MCTM-sponsored contests are not the ONLY qualifying contests in Missouri.  Some sites choose to be independent, but students who qualify at these sites are still invited to attend the MCTM Elementary Regional contests.  For an entire listing of both in-person AND online contests, go to http://mathleague.org/esevents.php .

Schools may also sign up for the on-demand contest offered each month f they are unable to attend a site in their area due to conflicts, are simply too far from a qualifying contest site, or wish to allow students another chance to qualify for regionals.

• Students who qualify through the  on-demand contests will attend their respective regional contest in March/April.

• Number Sense - This 10-minute test consists of 80 problems that are designed to be solved mentally.  Students may not use calculators on this test.  More information about Number Sense (including the scoring procedure and how answers must be presented) can be found here.
• Sprint Round - This is a 40-minute multiple choice test consisting of thirty questions. Students may not use calculators on this test. 4 points are awarded for each correct answer and 1 point is subtracted for each incorrect answer, with no penalty for skipped questions.
• Target Round - Four pairs of problems are administered, and students have 6 minutes to complete each pair. Students may use any calculator allowed for use on the SAT. 10 points are awarded for each correct answer, with no penalty for skipped or incorrect answers.
• Team Round - One to four team members work together for 20 minutes to answer ten questions. Students may use any calculator allowed for use on the SAT. 10 points are awarded for each correct answer, with no penalty for skipped or incorrect answers.

For more details, check out http://mathleague.org/estests.php .

Websites for Extra Practice Problems & Problem Solving Techniques

• mathleague.org This site allows you to sign up for sample practice problems that will be similar to those on the elementary and middle contests this year.

• Noetic Learning Math Contest: Register your 2nd through 6th graders now for this national contest given in November and April!
• Art of Problem Solving This site has online classes for top math students (grades 6-12) and also has a free online tutorial called Alcumus that adjusts questions to the student's ability.
• Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools Click on General Information for Samples and Problems of the Month
• Continental Mathematics League Has 2 different levels based upon higher or average reading comprehension and is open to grades 2-9
• The Math League For grades 4-12, the League has excellent sample questions as well as lots of books for purchase from past years of contests.
• Kevin Hopkin's Resource Page for Contests and Problems He has dozens of state and national contest sites (similar to Missouri's) listed as well as whether each has sample problems available.

Teachers and sponsors who attend with their students are expected to proctor or grade the contest papers.  Grading may be done digitally or by hand depending upon the site.

All parents, students, and teachers should be aware of mathleague's Conduct Standards.

For the Qualifying, Regional, and State Math Competitions, there are two different ways that ties are broken for awards. If two students tied with the same score in an event (e.g. Target with a score of 30), their Borda scores were compared to see which student answered the more difficult questions. The student with the lower Borda score would place higher than the other. To break absolute ties in Sprint or Target at either the Middle or Elementary level, we looked at the students' opposing event scores. Say that Students A, B and C are all tied with a score of 30 on Target, all with the same Borda scores indicating they answered the same 3 questions correct. We then look at their Sprint scores. Say Student A has a Sprint score of 60, Student B has a sprint score of 55, and Student C has a sprint score of 50. Then to break the tie on Target, Student A would be first, Student B would be second, and Student C would be third. In Number Sense, if a tie occurs, the students generally have the same number correct and the same number incorrect to get the score they receive. To break this tie, we looked at the two students’ sheets, and the student who answered the highest number question correct would receive the higher place. So, for example, Student A’s last correct answer is question #30 and Student B’s last correct answer is #38; Student B would win the tie. 

If you take any of the MCTM elementary contests this year and would like to ask questions about the questions on the contest, please register here for an AfterMath workshop!

Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow students with special needs to participate. A request for accommodation of special needs must be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  in writing at least three weeks in advance of the local or state competition. This written request should thoroughly explain a student’s special need as well as what the desired accommodation would entail. Many accommodations that are employed in a classroom or teaching environment cannot be implemented in the competition setting. Accommodations that are not permissible include, but are not limited to, granting a student extra time during any of the competition rounds or allowing a student to use a calculator on non-calculator rounds. Contest coordinators will review the needs of the student and determine if any accommodations will be made.  

• Contact Sonya Land at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the following information:
  • Date of contest
  • Elementary, Middle, and/or High School Contest Level
  • Site Coordinator Name
  • Email address
  • Address of the testing location
  • Address to which registrations can be sent (if different from above)
• Then, read through the Site Coordinator Handbook (click below). 
• Visit another contest site near you to see how a more experienced site coordinator handles his/her contest. 
• Contact Sonya with any questions you may have, big or small!