If you are in middle school and want to try math in ways you do not usually see in class, a math competition is a practical place to start. These contests usually give you problems that ask you to think in steps, spot patterns, or solve puzzles that are not in your regular homework. Along the way, you will practice applying what you know, figuring out different approaches, and checking your work carefully.

Many of the competitions on this list also involve working under time limits and sometimes sharing your solutions with others. These are useful skills that can help in school projects, science experiments, or any activity that requires planning and thinking through problems.

Math competitions also give you a chance to explore new problem types, strengthen your foundation, and see how other students approach the same challenges. If you like logic, problem-solving, or seeing patterns in numbers, participating can make math more interactive and practical.

To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 10 fall math competitions for middle school students!

10 Fall Math Competitions for Middle School Students

1. Perennial Math Onsite Tournament

Location: Memphis University School, Memphis, TN

Cost/Stipend: $15 per student

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; teams of up to 5 students; schools may send unlimited teams

Dates: November 15

Registration Deadline: November 8

Eligibility: Grades 3–8 

The Perennial Math Tournament at Memphis University School is a fun, in-person competition for students who love solving problems and working together as a team. You’ll get to show off your math skills in both an individual round and a team round, tackling multi-step and word problems alongside other motivated students from across the region. The individual round has 15 questions you’ll solve in 30 minutes, followed by a 20-minute team round with 10 questions. Teams can have up to five members, and schools are welcome to send as many teams as they’d like. Top scorers in each grade earn medals and qualify for the National Championships in May, while everyone receives a participation certificate. The day also includes fun mini-games and a lively awards ceremony.

2. Mathleague.org Middle School Contests

Location: Nationwide and international (in-person, online, or on-demand)

Cost/Stipend: Up to $30 per student per qualifying round

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment

Dates: Qualifying rounds held October–March; National Championship in April

Registration Deadline: Varies by contest (typically one week before each event)

Eligibility: Grades 6–8 

The Mathleague.org Middle School Program is a yearlong math competition series that challenges you with creative, multi-step problems while building the skills needed for future contests like MATHCOUNTS. You can compete in three formats: in-person at local schools, online through proctored Zoom sessions, or on-demand within a flexible testing window. Each qualifying round includes multiple rounds of written problems testing logic, reasoning, and speed. Top performers from local contests advance to their State Championship, and state winners are invited to the National Middle School Championship each spring. Awards include trophies, certificates, and recognition for top individual and team scores. Schools may host local contests, and no payment is required to hold a Mathleague.org membership. 

3. International Math Championship

Location: Online

Cost: Free

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Dates: November 1–November 8

Registration Deadline: Open throughout the contest window

Eligibility: Middle School Championship (ages 14 and under)

The International Math Championship, hosted by Competify Hub, is a global online math contest that brings together students from over 60 countries to test their problem-solving skills. You’ll face three sets of eight problems, with ten minutes to complete each set, earning one point per correct answer for a total of 24 possible points. You can even choose to compete at higher levels if you’re up for an extra challenge. Top performers earn digital certificates, recognition on Competify Hub’s website and social media, and a spot on the honor or achievement rolls. Results are shared about a month after the contest, so you can see how your performance stacks up against peers around the world. 

4. American Scholastic Mathematics Association

Location: Administered at participating schools; materials mailed internationally

Cost: $100 USD for Junior/Intermediate Division and $100 USD for Senior Division

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Dates: November 13–April 9

Registration Deadline: October 15

Eligibility: Junior/Intermediate Division is for Grades 7-9, Senior Division is for Grades 9-12

The ASMA Annual Mathematics Contest is a long-running school-based competition that gives you the chance to test your math skills against students from across the country and around the world. Each school gets six sets of problems, one each month, with seven challenging questions per set. Your teacher or adviser will administer the tests on scheduled Thursdays (or another approved date) and submit the top eight scores for official results. After the final round, awards are mailed out to both schools and top-performing students. The contest is designed by experienced educators to be challenging but fair, and many schools even use the problems for extra practice or enrichment. Winners receive certificates, and top scores are featured in national rankings.

5. Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS)

Location: Worldwide 

Cost/Stipend: $175–$340 per team (up to 35 students)

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Teams of up to 35 students

Dates: November – March (five monthly contests)

Registration Deadline: Early Bird deadline July 31, Standard enrollment through October 15, Late enrollment through October 31

Eligibility: Grades 4–8 

The Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS) is one of the world’s largest problem-solving competitions for younger students, with more than 120,000 participants from 50 states and 39 countries each year. If you enjoy puzzles and want to challenge yourself with problems that go beyond standard classroom math, this program is a great fit. Teams of up to 35 students compete in five monthly contests held between November and March. Each contest consists of creative and non-routine problems designed to build flexible thinking, strengthen mathematical reasoning, and encourage multiple solution strategies. Schools can choose to administer contests online or on paper, making participation widely accessible. 

6. Noetic Learning Math Contest (NLMC)

Location: Nationwide (administered online or through schools)

Cost/Stipend: $99 per team (up to 30 students, includes 3 practice tests, awards, and shipping)

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; teams of up to 30 students

Dates Fall: November 13 – November 26

Registration Deadline: June 1 – November 6 (registration closes one week before contest starts; based on standard practice window)

Eligibility: Grades 2–8 (grade-specific problem sets provided)

The Noetic Learning Math Contest (NLMC) is a national competition for elementary and middle school students who enjoy solving challenging math problems. You compete in a fun, structured setting with grade-level questions that build your problem-solving and creative thinking skills. Each team can have up to 30 students, and everyone gets practice problems and recognition for participating. Top scorers earn Team Winner Medals, while the top 10% of students nationwide receive National Honor Roll Medals. Students in the top 50% get Honorable Mention Ribbons, and the top 10% of teams receive Team Achievement Plaques. 

