Noetic Learning Math Contest
A popular biannual US math contest for grades 2-8 with 20 problems in 45 minutes. Accessible through schools, community groups, or parent-led teams.
Grade Levels
Grades 2-8
Format
Short Answer · 20 questions · 45 minutes
Scoring
20 problems in 45 minutes. Top 10% earn National Honor Roll Medals. Top 50% earn Honorable Mention Ribbons.
Participants
Tens of thousands
October
Fall contest (October/November)
April
Spring contest (April)
Registration
Schools, community groups, or parent-led teams
Prizes & Recognition
National Honor Roll Medals (top 10%), Honorable Mention Ribbons (top 50%), Team Trophies.
About This Competition
The Noetic Learning Math Contest is a popular biannual mathematics competition for students in grades 2-8 across the United States. Held each fall (October/November) and spring (April), the contest features 20 carefully crafted problems to be solved in 45 minutes.
The contest emphasizes problem-solving skills and mathematical reasoning beyond routine calculation. Problems increase in difficulty, allowing students at various levels to be challenged. One of the most appealing aspects of the Noetic Learning Math Contest is its accessibility — teams can be organized not only by schools but also by community groups, homeschool cooperatives, and parent-led groups, with registration at just $99 for up to 30 students.
The top 10% of students nationally earn National Honor Roll Medals, while the top 50% receive Honorable Mention Ribbons. Team Trophies recognize the highest-performing groups. The contest has grown steadily to become one of the most popular elementary and middle school math competitions in the United States.
How to Prepare
Focus on Word Problem Comprehension
Noetic emphasizes mathematical reasoning through word problems. Practice translating real-world scenarios into mathematical equations and solving them step by step.
20 Problems in 45 Minutes
That's about 2 minutes per problem. Read each problem carefully, set up the solution mentally, then compute. Skip and return to problems that take too long.
Use Noetic Learning's Practice Tests
Noetic Learning offers practice tests and past competition problems at noetic-learning.com. Their 'Problem of the Week' is excellent for consistent practice.
Build Confidence for Elementary Students
Noetic is designed to make math enjoyable and challenging for elementary students. A positive experience here can spark a lifelong love of mathematics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Noetic Learning Math Contest?
The Noetic Learning Math Contest is a biannual problem-solving competition for students in grades 2-8 held in the fall and spring. It features 20 problems to be solved in 45 minutes, emphasizing mathematical reasoning and creative problem-solving.
Who can participate?
Any student in grades 2-8 can participate through a registered team. Teams can be organized by schools, community groups, homeschool co-ops, or parent-led groups. Each team can have up to 30 students.
How much does it cost?
Registration is $99 per team for up to 30 students, making it one of the most affordable math competitions available. The fee covers both the fall and spring contests.
What awards are given?
The top 10% of students nationally earn National Honor Roll Medals, and the top 50% receive Honorable Mention Ribbons. Team Trophies are awarded to top-performing teams. Winners are announced on the Noetic Learning website.
Related Competitions
Math Kangaroo
The world's largest mathematics competition with 6 million+ participants in 90+ countries. Multiple-choice format across 6 difficulty levels, emphasizing fun and accessible problem-solving.
AMC 8
The entry point to America's premier math competition pipeline. 25 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes for students in grades 6-8.
AMC 10
The intermediate level of America's AMC series for students in grade 10 and below. Top scorers (~5%) qualify for the AIME invitational.
AIME
The American Invitational Mathematics Examination, by invitation for top AMC 10/12 scorers. 15 problems with integer answers in 3 hours.
MATHCOUNTS
The premier US middle school math competition. Free to enter, with a four-level structure from school to national. Features Sprint, Target, Team, and Countdown rounds.
MOEMS
One of the world's most popular elementary math competition programs with 120,000+ students from 40 countries. Five monthly contests from November through March.