Preparing for MATHCOUNTS: A Comprehensive Guide

What is MATHCOUNTS?
MATHCOUNTS is a middle school math competition organized by the MATHCOUNTS Foundation. The competition consists of four levels:

• School
• Chapter
• State
• National

MATHCOUNTS also includes a fun math video challenge.

When is MATHCOUNTS?
The competition dates for 2024-2025 are:

• School Competitions: November 2024 – January 2025, as determined by the school’s coach. A copy of the 2024 School Competition will be released online Nov. 6, 2024.
• Chapter Competitions: February 1-29, 2025. To find the specific competition date for your area and your chapter coordinator's contact information, use the Chapter and State Competition Search tool.
• State Competitions: March 1 – March 31, 2025. To find the specific competition date for your state and your state coordinator's contact information, use the Chapter and State Competition Search tool.
• 2025 RTX MATHCOUNTS National Competition: May 11-12 in Washington, DC.

MATHCOUNTS Critical Dates

Who Can Take MATHCOUNTS?
This competition is only for middle school students (unlike AMC 8, where elementary school students can also participate). There are 500 chapters across the United States, and each middle school is assigned to a specific chapter.

Your school needs to register for this contest; you cannot register individually unless you are home-schooled. If your school doesn’t currently participate in MATHCOUNTS, you can request your math teachers or administrators to register for this prestigious competition.

Each school can register a maximum of 1 team of 4 students and 8 individuals (12 students total) to the Chapter competition. Most schools use the School level test to determine their top 12 students. Some schools use a series of tests throughout the year for that selection.

Competition Rounds
The MATHCOUNTS Competition Series comprises four distinct rounds, each designed to assess various mathematical skills.

• Sprint Round: This is an individual event featuring 30 short-answer questions to be completed in 40 minutes. Calculators are not permitted in this round. The objective is to evaluate speed and accuracy in solving problems.
• Target Round: This is an individual event, consisting of four sets of two questions each, totaling eight questions. Each set must be completed in 6 minutes. Calculators are allowed in this round. The aim is to assess problem-solving abilities and mathematical reasoning.
• Team Round: In this round, a team of four students works together to solve 10 questions within 20 minutes. Calculators are permitted in this round as well. This round evaluates teamwork and collaborative problem-solving skills.
• Countdown Round: The Countdown Round is an oral event where students compete head-to-head using a buzzer system. Each problem must be solved within 45 seconds without the use of a calculator. This round tests speed and accuracy under pressure. While the Countdown Round is an unofficial fun round at the Chapter and State competitions, it is used to determine the MATHCOUNTS winner at the National competition. To get a better idea, check out the YouTube videos of past-year National MATHCOUNTS Countdown rounds.

CLICK HERE to view past-year samples of school, chapter, and state level MATHCOUNTS competitions.

How to Score High on MATHCOUNTS
To excel in the MATHCOUNTS competition, focus on the following key areas:

• Understanding All the Content: MATHCOUNTS challenges you with mathematical concepts beyond the school curriculum. There are many new mathematical ideas and techniques that you may not encounter in regular classes, so it’s essential to go beyond what’s taught in school.
• Practice Problems to Improve Problem-Solving Intuition: MATHCOUNTS, like other math contests, is designed to encourage creative thinking. Developing strong problem-solving intuition is critical and can only be honed through extensive practice.
• Increase Speed and Accuracy: The Sprint Round requires solving 30 short-answer problems in just 40 minutes, which can be difficult for many students. Improving your speed and accuracy is crucial to perform well on the exam.

What are the Best Resources to Prepare for MATHCOUNTS?

Resources For Learning Concepts

• MATHCOUNTS Handbooks: If you are taking MATHCOUNTS at the School/Chapter level or if you are new to competition math, start with the MATHCOUNTS Handbooks. They are comprehensive resources with many practice problems. These handbooks are available to your school after registration or can be purchased online. You may also find older versions online.
• MATHCOUNTS Minis: These short video tutorials provide detailed explanations of at least one MATHCOUNTS problem and its associated concepts. Each Mini also features an activity sheet with practice problems for the discussed concepts.
• Free AMC 8 Fundamentals Course: A free 10-class course that covers essential concepts for middle school math competitions, including foundational topics like Casework, Complementary Counting, PIE, and more.
• Free AMC 8 Advanced/MATHCOUNTS Course: This course delves into more advanced concepts like Similar Triangles, Stars and Bars, Recursion, etc.
• Free Mastering AMC 8 Book: This 400+ page hybrid book offers a comprehensive practice of essential concepts, including video lectures, formulas, and hundreds of practice problems with detailed video solutions.
• Competition Math for Middle School: A great resource for beginners, written by Jason Batterson.
• MATHCOUNTS Practice Plans: These plans are prepared by MATHCOUNTS to help students review important topics. Each plan includes a video lecture and practice problems.
• MATHCOUNTS Contest from the Last School Year: Practice with past School, Chapter, and State level contests to get familiar with the competition format (Note: MATHCOUNTS does not release the National contest on their website).

By using these resources, focusing on problem-solving practice, and refining your strategies, you can improve your chances of success in the MATHCOUNTS competition. Remember, consistent practice and a solid understanding of mathematical concepts are key to performing well. Good luck!