7. Hardest Math Problem Contest

Location: Nationwide (open to public, private, charter, and homeschool students in the U.S.)

Cost/Stipend: Free registration; winners can earn a laptop, $3,000 toward a 529 college savings plan, and teacher gift cards

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; qualifiers advance to Challenge 2 by invitation

Dates: Challenge 1 (Fall, open through December 7); Challenge 2 (Winter, by invitation)

Registration Deadline: September – December (registration for Challenge 1)

Eligibility: Grades 6–8 (5th graders may participate by attempting higher-level problems)

The Hardest Math Problem Contest is your chance to take on some seriously challenging, real-world math problems. Hosted by the Actuarial Foundation, the Institute of Competition Sciences, and the New York Life Foundation, this competition pushes you to think creatively and logically as you solve multi-step word problems inspired by real scenarios. It’s held in two rounds: Challenge 1 in the fall, which is open to everyone, and Challenge 2 in the winter for students who qualify. Top winners can earn awesome prizes like laptops and even a $3,000 contribution to a 529 college savings plan.

8. American Mathematics Competitions (AMC)

Location: Nationwide 

Cost/Stipend: Registration fees vary by school or test site 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; more than 300,000 students participate annually

Dates: Multiple competitions from November 5 to January 28

Registration Deadline: August – October (varies by competition cycle)

Eligibility: AMC 8: Grades 8 and below, under age 15.5 on competition day

The American Mathematics Competitions (AMC), organized by the Mathematical Association of America, is one of the most prestigious math competitions for middle and high school students in the U.S. and abroad. If you’re interested in pushing your problem-solving skills and potentially qualifying for advanced contests like the USA Mathematical Olympiad, the AMC is the place to start. You can choose between three levels: the AMC 8 for middle schoolers, the AMC 10 for underclassmen, and the AMC 12 for advanced high schoolers. Each exam challenges you with 25 multiple-choice problems designed to spark creativity and strengthen mathematical reasoning. Top scorers on the AMC 10 and 12 may qualify for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) and eventually the USA(J)MO, the pathway to the International Mathematical Olympiad. 

9. USA Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS)

Location: Nationwide online participation

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; highly selective recognition for top scorers

Dates: Round 1 open now through October 7; future rounds run through March 

Registration Deadline: Varies by round (typically September – March)

Eligibility: U.S. middle and high school students who have not yet graduated

The USA Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS) is a national math competition focused on deep thinking and proof writing. You get a full month to solve each round, which includes five problems: one puzzle and four that require detailed written proofs. You’re allowed to use books, calculators, and computers. What makes USAMTS unique is the personalized feedback you receive from mathematicians, educators, and former contestants. It’s designed for students who enjoy exploring complex problems at their own pace. Top scorers may qualify for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) and could eventually represent the U.S. at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). 

10. MATHCOUNTS Competition Series

Location: School-based nationwide (Chapter, State, and National levels)

Cost/Stipend: $40 per student (Early Bird through November 5); $45 regular rate; $50 late registration

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; schools may register up to 14 students (4 team members + 10 individuals)

Dates: School Competitions (November 5 onward); Chapter Competitions (February 1–28); State Competitions (March 1–31); National Competition (May 10–11)

Registration Deadline: Early Bird, November 5; Regular, December 15; Late registration available after December 15

Eligibility: Grades 6–8 (U.S. students only; maximum 3 years of competition participation per student)

The MATHCOUNTS Competition Series is a year-long national math contest for middle school students in the U.S. You’ll solve challenging problems across multiple rounds: the Sprint Round tests speed without a calculator, the Target Round allows calculators and focuses on deeper thinking, and the Team Round encourages collaboration. The top scorers face off in the Countdown Round, a fast-paced oral competition. The contest moves through four levels: school, chapter, state, and national. If you do well at your school, you can advance to the Chapter Competition in February. From there, top students go to the State Competition in March. The best four individuals and their coach from each state win an all-expenses-paid trip to the National Competition in Orlando, Florida.

Bonus - Lumiere Junior Explorer Program

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies by the program; Need-based financial aid available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohort size with one-on-one mentorship

Dates: December–February sessions available (multiple cohorts year-round)

Application Deadline: Rolling; deadlines vary by cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8; no prior experience required

Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program is an online research experience for middle school students in grades 6 to 8. You work on one with a PhD mentor from a top university like Harvard, MIT, Oxford, or Stanford. You start by exploring subjects like STEM, humanities, or social sciences, then choose one for your own independent project. You meet regularly with your mentor, learn how to ask strong research questions, find reliable sources, and organize your ideas. At the end, you present your work or submit a research paper, and some students get the chance to publish in youth journals. You also join a global group of students and take part in sessions that build research and communication skills. 

Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies; financial assistance available

Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.

Application deadline: Rolling deadlines

Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8

The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that can introduce you to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. You will learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. In the past, projects have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and developing a machine-learning algorithm to provide a customized list of educational resources based on specified criteria.

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.

Image Source - Math League logo