There are 3 different contest levels and each is a bit different.
Grades 3-5:
This is our Elementary contest level. The Elementary level has 4 rounds:
Number Sense Round - Designed to encourage students develop their mental math skills, students have 10 minutes to complete 80 problems. This is good practice and helps them prepare for upper levels of math competitions. It isn't about memorizing facts for the sake of memorizing facts. It is about having strong basics so that they can spend more time strategizing how to solve a problem than doing the arithmetic.
Sprint Round - This round is similar to the Sprint Round they will do when they get to middle school level competitions. The primary difference is the Elementary Sprint Round is multiple choice. Students have 40 minutes to complete 30 questions.
Target Round - The target round is a competition standard. In the Target Round, students are given only 2 problems at a time to solve. In this competition, they will receive 6 minutes to solve each pair of questions. Once the 6 minutes are over, their answer sheet is collected, and they will be given the next set of questions. There are 4 sets in all for a total of 8 questions in this round. These problems require students to spend more time figuring out how to solve the problem. They are given only 2 problems at a time to help them manage their time and not get so focused on 1 problem that they don't attempt to do any others.
Team Round - For this round, students will be part of a 4-person team. Teams may be formed before the event or we will put the students together. Students will each be given a set of 10 problems, 20 minutes to solve them, but the team will submit only 1 answer sheet. Students will be instructed to decide before the Team Round begins how they want to approach the problems: they can all work on a different problem, work in pairs, all work on the same problem, etc. It is really up to them to decide how to do them. Because it is a team round, they will be advised to have a teammate check their work. After all, it would be better for your teammate to spot a mistake and get it corrected than have the judge mark it wrong.
Important notes:
Students can work problems however they would like. Scores are solely based on correct and incorrect answers.
Student should bring calculators as they are allowed for some rounds. Make sure the batteries are fresh. Calculators that allow students to store formulas are not allowed.
This is about learning and finding a joy of math. Before, during, and after math competitions, work to focus your student on having fun, putting forth effort, and ask them to identify 1 or 2 problems that they didn't solve correctly (or took them longer than they think it should have) that they want to "kick in the butt" the next time they see it. Success in math competitions comes from the experience of being exposed to new problems and figuring out how to tackle similar problems next time.
There is a State competition for Elementary level. Students can qualify as individuals or as a team. To qualify as a team all 4 members must attend the same school. Students who are home schooled may form a qualifying team.
Awards will be given to top individuals, teams, and schools
Grades 6-8:
This is our Middle School contest level. The Middle School level has 4 official rounds but on months where Middle School and Elementary levels both have competitions, Middle School will have a 5th round:
Number Sense Round - This is a round developed for the Elementary School level. Because students in Northern Nevada have not had the exposure to math competitions that students in other parts of the country have, Middle School level participants will compete in this round as well. It is designed to encourage students develop their mental math skills, students have 10 minutes to complete 80 problems. This is good practice and helps them prepare for upper levels of math competitions. It isn't about memorizing facts for the sake of memorizing facts. It is about having strong basics so that they can spend more time strategizing how to solve a problem than doing the arithmetic.
Sprint Round - This round is similar to the Sprint Round students do at MathCounts and in other team based math competitions. Students have 40 minutes to complete 30 questions.
Target Round - The target round is a competition standard. In the Target Round, students are given only 2 problems at a time to solve. In this competition, they will receive 6 minutes to solve each pair of questions. Once the 6 minutes are over, their answer sheet is collected, and they will be given the next set of questions. There are 4 sets in all for a total of 8 questions in this round. These problems require students to spend more time figuring out how to solve the problem. They are given only 2 problems at a time to help them manage their time and not get so focused on 1 problem that they don't attempt to do any others.
Team Round - For this round, students will be part of a 4-person team. Teams may be formed before the event or we will put the students together. Students will each be given a set of 10 problems, 20 minutes to solve them, but the team will submit only 1 answer sheet. Students will be instructed to decide before the Team Round begins how they want to approach the problems: they can all work on a different problem, work in pairs, all work on the same problem, etc. It is really up to them to decide how to do them. Because it is a team round, they will be advised to have a teammate check their work. After all, it would be better for your teammate to spot a mistake and get it corrected than have the judge mark it wrong.
Countdown Round - Not all students will participate in this round. The individuals with the top scores after the Sprint and Target Rounds will compete in this round. It is head to head pairing. Problems are projected on a screen and students buzz in to answer. Students who are not participating in this round are expected to watch those that are. This will help them prepare for future competitions.
Couple important notes:
Students can work problems however they would like. Scores are solely based on correct and incorrect answers.
Student should bring calculators as they are allowed for some rounds. Make sure the batteries are fresh. Calculators that allow students to store formulas are not allowed.
This is about learning and finding a joy of math. Before, during, and after math competitions, work to focus your student on having fun, putting forth effort, and ask them to identify 1 or 2 problems that they didn't solve correctly (or took them longer than they think it should have) that they want to "kick in the butt" the next time they see it. Success in math competitions comes from the experience of being exposed to new problems and figuring out how to tackle similar problems next time.
There is NOT a State Competition for Middle School level at this point in time.
Awards given to top individuals,teams, and schools.
Grades 9-12:
This is our High School contest level. The Contest level has 4 rounds:
Sprint Round - This round is similar in format to contests such as the AMC10 and AMC12. Students have 60 minutes to complete 30 multiple choice questions.
Target Round - The target round is a competition standard. In the Target Round, students are given only 2 problems at a time to solve. In this competition, they will receive 10 minutes to solve each pair of questions. Once the 10 minutes are over, their answer sheet is collected, and they will be given the next set of questions. There are 4 sets in all for a total of 8 questions in this round. These problems require students to spend more time figuring out how to solve the problem. They are given only 2 problems at a time to help them manage their time and not get so focused on 1 problem that they don't attempt to do any others.
Team Round - For this round, students will be part of a 6-person team. Teams may be formed before the event or we will put the students together. Students will each be given a set of 10 problems, 20 minutes to solve them, but the team will submit only 1 answer sheet. Students will be instructed to decide before the Team Round begins how they want to approach the problems: they can all work on a different problem, work in pairs, all work on the same problem, etc. It is really up to them to decide how to do them. Because it is a team round, they will be advised to have a teammate check their work. After all, it would be better for your teammate to spot a mistake and get it corrected than have the judge mark it wrong.
Relay Round - This is a bit fun and crazy put together. Relay rounds break each team into 2 relay groups. Each group has a chance to solve the relay correctly and score points for the team. There will be 5 separate relays and each relay lasts 6 minutes.
Important notes:
Students can work problems however they would like. Scores are solely based on correct and incorrect answers.
Student should bring calculators as they are allowed for some rounds. Make sure the batteries are fresh. Calculators that allow students to store formulas are not allowed.
This is about learning and finding a joy of math. Before, during, and after math competitions, work to focus your student on having fun, putting forth effort, and ask them to identify 1 or 2 problems that they didn't solve correctly (or took them longer than they think it should have) that they want to "kick in the butt" the next time they see it. Success in math competitions comes from the experience of being exposed to new problems and figuring out how to tackle similar problems next time.
There is a State competition for High School level. Students can qualify as individuals or as a team. To qualify as a team all 6 members must attend the same school. Students who are home schooled may form a qualifying team.
Trophies and medals given to top individuals, team, and schools.