The world of math competitions in the United States is vast and diverse, with various state-level competitions in addition to the top-tier contests like the IMO (International Mathematical Olympiad) and USAMO (United States of America Mathematical Olympiad). Some of these competitions are open to elementary school children. Here are some examples：

• Perennial Math
• Game-a-thon
• Math League
• Online Math League
• National Trimathlon
• Math Kangaroo
• Noetic Learning Math Contests
• Math Bee
• Math Madness
• Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS)

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What are the most popular math competitions?

Based on the number of participants each year and the level of interest from parents, Think Academy has compiled a list of the top six hottest competitions：

Math Kangaroo

Math Kangaroo is an annual international math competition. It originated in France and was first held in Paris by two mathematicians in 1991. As of now, there are 49 participating countries worldwide. In 2023, more than 30,000 children participated in the US, with over 14,200 in California alone. The problems in Math Kangaroo are very interesting and challenging, and the difficulty level is moderate. Therefore, it is also known as Pre-AMC. Here is an example question:

Think Academy is a test center for Math Kangaroo. Click here to learn more.

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MOEMS

Although the name MOEMS includes “Olympiad”, it actually has no connection with the Math Olympiad Contest. MOEMS stands for the Mathematical Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools and originated from a commercial organization of the same name. It was first held by American educationist George Lencher in 1977. The quality of MOEMS problems is good, and student participation is also high. We have selected a few example questions:

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AMC Competition Series

In terms of popularity in the US, the AMC system undoubtedly tops the list. The unique feature of the AMC system is that it goes through multiple levels of selection and can lead all the way to the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). Only AMC 8 and AMC 10 have 160,000 student participants annually in the US, with many elementary school students starting to prepare for AMC 8 from grade 4. Here is an example question:

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Math League (.com)

Math League has a Chinese name called the “American Alliance”. It was founded in 1977 by two high school teachers, Steven R. Conrad and Mr. Daniel Flegler. Math League problems are flexible and lively, and they are also very close to real life. Here is an example question:

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Math League (.org)

Math League(.org) is called the “Mathematical Association Cup Competition”. Unlike Math League.com, org is a competition originating from the Midwest in the US. Math League.org’s predecessor was the Great Plains Math League (GPML). Its test format includes a mixture of MATHCOUNTS and ARML. There will be Number Sense Round, Target Round, Sprint Round, and Team Round in the Test Format. State and Regional competitions will also have a Power Round. Here is an example question:

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Beestar Competition

The Beestar math competition is sometimes called the “strongest brain” competition for American elementary school students, and the question types are innovative and interesting. The competition is divided into two rounds: Dash and Spark, each lasting 48 hours. Children need to complete four sub-competitions in the designated 48 hours on their computer. The competition is held twice a year. There is no test center or proctor, and it is entirely up to the students, to be honest. The Beestar math competition is also often called mini-mathcounts. Here is an example question:

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Here is a summary of the similarities and differences between each competition by Think Academy:

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Are there any recommended competitions for children of different grades?

Recommended for grades 1-3: Math Kangaroo

Interest is the best teacher, and learning math in grades K-3 is all about cultivating interest and laying a strong foundation. Math Kangaroo tests logic and reasoning skills rather than just math knowledge. Each exam is divided into age groups, with grades 1-2 taking the same test. Math Kangaroo also gives every child a t-shirt and gift to stimulate their competitive spirit.

Friendly reminder: Math Kangaroo’s registration is extremely popular and spots fill up quickly after opening. It is recommended that interested parents register as soon as possible. Think still has some spots available, so you can check their website for registration.

Recommended for grades 3-5: Math League (.com)

Math League focuses on developing children’s mathematical thinking by presenting problems that are closely related to real-life situations. The goal of Math League is to help students understand, appreciate, and explore mathematics. The exam consists of 30 multiple-choice questions and lasts for 30 minutes. Time management is crucial for children taking this test, and it can help them develop their time management skills.

Recommended for grades 5-8: AMC 8

AMC is a popular competition because it is part of a systematic competition system that leads from AMC 10 and 12 all the way to the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) after multiple rounds of selection. In addition, a high score on the AMC exam can give students an advantage when applying to universities. Therefore, for children in grade 5 who are about to enter middle school, AMC is a recommended competition.

Recommended for those interested in Mathcounts:

Online: Beestar Math Competition

For children interested in participating in Mathcounts during middle school, parents can consider having their children practice on Beestar first. Its question types are very similar to those in Mathcounts, so it is often called a sister competition.

Offline: Math League.org

Math League.org’s exam format is a mix of MATHCOUNTS and ARML. For parents who want their children to experience offline competition with their peers and get a head start on Mathcounts, Math League.org’s competition is recommended.

Developing Mathematical Thinking: MOEMS

MOEMS only accepts team registration and awards both team and individual prizes. The number of questions is relatively small, and speed is not emphasized, but it can help develop mathematical thinking. It has a high level of inclusivity and coverage. The difficulty is lower than the last few questions on AMC 8, and upper primary school students can try to solve questions from the junior high school level (DIVISION M) to prepare for high school competitions.

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Think Academy offers comprehensive math competition prep courses, resources, mock exams, and webinars to prepare students for Math Kangaroo, AMC 8, AMC 10, and more. For more information, feel free to contact us here: info@thethinkacademy.com