HiMCM-related modeling competitions
CHOOSE BY
FIT, NOT HYPE.
Compare a program’s eligibility, calendar, format, workload, language, and learning goals on the organizer’s official page before committing.
COMAP’s own contest family
THE COMAP
LADDER.
MidMCM. The Middle Mathematical Contest in Modeling runs alongside HiMCM for students aged 14½ or younger at the contest start (born on or after May 1, 2012 for the 2026 season). MidMCM teams choose Problem A, B, or C; Problem C is reserved solely for MidMCM, and submitting A or B means competing in HiMCM.
IM²C – the invitation pathway. HiMCM performance leads directly to the International Mathematical Modeling Challenge: all USA HiMCM teams awarded Meritorious or above (Meritorious, Finalist, Outstanding) are invited to IM²C, held March-April 2027. USA MidMCM teams awarded Finalist or above are also invited. This is the official next rung after a strong HiMCM season.
MCM/ICM. COMAP’s Mathematical Contest in Modeling and Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling are the undergraduate versions of the same team-modeling format – the natural continuation for HiMCM alumni entering university.
SCUDEM. COMAP’s Student Challenge Using Differential Equations Modeling focuses specifically on differential-equations modeling, for students who want a narrower technical emphasis.
NCTM recognition. With support from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, an NCTM Award is presented to two HiMCM Outstanding teams and one MidMCM Outstanding team at final judging – a signal of how the mathematics-education community regards these contests.
COMPARISON
CHECKLIST.
| Dimension | Question to verify |
|---|---|
| Organizer | Who runs the program, and which website is authoritative? |
| Eligibility | Which grades, schools, countries, and advisor arrangements are allowed? |
| Format | Team size, work period, location, language, file format, and page limit |
| Calendar | Registration, contest, submission, and result dates with time zone |
| Cost | Official fee, payment method, taxes, and refund terms |
| Integrity | Rules on sources, software, collaboration, AI tools, and external help |
| Learning fit | Does the format develop the skills the student actually wants to practice? |
Official starting points
Listings are informational, not endorsements. Names, eligibility, dates, and URLs can change; verify on the organizer’s current page.