Draft:University of Waterloo Mathematics and Computing Contests
| Founder | Faculty of Mathematics (1963) |
|---|---|
Region | Worldwide |
Official language | English, French |
| Website | cemc |
The University of Waterloo Mathematics and Computing Contests are a family of problem-solving competitions administered by the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) at the University of Waterloo, Canada. The programme began in 1963 with the Euclid Contest and now reaches more than 250,000 pupils in over 80 countries each year.[1][2]
History
The first contest—the Euclid for Grade 12—was created by Waterloo professors to promote mathematical enrichment in Ontario high schools.[3] During the 1970s multiple-choice contests for Grades 9–11 were added, followed by computing competitions in 1995 when the CEMC was formally established.
Contest families
| Level | Contest | Format | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 7–8 | Gauss | 25 multiple-choice | 60 min |
| Grade 9 – 11 | Pascal (9) | 25 multiple-choice | 60 min |
| Cayley (10) | |||
| Fermat (11) | |||
| Grade 9 – 11 | Fryer (9) | 4 full-solution questions | 75 min |
| Galois (10) | |||
| Hypatia (11) | |||
| Grade 12/open | Euclid | 10 written-response | 150 min |
| Grades 9–10 | Canadian Intermediate Math Contest (CIMC) | Mixed MC/long answer | 120 min |
| Grades 11–12 | Canadian Senior Math Contest (CSMC) | Mixed MC/long answer | 120 min |
| Grades 5–10 | Beaver Computing Challenge | Multiple-choice | 45 min |
| Grades 9–12 | Canadian Computing Competition (Junior/Senior) | Computer programmes | 3h |
| Invitation-only | Canadian Computing Olympiad | Computer programmes |
High-scoring students on the CIMC/CSMC pathway are invited to the Canadian Mathematical Olympiad, while top CCC participants attend the Canadian Computing Olympiad, which selects Canada’s team for the International Olympiad in Informatics.[4]
Educational outreach
Besides contests, the CEMC runs:
- Summer camps such as the Euclid Mathematics Camp for Grade 11 students.[5]
- Teacher workshops across Canada and online professional-development days.
- Open courseware—free problem banks, video lessons, and a weekly “Problem of the Week” series.
Reception and impact
Education researchers cite the contests as an early pipeline to STEM careers and to international olympiads.[6] Media coverage frequently notes the high take-up in East Asia and the Middle East.[7]
See also
- Mathematics education
- International Mathematical Olympiad
- International Olympiad in Informatics
- Canadian Mathematical Society
References
- ^ "Waterloo contests mark 60 years nurturing young math minds". The Record. 12 April 2023.
- ^ "Why Canadian math contests have global pull". The Globe and Mail. 18 May 2022.
- ^ Mathematics at Waterloo: A Fifty-Year Chronicle. University of Waterloo Press. 2017. pp. 112–114.
- ^ "How Canada trains its international math and coding teams". Quanta. 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Summer camp adds proof-based math to teens' toolkits". Waterloo Chronicle. 15 July 2021.
- ^ Smith, L. (2020). "Contest participation as a predictor of STEM persistence". Canadian Journal of STEM Education. 5: 37–49.
- ^ "Hong Kong schools among top performers in Canadian math contests". South China Morning Post. 22 June 2023.