Gauss Contest
Canada's introductory math competition for grades 7-8, organized by the University of Waterloo's CEMC.
Grade Levels
Grades 7-8 (Ages 12-14)
Format
Multiple Choice · 25 questions · 60 minutes
Participants
Tens of thousands
May
Held in May
Registration
Schools register through CEMC
Prizes & Recognition
Certificates for top scorers.
About This Competition
The Gauss Contest, organized by the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) at the University of Waterloo, is Canada's introductory math competition for grades 7-8. Part of the broader Waterloo contest ecosystem that serves over 200,000 students annually.
How to Prepare
Strengthen Problem-Solving Fundamentals
Gauss covers arithmetic, geometry, and early algebra for grades 7-8. Focus on word problem translation and systematic problem-solving approaches.
Answer All 25 Questions — No Penalty
There is no penalty for wrong answers on the Gauss Contest. Always answer every question, even if you need to make an educated guess.
Use CEMC's Free Past Contest Archive
The Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (cemc.uwaterloo.ca) provides free access to all past Gauss papers with complete solutions.
A Gateway to Waterloo's Contest Series
Gauss is the entry point to CEMC's contest ladder (Pascal, Cayley, Fermat, Euclid). Strong early performance builds confidence for these higher-level challenges.
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