United States · Grades 6 to 8 · The 2026-27 contest year

Math competitions for middle school students

Most US middle schoolers who enjoy math will meet three competitions: MATHCOUNTS, which runs from a school round up to a national final; Math Kangaroo, a single 75-minute multiple-choice test each March; and MOEMS, five short monthly contests taken at school. They feel very different on the day, mostly because of how much time each problem gets. This page sets them side by side from each organiser’s own pages, checked on 17 October 2026, works out the time per problem for every round, and ends with seven practice problems our teachers wrote.

Book the free first class Book a priority demo See the time per problem Ask on WhatsApp

Live teaching since 2020 · 10,000+ students · problem solving taught, not tricks

In short

The main math competitions for US middle schoolers are MATHCOUNTS (grades 6 to 8; school, chapter, state and national levels; national final May 9 to 10, 2027), Math Kangaroo (a 75-minute multiple-choice test on the third Thursday in March) and MOEMS Division M (five 30-minute contests from November 2026 to March 2027). Modern Age Coders runs live online classes for all three.

Learn with a teacher

Courses for middle school competition math

A dedicated competition course first, then the depth and the algebra behind it.

Middle School Math Competitions course thumbnail

MCMS / 01

Middle school math competitions

Roughly ages 10 to 14. MATHCOUNTS, AMC 8 and Math Kangaroo.

Open the syllabus →
Maths Olympiad & Competition Course course thumbnail

MCMS / 02

Math olympiad and competitions

For students ready to go past middle school contests.

Open the syllabus →
Algebra Foundations course thumbnail

MCMS / 03

Algebra foundations

Grades 7 to 9. The algebra most contest problems lean on.

Open the syllabus →

Side by side

MATHCOUNTS, Math Kangaroo and MOEMS compared

Every cell comes from the organiser’s own pages. The AMC 8 is left out of the table because its organiser’s site refused our request; more on that below.

Middle school math competitions, 2026-27 (organisers’ pages, checked 17 October 2026)
MATHCOUNTS Competition SeriesMath Kangaroo USAMOEMS Division M
Grades6 to 8K to 12 (kindergarten sits the grade 1 paper)6 to 8 (Division E covers 4 to 6)
FormatFour rounds: Sprint, Target, Team, Countdown; about 3 hours in totalOne 75-minute multiple-choice testFive contests, each five questions in 30 minutes
CalculatorNo in Sprint and Countdown; assumed in Target and TeamNot stated on the pages readNot stated on the pages read
LevelsSchool, chapter, state, nationalOne sitting; national and state rankingsMonthly contests at school; optional local tournaments
How to enterThrough the school; a non-school competitor only if the school is not registeringAt a Math Kangaroo centerThrough a school or group team of up to 35
2026-27 datesChapter February 1 to 28, state March 1 to 31, national May 9 to 10, 2027March 2027; the rule is the third Thursday in MarchMonthly windows from November 9, 2026 to March 29, 2027

Which suits which student

MATHCOUNTS rewards speed and teamwork across a whole season, and a strong student can keep advancing from February to May. It is the most involved of the three for families, because it runs through the school.

Math Kangaroo is one morning of careful reasoning with no penalty for a wrong answer. MOEMS is the lightest: five short contests in class, good practice for students who have never competed.

Doing more than one

They fit together well. MOEMS runs monthly from November, MATHCOUNTS chapter rounds are in February, and Math Kangaroo is in March, so a single year of preparation serves all three.

Our deeper guides cover two of them on their own: MATHCOUNTS preparation and Math Kangaroo preparation.

Sources: MATHCOUNTS Competition Series and Rules and FAQ; Math Kangaroo USA test FAQ and competition page; MOEMS; all checked 17 October 2026. We have no connection with any of these organisations.

MATHCOUNTS

MATHCOUNTS: four rounds, four levels, one school year

The MATHCOUNTS Foundation, a non-profit, runs this program for sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Here is the 2026-27 season as the Foundation published it.

