15 Online Math Competitions for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 4 hours ago
- 12 min read
You’ve probably heard that math competitions can “boost your college applications,” but figuring out which ones are actually worth your time, especially online, can feel overwhelming. Between different formats, varying levels of prestige, and unclear eligibility rules, it’s not always obvious where to start or what will genuinely help you stand out. By participating in these competitions, you’ll build problem-solving skills, gain exposure to higher-level math concepts, and sometimes even earn awards or recognition that strengthen your resume. Many of these contests are judged by well-known organizations, and some even offer pathways to selective programs or research opportunities.
Why should I participate in an online math competition in high school?
Online math competitions give you a flexible, accessible way to demonstrate intellectual curiosity and academic initiative, two qualities top colleges actively look for. Since these contests are remote, you can participate from anywhere, often without the need for travel or expensive resources. Awards, rankings, or even participation in selective rounds can signal to admissions officers that you’ve gone beyond classroom learning. In a competitive admissions landscape, these experiences can help you stand out by showing both passion and proof of ability in math.
To get you started, here are 15 online math competitions for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These competitions span individual problem-solving (AMC 10/12, USAMTS, MathCON), team-based mathematical modeling (M3 Challenge, HiMCM, MidMCM), collaborative team contests (Math Madness, Purple Comet, Stanford Math Tournament), and creative communication (Mathematical Minutes Video Contest), giving students a wide range of formats to choose from.
Most competitions are free or low-cost, including USAMTS, Purple Comet, Mathematical Minutes Video Contest, and Penn Math Contest, while others like M3 Challenge (free with over $100,000 in scholarships) and MathWorks M3 Challenge offer significant prizes alongside open entry.
Several competitions emphasize extended, open-ended problem-solving rather than timed exams, including USAMTS (approximately one month per round with written proof submissions), HiMCM/MidMCM (up to two weeks for a modeling paper), and M3 Challenge (a 14-hour continuous window), making them well-suited for students who prefer depth over speed.
Strong performance in AMC 10/12 can lead to progression through the AIME and USAMO, creating a structured pathway toward national and international-level recognition that most other competitions do not offer.
Several competitions welcome international participants, including Stanford Math Tournament (online division), Purple Comet, International Maths Challenge, and Penn Math Contest, while others such as USAMTS and M3 Challenge are restricted to U.S. students or residents.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: November 5 (AMC A) and November 13 (AMC B)
Submission Deadline: Registration deadlines vary (typically late September to mid-October)
Eligibility: AMC 10: students in grade 10 or below (under 17.5); AMC 12: students in grade 12 or below (under 19.5)
Cost/Prizes: School-based registration (~$55–$115 + student bundles); awards include certificates, honors, and qualification for advanced competitions
Location: Schools worldwide (administered through registered testing sites)
For students who enjoy solving challenging math problems, the AMC offers a structured way to test their skills beyond the classroom. You’ll work through a timed multiple-choice exam that emphasizes problem-solving, logic, and creative reasoning rather than memorization. High scorers advance to further rounds, such as the AIME, and eventually to national-level competitions such as the USAMO. The questions are designed to stretch your thinking, often requiring you to combine concepts in unfamiliar ways. Because the competition is widely recognized, strong performance can signal mathematical ability to colleges and academic programs.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: February 27 – March 2 (Challenge Weekend); Final Event in late April
Submission Deadline: February 23 (registration deadline)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the U.S., and sixth form students (ages 16–19) in England and Wales; teams of 3–5 students with a coach required
Cost/Prizes: Free to enter; over $100,000 in scholarships awarded to top teams
Location: Virtual (final presentations held in New York City for top teams)
Unlike traditional math competitions, the M3 Challenge centers on applying mathematics to messy, real-world problems using data and modeling. You’ll work in a team over a continuous 14-hour window, building assumptions, developing models, and writing a structured research-style paper that explains your approach and conclusions. The problem is only revealed at the start of the competition, so much of the experience involves quickly organizing ideas and dividing responsibilities across your team. Judges look not just for correct answers, but for clear reasoning, thoughtful assumptions, and how well you interpret real-world implications. Submissions undergo multiple rounds of blind evaluation, with top teams invited to present their findings at a final event.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Late September – mid-December
