non-school-clubs-list

Google Trends Corresponding Areas

Official Rules + Procedures

https://www.mathcounts.org/official-rules-procedures

General Program Questions

https://www.mathcounts.org/competition-rules-faq

2020-2021 MATHCOUNTS School Handbook

Detailed information:

https://www.mathcounts.org/get-mathcounts-school-handbook

Past Competitions: School, chapter, state (2019-2020)

Detailed information:

https://www.mathcounts.org/programs/competition-series/past-competitions

Practice Plans

Each plan is intended to cover 45 minutes to 1 hour of practice time. The plans are divided into four sections which include warm-up, problems, piece it together, and optional extension.

Detailed information:

https://www.mathcounts.org/mathcounts-practice-plans

Want more MATHCOUNTS information and resources? Check out this article on how to improve at the MATHCOUNTS competition!