The four MATHCOUNTS rounds, from the Competition Series page (checked 17 October 2026)
RoundProblems and timeCalculatorWhat it tests
Sprint30 problems in 40 minutesNoSpeed and accuracy
Target4 pairs of problems, 6 minutes per pairAssumedProblem solving and reasoning
Team10 problems in 20 minutes, only the 4 students on a school’s teamAssumedProblem solving and collaboration
CountdownAt most 45 seconds per problemNoSpeed; schools, chapters and states may skip it
The 2026-27 MATHCOUNTS calendar, from the Rules and FAQ page
DateWhat happens
November 3, 2026Early Bird registration deadline; the 2027 School Competition is released online
November 5, 2026Registration opens for non-school competitors (NSCs)
December 15, 2026Regular registration deadline; later registrations pay the late rate
November 2026 to January 2027School competitions, run by each school’s coach
February 1 to 28, 2027Chapter competitions, more than 500 across the country
March 1 to 31, 2027State competitions in all 50 states plus territories
May 9 to 10, 2027National Competition in Washington, DC, for the top 4 individuals from each state

Rules families ask about

Students must be enrolled in grades 6 to 8, and MATHCOUNTS states that "Participation in MATHCOUNTS competitions is limited to 3 years for each student". A school can send up to 14 students to its chapter competition: a team of 4 plus 10 individuals.

Public, private, charter, virtual and home schools can all register; home schools add a participation form. Tutoring and enrichment centers that are not a student’s official school of record cannot.

If the school does not take part

A student may register as a non-school competitor only if their school is not registering and will not support participation. Online sign-up by a parent opens on November 5, 2026, and there is a limit of 14 NSCs per school.

MATHCOUNTS also runs a free National Math Club all school year, which needs no competition registration and is a gentler start for a school with no team.

Sources: Competition Series, Competition Rules and FAQ and home page, checked 17 October 2026.

Math Kangaroo

Math Kangaroo USA: one 75-minute test in March

Math Kangaroo is the US arm of an international contest. For 2027 it marks its 30th annual competition, and registration opened on September 15, 2026.

Math Kangaroo test format and scoring, from the official FAQ and scoring pages (checked 17 October 2026)
ItemAs Math Kangaroo USA publishes it
Length"a 75 minute multiple-choice test for students in grades 1-12"
Questions24 questions in grades 1 to 4; 30 questions in grades 5 and higher
PointsQuestions come in three equal groups worth 3, 4 and 5 points
Wrong answers"There are no points taken away for answering questions incorrectly."
Top score120 from grade 5 up; 96 for grades 1 to 4
Date ruleThe contest day is the 3rd Thursday in March each year
RegistrationRegular from September 15 to December 31; late from January 1 to February 1
RankingsThe twenty highest scores in each grade nationally, and the three highest in each grade in each state

What the numbers mean for a seventh grader

In grades 5 to 12 there are 30 questions, so ten are worth 3 points, ten worth 4 and ten worth 5. By our arithmetic that is 30 + 40 + 50 = 120, which matches the published maximum.

Because nothing is taken away for a wrong answer, an unanswered question can only cost points. Our advice in class is to mark an answer for every question in the last two minutes, after a real attempt at the ones that can be reasoned out.

The 2027 date

For the 2027 individual contest the organiser gives the month, March 2027, and its standing rule of the third Thursday of March. By our calendar calculation that is Thursday, March 18, 2027; confirm with your center, which sets the exact arrangements.

Math Kangaroo also runs a newer in-person Team Competition in the fall for teams of 2 to 4 students. The questions themselves are selected by the International Math Kangaroo Committee, AKSF, not by the US organiser.

Sources: Math Kangaroo USA About the Test, Scoring, Team Competition and home page, checked 17 October 2026.

MOEMS and the AMC 8

MOEMS for a first contest, and a note on the AMC 8

MOEMS, Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools, is the shortest contest format here, and it runs inside the school day.

MOEMS 2026-2027 contest windows, from the official site (checked 17 October 2026)
ContestAdministration windowScores due
1November 9 to 30, 2026March 31, 2027, 11:59 pm Pacific
2December 7 to 28, 2026March 31, 2027, 11:59 pm Pacific
3January 4 to 25, 2027March 31, 2027, 11:59 pm Pacific
4February 1 to 22, 2027March 31, 2027, 11:59 pm Pacific
5March 1 to 29, 2027March 31, 2027, 11:59 pm Pacific

MOEMS in brief

In MOEMS’s words: "Five Olympiad Contests, each consisting of five questions, and limited to 30 minutes are held monthly from November through March." Division M covers sixth to eighth grade, and a team can have up to 35 students, on paper or online.

