MATHCOUNTS

MathCounts is a large national mathematics competition and mathematics coaching program that has served millions of middle school students since 1984. Sponsored by the CNA Foundation, National Society of Professional Engineers, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and others, the focus of MathCounts is on mathematical problem solving. Students are eligible for up to three years, but cannot compete beyond their eighth grade year.

MathCounts Curriculum

MathCounts curriculum includes arithmetic, algebra, counting, geometry, number theory, probability, and statistics. The focus of MathCounts curriculum is in developing mathematical problem solving skills.

Before 1990, MathCounts chose particular areas of mathematics to highlight each year before changing the focus of the competition more broadly to problem solving.

MathCounts Competition Structure

Sprint Round

30 problems in 40 minutes. This round is generally made up questions ranging from (relatively) extremely easy to extremely difficult. Some of the difficult problems are only difficult because calculators are not allowed in this round. Like all of the other rounds, it gets progressively harder from the School-level competition to the National-level competition.

Target Round

8 problems given 2 at a time. Each set of two problems is given six minutes, students may not go back to previous rounds even if they finish before time is called. Unlike the Sprint and Countdown rounds, use of calculators is permitted, but like all of the other rounds, it gets progressively harder from the School-level competition to the National-level competition.

Team Round

10 problems in 20 minutes for a team of 4 students. These problems typically include some of the most difficult problems of the competition. Use of a calculator is allowed (and required for some questions). Like all of the other rounds, it gets progressively harder from the School-level competition to the National-level competition.

Countdown Round

High scoring individuals compete head-to-head until a champion is crowned.

Masters Round

Top students give in-depth explanations to highly challenging problems.

Scoring and Ranking

An individual's score is their total number of correct sprint round answers plus 2 times their total number of correct target round answers. This total is out of a maximum of 30 + 2(8) = 46 points.

A teams score is the average of the individual scores of its four members plus 2 points for every correct team round answer.

MathCounts Competition Levels

School Competition

Students vie for the chance to make their school teams. Problems at this level require the least depth of curriculum.

Chapter Competition

Chapter competitions serve as a selection filter for state competitions. A few states don't need to host chapter competitions due to population size.

State Competition

The top 4 students in each state form the state team for the national competition. The coach of the top school team at the state level is invited to coach the state team at the national competition.

National Competition

Nation Competition Sites

For many years, the National MathCounts competition was held in Washington, D.C. More recently, the competition has changed venues often.

The 2007 competition will be held in Fort Worth, Texas.
The 2006 competition was held in Arlington, Virginia.
The 2005 competition was held in Detroit, Michigan.
The 2004 competition was held in Washington, D.C.
The 2002 and 2003 competitions were held in Chicago, Illinois.

MathCounts Resources

What comes after MathCounts?

Give the following competitions a try and take a look at the List of United States high school mathematics competitions.

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