A fair challenge, scaled to every grade.
Every paper is multiple choice with four options per question. Each correct answer is worth one mark, no marks are taken off for wrong answers — and no calculators are allowed.
GRADES 1–2
Grades 1–2 write 20 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes.
GRADES 3–4
Grades 3–4 write 30 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes.
GRADES 5–6
Grades 5–6 write 40 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes.
GRADES 7–8 SINCE 2026
Grades 7–8 write 40 multiple-choice questions in 75 minutes.
Common questions
Anything else? Write to us at info@spiritofmathcontest.com.
Who can participate?+
The Contest is open to ALL students in Grades 1–8, whether or not they are registered at Spirit of Math®. It can be written at most Spirit of Math® campuses or at your local school worldwide.
What does it cost?+
Students in Canada & USA: contact your school or nearest Spirit of Math® Contest host location. In other countries, please contact your country representative.
How can my student prepare?+
Past contest papers with answers and full solutions are freely available, and the Virtual Practice Centre offers video lessons, quizzes and past contests to attempt — with free and premium content for every grade.
Can a registration be cancelled?+
Yes — a registration may be cancelled at any time. Please note that refunds are not provided for cancellations.
Every writer is recognised. The best are celebrated.
Students are ranked by score against others in their own grade — within their own country for the National Round, and worldwide for the Global Round. Where a tie falls on the boundary of an award, everyone on that score receives the higher award, and the next award still goes to its full share of students.
Gold Award
Silver Award
Bronze Award
Participation
Honour Roll
Perfect Score
Where every result leads.
Top performers from every participating country earn an invitation to the Global Round — first hosted in Toronto in 2025, where the Contest began.
One city, one paper, and the world's strongest young mathematicians in the same room.
From an internal assessment to a world-class competition.
First written in 1999 for Spirit of Math® students, the Contest has grown into a prestigious global competition known for its innovative approach to problem solving.
Prepare with the people who write the questions.
Video lessons, topic quizzes and every past contest to attempt — built from the Spirit of Math® curriculum. Free and premium content for Grades 1–8.
Enter the Practice Centre →Bring the Contest to your country.
We partner with educators and organisations worldwide to run the Contest locally. Become your country's representative and give your students a place on the global stage.
Ready to write? Contest window January 4 – April 5, 2027.
Releasing the Genius® — from the top of the class to the top of the nation.