HiMCM 2026 official rules & instructions – reproduced for reference
READ THE
CONSTRAINTS.
The complete HiMCM and MidMCM 2026 rules, registration requirements, and contest instructions as published by COMAP, restructured for readability but preserved in full. COMAP’s contest website remains the controlling source and final authority.
Contest dates and times – 2026
THE 2026
CLOCK.
| Milestone | Official time (EST) |
|---|---|
| Registration deadline | 2:00 pm EST, Wednesday, November 4, 2026 |
| Contest window opens (problems released) | 3:00 pm EST, Wednesday, November 4, 2026 |
| Contest window closes (all work stops) | 8:00 pm EST, Tuesday, November 17, 2026 |
| Solution report submission deadline | 9:00 pm EST, Tuesday, November 17, 2026 |
| Receipt verification | Advisors log in one to two days after the close; COMAP posts solution status for most papers within 24 hours |
| Contest results | Posted on or before January 31, 2027 |
Dates above follow COMAP’s published 2026 contest dates (November 4-17, 2026). Verify the live official pages before registering or submitting – COMAP announces changes only on the contest website, on X and on Weibo.
Section I – Participants and advisors
WHO MAY
COMPETE.
HiMCM. Up to four (4) current high school (or below) students from the same school/institution or program form a team. Each team must have a faculty advisor from their school/institution or program. There is no limit to the number of teams a school/institution or program may register, and no limit to the number of teams an advisor may advise. The advisor must complete the registration process for each team.
MidMCM. Up to four (4) middle school/level age students 14½ years of age or below from the same school/institution or program form a team. For the 2026 contests, students born on or after May 1, 2012 are eligible for a MidMCM team; students born before May 1, 2012 may join a HiMCM team. If any one team member is older than 14½ at the start of the contest, the team can still compete – in HiMCM only.
Affiliation clarifications (official).
- Dual affiliations: a student enrolled at a school and participating in a program may compete under the school or under the same approved program as their teammates – not both.
- Cross-school teams: permitted only if all members are affiliated with the same approved program.
- International equivalency: non-US grade levels and age standards must align with the secondary (HiMCM) or middle-level (MidMCM) definitions and the stated age limit.
- Verification: COMAP may request documentation to verify eligibility, age, enrollment/affiliation, advisor status, and program approval. Failure to meet or truthfully represent these requirements may result in disqualification at COMAP’s discretion.
| Official definition | Meaning (2026) |
|---|---|
| Faculty advisor | Any faculty or staff member at the same school/institution or program as the students. Advisors do not have to be from the mathematics department. The advisor ensures the students follow contest rules and procedures and acts as the team’s main point of contact. |
| School or institution | The primary and comprehensive full-time provider of all of the team members’ education studies in all subjects. |
| Program (new for 2026) | A non-school educational program not founded for the exclusive purpose of participating in mathematics competitions – for example dual/joint-enrollment programs, magnet programs, online high schools, academic or training programs drawing students from multiple schools, or community-based/nonprofit extracurricular programs. |
| Not eligible as an affiliation | Tutoring, test-prep, contest-prep, and math- or STEM-learning centers whose primary mission is short-term instruction or competition preparation are not considered schools/institutions or programs for registering and competing in COMAP contests. Questions: himcm@comap.org. |
Section III – Changes for 2026
NEW THIS
YEAR.
- New student affiliation policy (the “Program” definition and eligibility limits above).
- Updated policy on the use of large language models and generative AI tools.
- New online submission process for solution papers.
- Follow @COMAPMath on X or COMAPCHINAOFFICIAL on Weibo for the most up-to-date contest information – COMAP does not send email reminders except in extreme circumstances.
Section IV – Contest rules, complete
THE FULL
RULEBOOK.
Contest period
The 2026 contest runs within COMAP’s published window: problems release at 3:00 pm EST on Wednesday, November 4 and all work must stop by 8:00 pm EST on Tuesday, November 17, 2026. Teams may work on their problem at any time during this 14-day window.