MOEMS was established in 1979. Groups can also host a one-day tournament with an individual round and a team round, any time from April through December.

Why the AMC 8 has no details here

The AMC 8 is run by the Mathematical Association of America. When we tried to read the MAA’s competition pages on 17 October 2026, the site returned an access-denied error, and we do not work around blocks like that.

So this page prints no AMC dates or rules. Check the MAA site directly, and see our AMC and math olympiad tutoring page for how we prepare students.

Sources: MOEMS home page and Contests and Tournaments, checked 17 October 2026.

Time per problem

How much time each problem gets, round by round

Our own arithmetic on the published formats. This one table explains most of the difference in how the contests feel, and it shapes how we practise for each.

Average time per problem in each format (our calculation from the official formats)
Contest and roundPublished formatAverage time per problem
MATHCOUNTS CountdownAt most 45 seconds per problem45 seconds or less
MATHCOUNTS Sprint30 problems in 40 minutes80 seconds (2,400 / 30)
MATHCOUNTS Team10 problems in 20 minutes, shared by 4 students120 seconds (1,200 / 10)
Math Kangaroo, grades 5 to 1230 questions in 75 minutes150 seconds (4,500 / 30)
MATHCOUNTS Target6 minutes per pair of problems180 seconds (360 / 2)
MOEMS5 questions in 30 minutes360 seconds (1,800 / 5)

Reading the table

At the fast end, Countdown and Sprint reward instant recall: squares, primes, common fractions as decimals, and quick estimates. At the slow end, MOEMS gives six minutes a question, so it rewards trying several approaches and checking.

Math Kangaroo sits in the middle at two and a half minutes, but its later questions are worth more and are harder, so in practice a student should move faster through the early ones.

How we practise for each

For Sprint we run short timed sets of ten problems in about thirteen minutes, the same pace as the real round. For Target and MOEMS we slow down and ask students to write a full solution, then find a second method.

Team rounds get their own practice: four students, ten problems, and a rule that nobody works alone for more than five minutes.

Practice set

Seven practice problems in the style of middle school contests

These problems are ours, written for this page and not taken from any competition. They sit at roughly school and chapter level. Try them with a timer set to 80 seconds each.

  1. What is the sum of the first 20 positive odd integers?
  2. A rectangle’s length is 3 more than its width, and its perimeter is 46. What is its area?
  3. How many positive divisors does 72 have?
  4. The mean of five numbers is 18. Four of them are 12, 15, 20 and 25. What is the fifth?
  5. How many integers from 1 to 100 are divisible by 3 or by 5?
  6. A bag holds 4 red and 6 blue marbles. Two are drawn without replacement. What is the probability that both are red? Give a common fraction.
  7. What is the units digit of 7 to the power 2026?
Answers and the key idea (ours; each answer checked in Python)
ProblemAnswerKey idea
1400The first n odd numbers add to n squared, and 20 x 20 = 400
2130Width plus length is 23, so the width is 10 and the length 13; 10 x 13 = 130
31272 = 2 cubed x 3 squared, so (3 + 1) x (2 + 1) = 12 divisors
418The five numbers total 5 x 18 = 90; 90 minus 72 leaves 18
54733 multiples of 3 plus 20 multiples of 5, minus 6 multiples of 15 counted twice
62/154/10 x 3/9 = 12/90 = 2/15
79Units digits of powers of 7 cycle 7, 9, 3, 1; 2026 leaves remainder 2 when divided by 4

What these problems practise

Problems 1, 3 and 7 reward knowing a pattern so well that the answer takes seconds, which is what Sprint and Countdown need. Problems 2, 4 and 6 are short algebra and probability, the bread and butter of every contest here.

Problem 5 is the classic overlap trap: adding 33 and 20 gives 53, which counts the multiples of 15 twice.

Making more of your own

Change one number and solve again: the first 25 odd integers, divisors of 96, a perimeter of 58. If the method still works, the student has learned the idea, not the answer.

Then ask the harder version. Problem 5 becomes "divisible by 3, 5 or 7", which needs the full inclusion and exclusion idea.

