Where Mathematics
Comes Alive
Students from around the world come together and develop mathematical thinking through multiple collaborative, creative, and fun experiences.
From strategic duels and cryptography to classic problem-solving races and probability fairgrounds, there’s something for everyone.
Making Mathematics Exciting
Mathematics learning should be holistic, taking into account both hard skills (like subject knowledge and problem-solving) and soft skills (like collaborating and communicating). To achieve this, our competitions mix mathematical rigour, teamwork, cultural experience, and creativity to inspire a love for mathematics in students.
Qualifiers
(Regional Hosted or Online)
WMC Qualifiers are exciting full-day events where students compete with each other across 5 unique rounds!
Every regional event has an electric atmosphere where maths enthusiasts are free to flex their thinking skills in new contexts and novel ways. Top overall performers are awarded a Golden Ticket to progress towards the Finals!
The online pathway is for individuals who are unable to join a Regional Hosted Qualifier.
If you are interested in joining a Regional Qualifier, please do so through your school/teacher.
If you would like to participate in an Online Qualifier, you may sign up as an individual student.
Qualifier Rounds
Regional and Online Qualifiers both feature the same 5 rounds, with a few variations to suit each circumstance. Students will solve traditional problems in Classic and Cycle Solve, engage in strategic thinking and outwit opponents in Duel, decrypt logical statements in Crypto, and race to answer the most problems in Lightning.
Interview
This is an online interview for Golden Ticket holders. In preparation for the interview, participants will create their own Cycle round and share it with their mentor interviewer the day before.
The interview will also include a general discussion about your interest in mathematics and whether you would be a good fit for the Finals - just like a university interview!
Finals
WMC Finals consist of 15 rounds across a full week, with the added benefit of getting to experience university life in a prestigious University College!
WMC Finals feature more complex and exciting rounds, some of which involve being teamed up with participants from different countries and backgrounds. This encourages personal growth, develops interpersonal skills, and helps participants learn how to manage diverse team dynamics.
Finalists also get the opportunity to bond with experienced WMC mentors, go on adventurous excursions, and form lifelong friendships with like-minded individuals from around the world!
Oxbridge Senior Camp
…a special treat after the Senior Finals
Extend the networking fun for an extra week to better experience first hand what doing actual mathematical research and communication is! The extra 7 days will be packed with tutorial sessions, excursions to Cambridge, Oxford and University College London, concluding with an exhibition of self-crafted problems and a Mathematical Essay within Royal Holloway University of London.
Finals Rounds
The Finals include a total of 15 rounds, only 5 of which are the same as in Qualifiers (Classic, Crypto, Cycle Solve, Duel, Lightning) — the remaining 10 are entirely new! Finals rounds are designed to encourage a balance of lateral thinking, teamwork, and learning new concepts.
Eligibility
WMC is held at two levels: Junior and Senior. Both categories feature the same rounds and format with appropriately adjusted difficulty and duration.
Junior level participants should not have started any post-16 level mathematics courses. This means most students are within Grade 10 (UK Year 11) or below. Once a student has participated at Senior level, we interpret this as a post-16 level mathematics course.
Senior level participants should not have started any tertiary level mathematics courses. This means most students are within Grade 12 (UK Year 13) or below.
If you are unsure which level is most suitable for you or your students, contact us. We are happy to advise you!
Eligibility Criteria
| Level | Junior | Senior |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Grade / UK Year | G10 / Y11 | G12 / Y13 |
| Recommended Ages | 14-16 | 16-18 |
Events Timeline
| February-April | June | August-October | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Qualifier | Senior Finals | Junior Qualifier | Junior Finals |
Testimonials
See what the community has to say
"So many different skills are needed: collaboration and communication for the lighting, crypto and shuttle rounds, whereas quick thinking is required for duel and codebreaker. The confidence round is unique and requires strategy as you determine how many points you risk for each question. Every round is fun and tests entirely different skills!"
