We only publish exam dates and fees after checking the organiser's official announcement. Status: awaiting the 2026–27 announcement — the format and season notes below describe this exam's usual pattern, not this year's confirmed dates. Always confirm on the official page before registering or paying.
At a glance
| Organiser | Mathematical Association of America (MAA) |
|---|---|
| Official site | maa.org/math-competitions |
| Region | United States & international test centres |
| Grades | Grade 8 and below |
| Registration | Through schools and registered competition managers/centres. |
| Usual season | Typically mid-to-late January |
| 2026–27 dates | awaiting official announcement |
| Fees | Registration is typically per school/centre — confirm current fees on the MAA site. |
Format
- Single round: 25 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes
- No penalty for wrong answers; calculators not permitted
- Recognition for top scorers overall and among younger participants
Worth reading first
Prepare without the panic
Competition papers reward secure fundamentals more than tricks. The honest way in is free daily practice pitched at your child's actual level — and if a competition is months away, that is exactly enough time to close the one gap that would have cost the most marks.