Submission Deadline: Late October (final registration cutoff)
Eligibility: Students in grades 3–12; teams of at least 5 students required (no maximum size); school-based participation
Cost/Prizes: Team registration ranges from ~$165–$375 (high school level); recognition through rankings and standings
Location: Virtual
Math Madness takes a different approach from traditional one-day competitions by stretching the experience across an entire season of weekly matches. You’ll compete as part of a team, but solve problems individually during timed head-to-head matchups against other schools. Early rounds allow collaboration, while later stages shift to independent performance that contributes to your team’s overall score. As the season progresses, teams are placed into tournament brackets, creating a March Madness–style playoff structure. The format emphasizes consistency and improvement over time rather than a single test score.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: March 9 – April 5 (first round window); June 6 (Final Round)
Submission Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: Students in grades 1–8; Euler division (up to grade 5), Fermat division (grades 6–8); individual participation
Cost/Prizes: $15 (online); free for in-person school-hosted contests; awards include certificates (top 5% gold, next tiers recognized)
Location: Online (Final Round held in the San Francisco Bay Area, USA)
If you’re early in your competition math journey, PiMC offers a structured and accessible way to test your skills against peers nationwide. You’ll complete a timed 25-question exam that emphasizes logical reasoning and problem-solving rather than routine calculations. Based on your performance, you can earn tiered recognition, with top scorers advancing to an invitational final round. The competition is designed to both challenge and motivate, helping you build confidence as you encounter more complex problems. Because it’s available in both online and in-person formats, it’s relatively easy to participate through your school or independently. This contest is well-suited for younger students looking to build a foundation in competitive math and gradually prepare for more advanced competitions.
5. MathCON
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: January 14 – March 17 (Online Test); May 23 (Finals)
Submission Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Students in grades 4–12 across the U.S. and Canada; individual participation
Cost/Prizes: ~$60 individual registration; $95 for finalists; awards and national recognition for top performers
Location: Online (Round 1); Chicago, Illinois, USA (Finals)
MathCON gives you multiple opportunities to prepare and improve before competing, making it more flexible than single-day math contests. You’ll start with an online qualifying exam covering topics such as algebra, geometry, number theory, and combinatorics, with questions that increase in difficulty. Throughout the year, optional weekly practice tests help you build familiarity with the format and sharpen your skills. Based on your performance, a select group of top scorers advances to the in-person finals in Chicago, where you compete against some of the strongest students in your grade. The competition balances accessibility with rigor, allowing broad participation while still maintaining a competitive final round.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: April 17 – 18 (in-person); April 19 (online)
Submission Deadline: February 18 (in-person application deadline); April 12 (online late registration)
Eligibility: High school students (U.S. for in-person; global participation for online); teams of 5–6 students or individuals
Cost/Prizes: ~$30 per student (in-person); ~$25–35 (online); awards and recognition for top teams and individuals
Location: virtual option
You’ll experience a multi-round competition that blends individual performance with team-based problem solving, making SMT both rigorous and collaborative. The tournament includes a mix of formats, such as subject tests, a team round, and the fast-paced “guts round,” where teams solve increasingly difficult problems in real time. Some rounds emphasize proof writing, while others focus on short-answer questions across areas such as algebra, geometry, and combinatorics. Depending on your background, you can choose between more general or specialized individual tests, allowing flexibility in how you compete. Beyond the competition itself, the event often includes additional activities, such as puzzle hunts and math-related activities, that build a sense of community.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: November 4 – 17
Submission Deadline: Opens in September, submission till November 17
Eligibility: Teams of up to 4 middle or high school students from the same school or program
Cost/Prizes: $100 per team; awards include designations such as Honorable Mention, Finalist, and Outstanding
Location: Online
Instead of testing how quickly you can solve problems, this competition focuses on how well you can think through complex, real-world scenarios over time. You’ll work in a small team to choose one open-ended modeling problem, then spend up to two weeks researching, building assumptions, and developing a mathematical model to address it. A big part of the experience is writing, where your final submission is a structured report explaining your reasoning, methods, and conclusions. Because you can use tools, data sources, and technology, the challenge is less about memorization and more about creativity and clear communication. Judges evaluate not just your final answer, but how logically and effectively you approached the problem.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: May 23 – 24 (Prelims); June 6 – 7 (Finals)