A year plan

One preparation year that covers all three contests

Our plan for a student in grade 6, 7 or 8 starting in October 2026, with one live class a week and twenty minutes of practice on most days.

October 2026 to May 2027 (our plan on the official dates)
MonthContest datesPractice focus
October 2026MATHCOUNTS Early Bird deadline November 3; Math Kangaroo registration openNumber sense and fast arithmetic; register early
November 2026MOEMS Contest 1 from November 9; MATHCOUNTS School Competition released November 3Counting and divisibility
December 2026MOEMS Contest 2; Math Kangaroo regular registration ends December 31Fractions, ratios and percent
January 2027MOEMS Contest 3; school MATHCOUNTS rounds finishTimed Sprint sets at 80 seconds a problem
February 2027MATHCOUNTS chapter competitions February 1 to 28; MOEMS Contest 4Geometry and probability
March 2027MATHCOUNTS state March 1 to 31; Math Kangaroo on the third Thursday; MOEMS Contest 5Multiple-choice strategy and full mock tests
May 2027MATHCOUNTS National May 9 to 10 for state qualifiersReview the year and plan next season

Grade 6

MOEMS and Math Kangaroo first; join the MATHCOUNTS school team if there is one.

Grade 7

All three. Aim to make the school’s four-person MATHCOUNTS team.

Grade 8

All three, plus algebra and geometry beyond the school course.

Readiness

Four steps from good at school math to competition ready

A high grade in math class is a start, not the finish.

From school math to contest math (ours)
StepHow it shows
1. AccurateGets school problems right, given time
2. FluentHandles fractions, percents and powers without a calculator
3. FlexibleTries a second method when the first one stalls
4. PacedKnows how long to spend on each problem and when to move on

For parents

Steps 3 and 4 are rarely taught in a regular class. They are exactly what competition practice builds.

Check how your school enters MATHCOUNTS early in the fall; registration runs through the school, and Early Bird closes on November 3, 2026.

For students

Time yourself. Knowing your own pace is the quickest improvement available.

Keep a list of every problem you missed and the idea you were missing. Reread it before each contest.

The catalogue

Nine math courses for middle school competitors and their siblings

Taught live online, with the same teacher each week, as a group class or privately.

I

Competition math

Grades 6 to 8 and beyond

MCMS / CMP / 01

Middle school math competitions

MATHCOUNTS, AMC 8, Kangaroo.

Open the syllabus

MCMS / CMP / 03

Problem solving for kids

Logic for younger solvers.

Open the syllabus
II

School math, deeper

The base under every contest

MCMS / SCH / 02

Middle school mathematics

Pre-algebra and geometry.

Open the syllabus

MCMS / SCH / 03

High school mathematics

For an eighth grader ahead.

Open the syllabus
III

Younger siblings

Math Kangaroo starts at grade 1

How lessons run

Live math classes through the contest season

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Weekdays

After-school batches in your time zone.

Weekends

Mock tests run well on a weekend morning.

1-on-1

Built around one student’s weak topics.

Timed sets

Practice at each round’s real pace.

Two methods

Every problem solved a second way.

Mistake log

Missed ideas tracked all year.

Mock rounds

Sprint, Target and Kangaroo style.

Any US state

Live online, nothing to commute to.

Class size

Fifteen to twenty students per batch, or a single student.

Student work

Projects from our students

Work by our learners across math, coding and AI. The student labs page collects more.

NutriLife AI nutrition coach project screenshot

AI and ML

NutriLife

An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target.

by Bhavya · Open it

Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot

AI and ML

Misti

A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student.

by Harshit · Open it

GuardianX AI internet safety assistant screenshot

AI and ML

GuardianX

An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online.

by Vivaan · Open it

SkyCast weather forecast application screenshot

Web app

SkyCast

A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location.

by Krish

Fees

Fees

Each competition charges its own registration through the school, center or team; our fee is only for the classes. We bill monthly in US dollars, so a student can take lessons from fall through the March contests and stop there.

Free first class

USD 0

no card required

  • A free first lesson
  • A short timed problem set
  • No card details
Book it

Group batch

USD 100

a month, billed in US dollars

  • Fifteen to twenty learners
  • One regular teacher
  • Choose your batch
  • Monthly
Start here

One to one

USD 150

a month, billed in US dollars

  • A private math teacher
  • Lessons timed to your contest dates
  • Problems picked for your child
Enquire

What families say

Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews

Google reviews left by parents, unedited.

