Easy Guide to Prepare for MathCounts Competition 2021 - 2022
What is Mathcounts?
MATHCOUNTS is a national middle school mathematics contest held in different places in the U.S. states and territories. It is established in 1983, which provides engaging mathematics programs to the US middle school students of different ability levels to grow their confidence and improve the attitudes about mathematics and problem solving.
Who are the founders of Mathcounts?
This nation-wide math competition's founding sponsors are the CNA Foundation, the National Society of Professionals Engineers and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The MATHCOUNTS foundation is a non-profitable organization which encourages students in grade 6-8 in all the US states and territories.
Who can appear for Mathcounts Competition?
Students of US in grades 6-8 are eligible to participate in MATHCOUNTS competitions.
The student has to attend a school located in a U.S. state or territory or it can be an overseas school that is affiliated with the U.S. Departments of Defense or State.
Maximum 12 NSCs from the same school can register for the Competition. Registration eligibility will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Home schools and home school groups in agreement with the home school laws of the state in which they are located are entitled to join in MATHCOUNTS competitions in accordance with all other policies.
Mathcounts Competition Format 2021-22
The Mathcounts Competition Series has 4 levels—school, chapter, state and national. Each level contains four rounds- Sprint Round, Target Round, Team Round and Countdown Round.
- Sprint Round- In this round, students will get 40 minutes to solve 30 questions.
- Target Round- In this round, students will get approximately 40 minutes to solve 8 problems which will be presented in 4 pairs.
- Team Round- In this step, students will get 20 minutes to solve 10 problems and they are allowed to interact with each other.
- Countdown Round- This round is a fast-paced face to face round and it is completely oral for top scoring individuals.
Scoring system of the Examination
The score of a team is equal to the average of the total of its participants' individual scores plus twice the number of questions answered accurately on the team round. With the individual scores of a maximum of 46 each and team-round scores a maximum of 20, 66 is a perfect team score.
What is a good score for Mathcounts?
A perfect score is 46. It depends on the state or chapter. The ranking is determined by either raw individual score or by the results of the Countdown Round at the Chapter and State Levels.
Important dates for Mathcounts Competition, 2021- 22
- Early Bird Registration Deadline- Nov. 12, 2021
- Regular Registration Deadline - Dec. 17, 2021
- Late Competition Series registrations- Jan. 1, 2022
- Chapter Competitions 2022- Feb. 1-28, 2022
- State Competitions 2022- Mar. 1-31, 2022
- Raytheon Technologies MATHCOUNTS National Competition 2022- May 8-9, 2022
Why is Mathcounts Competition important?
MATHCOUNTS enables the critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for success. In an independent research, more than 85% of MATHCOUNTS students said their self-confidence in their STEM abilities enhanced after participating in the Competition Series.
What does the winner of Mathcounts get?
Every year, the top team and the participants in the Countdown Round mostly win a trip to White House to meet the current president of the United States followed by a scholarship offering the sponsors.
How to prepare for Mathcounts Competition 2021-2022
Resources to prepare for Mathcounts : Curriculum at Cheenta
- MathCOUNTS Resources and Courses at Cheenta
- Apply for Math COUNTS Problem Marathon
- Watch and Learn with Cheenta
Preparation Tips
- Utilize your time and resources: Take the first step and start the preparation with whatever resource you have. You need to have a clear idea of the concepts and syllabus. Concentrate and enjoy the problems.
- Start from basics to advance: Try to increase your level gradually by starting with basic concepts and problems. This will boost your confidence level and you will learn easily.
- Solve previous year's papers: Solving questions from the previous year will help you to understand the difficulty level of the examination and you will get an idea which will definitely help you to crack the exam.
- Practice similar questions: Solving questions that are similar to the difficulty level of Mathcounts competition will be helpful.
- Try to attempt difficult problems: Solving more difficult problems will increase your thinking ability and problem solving skill.
- Math Summer Camps: Participating in such camps gives you a clear idea regarding other competitions. These three-weeks summer camps help you to devote yourself to problem-solving 6-8 hours per day and provides you the right environment for your growth.
- Get a mentor/coach: A coach can guide you and monitor your performance and guide you. He/She can help you sharpen your skills by letting you work in the right direction.
- Mock Tests: Mock Tests are absolutely necessary to check your ability and time management skills. If it is an online test, then it can help you know your preparation status in the competition. You can analyze and rectify yourself to achieve the goal.
- Track Your Progress: You should also track your progress. If something unimportant is stealing your time, recognize it and try to avoid it. Keep yourself surrounded by people who encourage you. Discuss your dreams and goals with them.
- Healthy lifestyle: It is the biggest myth that studying for long hours brings productivity at your work. There should be a routine with a proper work-rest balance and then you should ritually follow it.
All the best!