James Tsang
Teacher
Renaissance College HK
"I participated in the 2023 WMC Finals in Melbourne. It was simply amazing. I was able to make friends and talk to people from all around the world. This is a spectacular and unique experience that I think all students should try. We explored the fun and joy of maths, which one cannot imagine. It would definitely be one of the lasting memories of my student life."
Cho Ying Lau
Junior Finalist 2023
"The WMC give young mathematicians an opportunity to connect with other like-minded enthusiasts all over the world. The Duel is high adrenaline and helps develop patience and perseverance when waiting to be matched. The Codebreaker is intense when it feels that there might be no pattern at all. Every round is amazing and I look forward to subsequent WMCs - Mathematics can be a sport!"
Sichao Xiong
Math Fanatic
"Our students loved the experience of working individually as well as in a team. They returned from the Championships full of excitement about sharing their mathematical experience."
Swati Ray
Teacher
Harrow Int School, HK
Frequently Asked Questions
Note that about half of the WMC rounds are designed such that having mathematical curiosity is the best practice experience possible.
A small number of questions in the Finals rounds are genuine Olympiad style.
About half of the rounds are aimed for anyone who enjoys mathematical and logical problem solving. All rounds are aimed for all students to improve their reasoning communication, critical analysis and collaboration skills.
Using an athletics analogy, if Olympiads are like the 100m and 200m, then the WMC is like the Decathlon AND Modern Pentathon rolled into one!
Regional Qualifier rounds permit ONLY scratch paper, pen, ruler and a pair of compasses.
For the interview, Cycle: Part 2 round permits the use of any online tools.
In the Finals, Datamine, Modelling and Fairground require the use of online tools to conduct research and collate plans within teams.
Regional Qualifier organisers decide the maximum number of teams each school may bring, this is sometimes as many as 5.
Within Regional Qualifiers, your school’s teacher adjudicator selects your Synergy team of 3 within your school group. Some Regional Qualifiers conduct 1 or 2 rounds in Alliance teams. These are decided by the host teacher adjudicator and you will work with 2 other students both from different schools.
Many alumni forge life-long friendships from the Finals. This is by design.
Interview completion: A success transcript.
Finals completion: A certificate of participation and a success transcript. There are also rare category medals with certificates up for grabs.
Regional Qualifiers: We charge a flat fee of SGD50/participant to help cover our costs. Any fees greater than this are at the discretion of the host organisers.
Junior Finals: All accommodation, meals, excursions and round resources within University College, University of Melbourne, including transfers from and to Melbourne airport.
Senior Finals: All accommodation, meals, excursions and round resources within Imperial College London. It does NOT include any transfers before or after the event.
This said, we hope all teachers are interested in their student’s learning and will at least be engaged (pastoral) mentors/coaches throughout the experience.
Online Qualifiers: Nothing, students complete the whole process themselves.
Regional Qualifiers: Create a teacher’s account, link your students’ accounts, then assign them into teams of 3 within your chosen venue. Select for the school to pay the fees, or for individual students to transfer directly (so ZERO finance admin for you). Turn up with your students on Qualifier day, pastorally support them, network with the other teachers and help to adjudicate a round or two.
Finals: There are two options: make it a school trip or Finalists attend independently. If it is a school trip, the teacher has pastoral responsibility for their own students. The teacher adjudicator fees are waived for schools with 6 Finalists. For students who attend independently, WMC takes full pastoral responsibility for them throughout the week, and liaises with parents from the start of the Finals registration process.
Contact us to discuss what will be the best overall experience. This is usually a customised private event (we can cater for as young as Grade 6), where prizes may include free invites into the next Junior Online Qualifier.
Senior Finals, London - Finalists must find their own way to Imperial College London on the morning of the first day. Accompanied transfers from and to a London airport may be purchased on top of the registration fee. Due to high demand and contractual restrictions, it is not possible for us to provide accommodation for the night before and/or after the event.
Still have questions?
Contact SupportGet in Touch!
Have questions about our mathematics competitions? We're here to help! Reach out to us and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
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