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Competitions

CMS Competitions are run by the CMS Executive Office and the CMS Competition Committees

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Canadian Mathematical Society Competitions

Competitions are an important part of learning mathematics and a fun activity for students of all ages. The CMS supports math competitions in many ways; running our own competitions to funding regional competitions to supporting Canadian involvement in international competitions. We also provide a wide variety of resources for students to prepare for competitions. Students are able to register for more than one competition if they wish to do so.

How does it work?

The competitions during the fall season (CLMC, COMC and CJMC) are open competitions, any student within the designated age group may participate.

Starting in the winter season, typically January, invitation-only competitions begin.

Please see below for general details regarding each of the competitions, including links to learn more and to register.

Canada Lynx Mathematical Competition (CLMC)

The Canada Lynx Mathematical Competition is the CMS’ newest competition, it is open to students in grades K-12. It is based off of the Canadian grade 7 to 11 math curriculum. This competition is meant to make math fun and engaging for students, while also serving as a great way for teachers to assess their students math level at the beginning to the year.

The CLMC will be held on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024. Registration will open on or around September 3rd, 2024.

To learn more about the CLMC, please click here.

Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge (COMC)

The Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge (COMC) is Canada’s premier national mathematics competition open to any student with an interest in and grasp of high school math. It is also the first exam on the road to the International Mathematical Olympiad. The purpose of the COMC is to encourage students to explore, discover, and learn more about mathematics and problem solving. The competition serves to provide teachers with a unique student enrichment activity during the fall term.

The COMC will be held on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024 and is the first step on the road to the IMO! Registration will open on or around September 3rd, 2024.

To learn more about the COMC, please click here.

Canada Jay Mathematical Competition (CJMC)

The Canada Jay Mathematical Competition (CJMC) is a Canadian math competition that was created in 2020 to reach younger students. The CJMC is open to students in grades K-8, with questions based primarily on grade 5-8 curriculum. This competition has been created by mathematicians from across Canada.

The CJMC will be held on Thursday, November 21st, 2024. Registration will open on or around September 3rd, 2024.

To learn more about the CJMC, please click here.

The Canadian Mathematical Olympiad Qualifying Repêchage (CMOQR or just Repêchage) is an invitation-only contest that serves as a qualifier for the Canadian Mathematical Olympiad (CMO).

Students participating in the Repêchage receive a set of problems whose solutions must be submitted within a week of receipt. Students who do well on the Repêchage are then invited to write the CMO.

The Canadian Mathematical Olympiad (CMO) is Canada’s premier national advanced mathematics competition. Candidates require an invitation from the Canadian Mathematical Society in order to participate.

Candidates require an invitation from the Canadian Mathematical Society in order to participate:

  1. The Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge (COMC) is the main qualifier for the CMO. Normally, the top 50 qualifying students from the COMC receive a direct invitation to write the CMO.
  2. Approximately the top 15-20 competitors from the CMO Qualifying Repêchage (CMOQR) earn invitations to the CMO.
  3. Normally, the top 3 students from the Alberta High School Mathematics Competition (Part II) and le Concours de l’Association Mathématique du Québec are invited to write the CMO.

Canadian Junior Mathematical Olympiad (CJMO)

The Canadian Junior Mathematical Olympiad (CJMO) is an Olympiad style competition for younger students. Like for the CMO, the invitation to the CJMO is based on the results of the COMC and the Repêchage. Invitees will be the top students in grade 10 and below. Invitations to the CJMO are sent out after the Repêchage has been graded. The CJMO exam is written at the same time as the CMO.

International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)

Based on the results from the COMC, the CMO and other national and international mathematics competitions and camps, the Canadian Mathematical Society IMO Committee will then select six students as part of Math Team Canada to travel to, and compete in, the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).

European Girls' Mathematical Olympiads

The top COMC female contestants will also qualify to be part of Girls’ Math Team Canada to represent Canada at the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO). EGMO is an international mathematics competition.

Thanks to our sponsors, the CMS is now able to support the participation of Black and Indigenous students by covering the cost of their exams through our Closing the Gap Initiative.

This opportunity has been made possible by Royal Bank of Canada and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).