Who can take part in CEMC math and computing contests and how do they work?

Updated

CEMC contests are open to students in Grades 5 to 12, and they are designed for a wide range of abilities—from learners who want to explore math and computer science and build confidence to advanced students who want to stretch their limits. The contests are created by teams of expert mathematicians, computer scientists, and educators at the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) at the University of Waterloo. To see the specific contests and understand the mechanics, the CEMC website provides two main entry points: Explore Contests and How Contests Work.

Who can participate

The CEMC states its contests are designed for students in Grades 5 to 12. They are described as a good fit for:

  • Learners who want to explore math and computer science and develop their confidence
  • Advanced students who want to stretch their limits

This means participation is not limited to top performers; the contests are intended to serve students across a range of abilities.

How the contests are designed

The contests are designed by teams of expert mathematicians, computer scientists, and educators. This matters because it tells you the problems are created by people with subject-matter and teaching expertise, not generated generically.

The CEMC also notes that its contests are internationally recognized and that it has run 16 contests with participation from 300,000 students across 85+ countries. These figures give a sense of scale and international reach.

How to find the right contest and understand the format

The homepage organizes resources by grade level so you can locate the appropriate material for a student:

  • Grade 3/4
  • Grade 5/6
  • Grade 7/8
  • Grade 9/10
  • Grade 11/12

For contest-specific details, the CEMC directs users to two sections:

  1. Explore Contests — to see the available contests
  2. How Contests Work — to understand the format and mechanics

The website also offers a Problem of the Week and sections for Tools and resources and Workshops and events, which can help students prepare or explore topics beyond the contests themselves.

What else the site offers

Beyond contests, the CEMC provides:

  • Free, online tools and resources organized by grade level
  • Workshops and events
  • Problem of the Week

The CEMC describes itself as the largest outreach organization of its kind in Canada, with over 60 years of experience (since 1963), and its mission is to increase interest, enjoyment, confidence, and ability in mathematics and computer science among learners and educators in Canada and internationally.

Where to start

If you are deciding whether a CEMC contest is right for a student:

  1. Go to the CEMC website and use the grade-level sections to find resources matching the student's grade.
  2. Visit Explore Contests to see which contests are available.
  3. Visit How Contests Work to understand the format before committing.
  4. Use Problem of the Week and other free tools to gauge interest and build confidence first.

Because the contests are built for a range of abilities, a student does not need to be advanced to take part—the entry point can simply be curiosity and a willingness to try problem-solving.