Submission Deadline: May 18
Eligibility: Students in grades 1–12 worldwide; separate formats for grades 1–6 and 7–12
Cost/Prizes: $46 (Prelims) + $29 (Finals); titles such as “Elitist” and “Champion” based on percentile performance
Location: Virtual
You’ll move through this competition in stages, starting with a preliminary round that determines whether you advance to the finals. Each test is timed and tailored to grade level, with older students facing longer, more complex problem sets. Rather than emphasizing rank alone, the competition evaluates your performance using percentiles, which helps contextualize your results against a global pool of participants. If you qualify for the second round, you’ll take on a more competitive final exam where top scorers earn distinction titles. The online, proctored format ensures consistency while allowing you to participate from anywhere.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: April 18
Submission Deadline: April 3
Eligibility: Open to all pre-collegiate students (K–12); most participants are high school students
Cost/Prizes: Free to enter; prizes and certificates awarded to top performers
Location: Virtual option
At PMC, you’ll engage with a mix of individual and team-based math challenges that cover topics like algebra, geometry, number theory, and combinatorics. The competition is designed to accommodate a wide range of experience levels, so you might encounter both approachable problems and more demanding ones within the same event. You’ll work through a full-day schedule that includes multiple rounds, giving you a chance to test both your independent problem-solving skills and your ability to collaborate with others. Because calculators aren’t allowed, the focus stays on reasoning and mathematical intuition. The event also emphasizes community, with opportunities to interact with other students who share an interest in math.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple rounds throughout the academic year (3 rounds total, each ~1 month long)
Submission Deadline: Rolling deadlines for each round (typically one month after release)
Eligibility: Middle and high school students who are U.S. citizens or residents; individual participation only
Cost/Prizes: Free to enter; top ~45% receive prizes such as math books, software subscriptions, and recognition
Location: Virtual
Unlike most math competitions, USAMTS gives you extended time, about a month per round, to fully explore and write up solutions to challenging proof-based problems. The competition emphasizes clear reasoning, mathematical rigor, and the clarity of your written communication. Each round includes a mix of approachable and highly challenging problems, allowing you to engage at your own level while still being pushed to think deeply. You’re allowed to use resources like books and research, but all final work must be your own and carefully justified. One of the most distinctive aspects is the detailed written feedback you receive from graders, which helps you improve both your math and your proof-writing skills.
Quick Facts: Free international online team math competition with a flexible participation window
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: April 14 – April 23
Submission Deadline: Rolling registration through the competition window
Eligibility: Middle and high school students worldwide; teams of 1–6 students with an adult supervisor
Cost/Prizes: Free; certificates awarded to participants and top teams
Location: Virtual (online competition)
If you enjoy working through math problems collaboratively, this competition gives you a flexible and team-focused format to do exactly that. You and your team can choose a convenient time within a multi-day window to complete the contest, making it easier to fit around school schedules. During the competition, you’ll tackle a set of problems together under time constraints, with different versions designed for middle- and high-school levels. Unlike many contests, this one encourages collaboration, so teams often divide work or brainstorm collectively to maximize efficiency. The emphasis is less on high-stakes ranking and more on engagement, problem-solving, and participation across a global community.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: February 1 – March 2 (submission window); finalists announced mid-April
Submission Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: High school students who are members or associates of Mu Alpha Theta; submissions must be made through a school chapter
Cost/Prizes: Free; up to $3,000 in total prizes distributed among top entries
Location: Virtual
This contest centers on how well you can explain math. You’ll create a short video that teaches a concept in a way that’s both clear and engaging, which means carefully simplifying ideas without losing accuracy. Your work is judged on communication, creativity, and how effectively you hold the viewer’s attention. The process also involves planning, scripting, and editing, so it feels more like producing a short educational video than participating in a traditional competition. A small group of finalists is selected, and final rankings are partly determined by peer voting, adding a public-facing element to the experience.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Late September – mid-December