★★★★★

"The one step solution for my son. Modern Age Coders make learning coding so simple that kids love it. The teachers explain complex concepts clearly with practical exercises and interactive content."

Ria Mukherjee

Parent

★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease."

Samriddha Mondal

Student

★★★★★

"One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development."

Vansh Agarwal

Student

★★★★★

"My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative."

Sonam Oswal

Parent of Dhairya

★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation."

Sonu Goyal

Parent

★★★★★

"I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding."

Ritu Kedia

Parent

Questions from parents

Middle school math competitions: what parents ask

What are the main math competitions for middle school in the US?

MATHCOUNTS (grades 6 to 8, from school to national level), Math Kangaroo USA (a 75-minute multiple-choice test for grades 1 to 12), MOEMS Division M (five monthly contests for grades 6 to 8) and the AMC 8, which is run by the Mathematical Association of America.

When is MATHCOUNTS in 2026-27?

School competitions run from November 2026 to January 2027, chapter competitions February 1 to 28, 2027, state competitions March 1 to 31, 2027, and the National Competition on May 9 to 10, 2027 in Washington, DC.

Can a homeschooled student do MATHCOUNTS?

Yes. Home schools can register for the Competition Series and submit a separate Home School Participation Form. Home school students should not register as non-school competitors.

What if my child's school does not do MATHCOUNTS?

If the school will not register or support participation, the parent may sign the student up online as an NSC (non-school competitor) once registration opens on November 5, 2026. There is a limit of 14 NSCs per school.

How is Math Kangaroo scored?

Each question carries 3, 4 or 5 points, split evenly across the paper, and a wrong answer costs nothing. From grade 5 up the maximum is 120; in grades 1 to 4 it is 96.

When is Math Kangaroo 2027?

The organiser lists March 2027, and its rule puts the contest on the third Thursday of March. Counting the calendar ourselves, that falls on March 18, 2027; your center confirms the details.

How many years can a student compete in MATHCOUNTS?

MATHCOUNTS limits competition participation to 3 years per student, though there is no limit on years of school-based coaching.

Why does this page not give AMC 8 dates?

The MAA website refused our request when we checked on 17 October 2026, and we only print competition facts read from the organiser. Please check the MAA site directly for AMC 8 dates and rules.

Are you affiliated with MATHCOUNTS or Math Kangaroo?

No. Modern Age Coders runs its own classes and has no tie to MATHCOUNTS, Math Kangaroo USA, MOEMS or the MAA. Families register with each competition themselves.

Which days and times can my child take classes?

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Elsewhere on this site

More on competition math

Deeper guides to single contests, and help by grade.

MATHCOUNTS preparation

Round by round, in depth.

Math Kangaroo preparation

Practice for the March test.

AMC and olympiad tutoring

From the AMC 8 upward.

7th grade math tutor

School math, properly.

Algebra tutoring

The base of most contest problems.

Homeschool math

A full curriculum at home.

US competitions calendar 2026-27

US coding, math and AI competition dates for 2026-27, sourced row by row.

Cybersecurity classes for teens

Cybersecurity for US teens: CyberPatriot, CyLab, AP Cybersecurity and a safe start.

Congressional App Challenge guide

The Congressional App Challenge explained from the 2026 rules, with a ten-week plan.

Start here

Book a free first lesson

Say which contest your child is aiming at and their grade. The teacher runs a short timed set together with them and shows you where the gaps are.

To see how classes are structured first, read how we teach, or open the course list.

WhatsApp us · +91 91233 66161 · connect@modernagecoders.com

We teach over live video from India; there is no center to drop in at. WhatsApp is usually quickest for US families.

Free first lesson. No card needed to book.

Want a class sooner? Book a priority demo

A priority demo is a full class of about 45 to 60 minutes. After the class the mentor sends a written skill report and a personal learning roadmap on WhatsApp. If you enrol, the demo fee is adjusted against your first month's fee. Share your demo Order ID with us on WhatsApp and we take it off.

Book a priority demo

Keep exploring Modern Age Coders

More maths tuition

Learn more

From the blog

Start here

Free classPriority demoCall us