MATHCOUNTS
The middle school contest that builds the habits AMC 8 and AMC 10 reward.
MATHCOUNTS is the national math competition for students in grades 6 to 8, with school, chapter, state and National stages. It rewards careful multi-step reasoning and speed, and it is a clear early sign of a student who loves hard math.
Where we are
Timed practice is in planning. Join the list.
We are planning Sprint practice for middle school math contests: a free timed set with a score report by topic. It is not open yet. Join the list below and we will email you once, when it opens. The free Mock AMC 8 is a good way to see how your student reacts to contest problems in the meantime.
Who it is for
Students in grades 6 to 8 who like a hard problem.
- U.S. students in grades 6 to 8 can compete, for up to three years. Only full-time students in those grades are eligible.
- There are two ways in. A school team, where the coach picks the students, or a non-school competitor registration, for students whose school does not register a team. Parents register non-school competitors online by credit card.
- The best fit is a student who already enjoys math puzzles or finishes class work early and wants a challenge with a clear next step.
- Not a fit yet: a student who needs a lot of support with grade-level math. A rough first experience can sour a child on contests. Try the free AMC 8 mock first and see how they react.
How it works
Three steps from sign-up to state.
- 01
Find your entry route
Check whether your school registers a team. If it does not, a student can register as a non-school competitor online.
- 02
Practice the Sprint round first
It is the largest source of points, and it is timed with no calculator.
- 03
Compete at chapter, then state
Chapter competitions run in February. Students who advance compete at state in March.
Rounds and format
Four rounds, and two allow a calculator.
| Round | Format | Calculator |
|---|---|---|
| Sprint | 30 problems in 40 minutes | No |
| Target | 4 pairs of problems, 6 minutes per pair | Yes |
| Team | 10 problems in 20 minutes, worked together | Yes |
| Countdown | Up to 45 seconds per question, head to head | No |
- Only the four students on a school team take the Team round for the team score.
- The Countdown Round is optional at the school, chapter and state levels.
- A full competition runs about three hours.
2026-27 dates and fees
Dates and registration fees.
| Event | Date or fee |
|---|---|
| School sign-up opens | August 17, 2026 |
| Early bird registration deadline | November 3, 2026. $42 per school student |
| Regular registration deadline | December 15, 2026. $48 per school student, $75 per non-school competitor |
| Late registration | After the regular deadline. $53 per school student, $85 per non-school competitor |
| Chapter competitions | February 1 to 28, 2027 |
| State competitions | March 1 to 31, 2027 |
| National Competition, Washington, DC | May 9 and 10, 2027 |
A school can register up to 14 students, which is one team of four plus ten individuals. Non-school competitors are capped at 14 per school as well. Title I schools get a 50 percent discount.
There is no single score cutoff
Advancing from chapter to state, and from state to National, depends on how your chapter and state rank their students. Be wary of any site that lists a numeric cutoff. Ask your coach or chapter coordinator what happened in recent years.
What is planned
Sprint practice, if enough families want it.
- A free timed Sprint practice set with a score report by topic.
- Written solutions that show the first step, not only the answer.
- A four-week practice plan for the weeks before chapter.
Nothing here is on sale, and the waitlist tells us how much interest there is. Read how MATHCOUNTS works or how to prepare for the chapter competition while you wait.
Waitlist
Hear first when timed practice opens.
We will send one email when the free timed practice is ready.
Keep reading
MATHCOUNTS is a registered trademark of the MATHCOUNTS Foundation. EduAvenues is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MATHCOUNTS Foundation.