Submission Deadline: Late October (final registration cutoff)
Eligibility: Students in grades 3–12; teams of at least 5 students (no maximum size); school-based participation
Cost/Prizes: ~$165–$375 per team, depending on size and level; rankings and recognition for top teams and individuals
Location: Virtual
This competition unfolds over several weeks, giving you repeated chances to compete and improve. You’ll participate in short, timed matches against other teams, where your individual performance contributes to your team’s overall score. Early in the season, some rounds allow collaboration, but later stages shift toward independent problem-solving as teams are placed into tournament brackets. The structure mirrors a sports season, with rankings, elimination rounds, and a final championship phase. Because matches are scheduled weekly, you develop consistency and track progress over time rather than relying on one performance.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: November – April (monthly contests)
Submission Deadline: October 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12 participating through their school
Cost/Prizes: $100 per division ($200 for both); recognition based on performance
Location: School-based (international participation)
In this competition, you’ll take part in a sequence of six contests spread across the school year. Each month, you’ll work through a short set of math problems that emphasize reasoning and clarity over speed. Your school submits top scores after each round, which are then compared with those of other participating schools, providing a broader competitive benchmark. Because the structure is recurring, you get multiple chances to improve and adjust your approach over time. The questions are designed to be accessible but still require careful thinking, making them suitable for a wide range of skill levels. This format is especially useful if you want steady exposure to competition math without the pressure of a one-day event.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective (ranking-based participation)
Dates: Year-round (daily and weekly challenges)
Submission Deadline: Ongoing (varies by problem frequency)
Eligibility: Open to students of all levels (elementary through advanced)
Cost/Prizes: Free to participate; prizes awarded through point-based performance and random draws
Location: Online
If you prefer consistent practice over one-time competitions, this platform offers a steady stream of math challenges you can engage with at your own pace. You’ll encounter a mix of daily problems, weekly challenges, and themed categories ranging from basic arithmetic to more advanced problem-solving topics. You build your standing over time by earning points for correct answers, with leaderboards tracking your progress against other participants. The format encourages both speed and accuracy, since you have a limited number of attempts within set time intervals. You can also revisit archived problems to strengthen weaker areas without the pressure of competition scoring.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best online math competitions for high school students?
Strong options depend on a student's strengths and goals. Students who enjoy fast-paced individual problem-solving might consider the AMC 10/12 or MathCON; those who prefer collaborative, open-ended challenges might look at HiMCM or M3 Challenge; and those who want consistent year-round practice might try ASMA or The Math Contest 3.0.
Are there free online math competitions for high school students?
Yes, several competitions are free, including USAMTS, Purple Comet, Penn Math Contest, Mathematical Minutes Video Contest, and The Math Contest 3.0. The M3 Challenge is also free to enter and awards over $100,000 in total scholarships to top teams.
Which online math competitions are team-based rather than individual?
M3 Challenge, HiMCM/MidMCM, Math Madness, Stanford Math Tournament, and Purple Comet all require or allow team participation. In contrast, USAMTS, AMC 10/12, and PiMC are individual competitions only.
Which math competitions emphasize proof writing or extended reasoning rather than multiple-choice problems?
USAMTS is specifically structured around written proof submissions, with about one month per round to develop and justify solutions; HiMCM and MidMCM require teams to produce a structured modeling report; and M3 Challenge is also evaluated on the quality of written reasoning and assumptions rather than on answers alone.
Do any online math competitions offer pathways to national or international recognition?
Yes, strong AMC 10/12 scores lead to the AIME and eventually the USAMO, which is one of the most prestigious pathways in high school mathematics. USABO and the International Maths Challenge also offer tiered progressions, while MathCON finalists compete in a national in-person championship in Chicago.
When should I apply to online math competitions for high school students?
Deadlines are spread throughout the school year. Early deadlines include ASMA (October 15 registration) and AMC 10/12 (late September to mid-October registration), while others, such as Penn Math Contest (April 3), SMT online (April 12), and Mathematical Minutes Video Contest (March 2), fall later in the academic year.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.