Team composition
A HiMCM team consists of up to four secondary (or below) students enrolled in the same school/institution or program. A MidMCM team consists of up to four middle school/level age students 14½ or below from the same school/institution or program. There is no limit to the number of teams a school/institution or program may register.
Advisor and registration
Each team must have an advisor; advisors can serve more than one team. Advisors must register teams before the start of the contest.
Control number and password
Teams must obtain and use the control number and password assigned at registration to participate.
Advisor login at start
Advisors must log in at the beginning of the contest period (3:00 pm EST, November 4, 2026) to receive the contest problems for their teams.
Membership locks at the open
Not later than the opening of the contest window, advisors must assign members to a particular team. Students cannot change teams for the duration of the contest.
Outside help is prohibited
Once the window opens, teams may not use any persons other than their own team members to discuss or obtain ideas for solving their problem. Teams may use any “inanimate” resource they find on their own – web pages, books, articles, research reports, databases. Teams may not seek answers, ideas, information, or help locating resources from anyone outside the team, including their advisor, other teachers, other students, or experts and professionals in a relevant field. No electronic social media of any kind (email, texting, chat rooms, interactive blogs, X, Weibo, help/support sites). Posting or sharing any part of the problem statement, the team’s solution process, or any partial or complete work in any form during the contest is strictly prohibited. COMAP will disqualify or deem unsuccessful any team that violates this rule. The relevant issue is intent: each team is expected to develop all of its substantive analysis and solution without the help of others. Teams are encouraged to meet virtually – but members may communicate only with their own team.
Cite every outside source
Teams must document any outside sources of information using footnotes, endnotes, or in-line documentation, and include appropriate citations in a reference list.
Disclose AI use
Clearly indicate the use of LLMs or other AI tools in the report, including which model was used and for what purpose, with inline citations and entries in the reference section. Append the official “Report on Use of AI” after the 25-page solution; this section has no page limit and does not count toward the 25 pages.
Problem choice
HiMCM teams choose Problem A or B and submit one solution. MidMCM teams choose Problem A, B, or C and submit one solution. Submitting a solution to Problem A or B means the team is competing in HiMCM; Problem C is reserved solely for MidMCM.
Anonymous papers only
The names of the students, advisor, and/or institution must not appear on any page of the solution. The solution must contain no identifying information other than the team control number.
Format
Papers must be submitted as a PDF electronic file, typed in English, with a readable font of at least 12-point type.
Hard stop, then submit
When the window closes at 8:00 pm EST on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, advisors must ensure each team makes no further changes to its solution paper, and that every solution document is properly prepared and submitted to COMAP for judging no later than 9:00 pm EST the same day.
Parental/guardian authorization
Authorization forms are now part of the registration process. Keep a copy for your records; you do not need to send forms to COMAP.
Accommodations and enforcement
COMAP follows all accommodations relative to learning conditions used in an affected student’s daily local school program; if specialized staff is required, the school bears responsibility for providing assistance as required by law, and should detail any accommodations used. COMAP reserves the right to disqualify or reduce the award level of teams found to have violated the contest rules.
Section V – Contest registration
REGISTER
PROPERLY.
- The registration fee is $100 per team. Register only teams that will take part; fees are non-refundable. Payment is by credit card via COMAP’s secure website only.
- Advisors must register all teams before the official deadline. The registration system then stops accepting new teams – COMAP accepts no late registrations. Register well in advance to guard against internet interruptions.
- Advisors do not have to designate specific team members when registering a team: register the number of teams needed, then return before the contest to assign students to each control number.
- Registration is via the contest website only. Use one valid email address and the same password for all teams under the same advisor.
- Team members may be assigned up until the beginning of the contest period. Once the problems are read, team membership cannot change.
- The screen showing your team control number is the only confirmation of successful registration – record it or print it.
