Math Competition Preparation Programs | RSM (2025)

FAQs

How do I prepare for competitive math? ›

Lang: It's important for students to come into Math Competitions understanding the basic fundamentals and core topics of math concepts, such as Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry, Logic, Number Theory, and Probability. Aside from those skills, students should be able to break down and understand a problem.

The best recommendation we can make is to practice. Whether by taking courses, reading books, or working on problems from previous tests, practice will help you approach competitions feeling confident and prepared.

Level 11/12 Math Kangaroo does not have precalculus concepts (logs, complex numbers, trigonometry, set notation, or summation/product notation) whereas AMC 12 does.

At RSM, classes occur after school, and kids can launch their studies at any age pre-kindergarten or older. The Russian program has different levels in each grade, and the student can move from one level to another upon their achievement.

The AMC 8 is the hardest of the three math competitions on this list. Many consider Math Olympiad and Mathcounts to be good preparation for the AMC 8. This 40-minute competition is for middle schoolers in the 8th grade or below who are under 14.5 years old on competition day.

The Hardest Math Problem Student Contest is an annual competition presented by The Actuarial Foundation, the Institute of Competition Sciences and the New York Life Foundation that challenges grades 6-8 students to solve multistep, grade-specific math problems with real-world situations and engaging characters.

To stand out in your profile, college admissions officers will look for a student's academic achievements and how those activities and achievements relate to that student's profile. For STEM students interested in mathematics, part of building a solid college profile will be attending mathematics competitions.

As an internationally recognized competition, participation in Math Kangaroo helps students gain recognition for their mathematical abilities and deepen their understanding of the subject, allowing them to showcase their passion for math on applications and resumes.

USA. The registration fee for Math Kangaroo 2024 in the USA is as follows: Regular Registration: $21 per student from September 15th to December 15th. Late Registration: $35 per student from December 16th to December 31st.

Is AMC math contest hard? ›

While the length of the AMC 8 exam can be a challenge, the primary obstacle in taking the AMC 10 lies in the complexity of the questions. Even if students have sufficient time to answer the questions, they may struggle to score high if they are not adequately prepared for the difficulty level.

Parents may think it is helping their kids, but Harvard's Jon Star says there is no evidence that enrollment in RSM translates into better grades in schools or better standardized test scores. What's more, he takes issue with the idea that Russian math is somehow better than the math that's taught in public schools.

Subject Needs: If the child requires targeted support in math or reading, Kumon's focused curriculum may be ideal¹. For a more comprehensive understanding of mathematics, Russian School of Math's curriculum, which is based on Russian teaching methods, might be more suitable.

How does math education in Russia compare to that of the USA? In Russia they actually teach Mathematics, even at school (K-12). By teaching Math I mean teaching the concept of the Mathematical Proof, because this is what the mathematicians do. In the US they only teach you to use the existing formulas.