- The spelling of all student and institution names is the advisor’s responsibility and appears on certificates exactly as entered. COMAP will not reprint certificates.
- To change registration information, log in with your registration email and password and use Register/Update. To add teams after registering, email himcm@comap.org.
- Return to the contest website regularly for updated instructions or announcements. All contest communication is via the contest website, X, and Weibo – not email.
- To ensure your teams’ papers are considered and judged, return to the website to confirm team information.
Section VI – Before the contest
PREPARE THE
TEAM.
COMAP encourages advisors and faculty to coach and prepare students before the start of the contest, and lists these official resources:
- Review the rules, guidelines, and prior years’ problems on the HiMCM/MidMCM website.
- Visit mathmodels.org to view previous years’ problems and solutions.
- Read the Consortium HiMCM and MidMCM articles – the Director’s Article and Judges’ Commentary describe what judges look for in each section of a solution, with exemplars.
- Read the official “Procedures and Tips” article for guidance before, during, and after the contest.
- Ensure students have access to computers for word processing, spreadsheets, and dynamic modeling of graphs and geometric relationships. Graphing calculators may also help.
Section VI – During the contest
SOLVE, THEN
WRITE IT.
Problems become available at 3:00 pm EST on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The team advisor logs in and uses the VIEW PROBLEMS link; COMAP recommends printing both problems for students to read before choosing. Teams may use any inanimate source of data, materials, computers, software, references, websites, or books – referencing every source used. Partial solutions are acceptable: HiMCM and MidMCM solutions are judged as varying degrees of successful, and judges are primarily interested in the team’s thought processes, analysis of the problem, modeling approaches, and mathematical methods. For MidMCM teams only, advisors may assist in preparing the final document for electronic submission (scanning, file conversion, PDF preparation) – never in developing the solution itself.
COMAP’s official solution guidelines
- Make the solution articulate, concise, and organized, so the reader can easily follow the process and conclusions; present major ideas and results in key statements.
- Present a clarification or restatement of the problem as appropriate.
- Present a clear exposition of all variables, assumptions, and hypotheses.
- Present an analysis of the problem, motivating or justifying the model used.
- Include a design of the model, and discuss how the model could be tested.
- Discuss any apparent strengths or weaknesses of the model or approach.
- Summarize derivations, computations, or illustrative examples in the main body; leave lengthy derivations, calculations, and data to appendices.
- Provide a conclusion and report results explicitly.
- Document resources and references.
| Solution document requirement | Official specification |
|---|---|
| File | One single Adobe PDF electronic file containing text, figures, charts, and supporting materials, typed in English, readable font of at least 12-point type |
| Page header | Every page carries the team control number and page number – for example “Team # 1234, Page 6 of 13” |
| Order and length | Summary Sheet first, then up to 24 solution pages – 25 pages total. A table of contents is encouraged and counts toward the limit; reference list, notes pages, and appendices also count and follow the solution pages |
| AI report | The Report on Use of AI is appended after the 25-page solution; it has no page limit and is not counted |
| Anonymity | No student, advisor, or institution names on any page; no identifying information other than the control number |
| Freeze | Stop all changes to the solution at 8:00 pm EST on Tuesday, November 17, 2026 |
Advisor activities during the contest: log in to the contest website; specify the contest (HiMCM or MidMCM) for each team; enter and check the spelling of team members’ names for each control number; and specify the problem each team has chosen.
Section VI – After the contest: submission (new for 2026)
SUBMIT
ONCE.
Stop, then send
End all work by 8:00 pm EST on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, and submit the PDF solution to COMAP by 9:00 pm EST the same day. Do not wait until the last minute – send the solution as soon as it is complete, and send only one copy. Changes after the freeze constitute a rule violation and may result in disqualification.
Use the official online form
Each team submits its PDF through COMAP’s online submission page (forms.comap.org). Any team member or the advisor may submit. You will need the team control number, advisor ID number, and the problem choice. Limit one solution per submission form.
Name and size the file correctly
Use the team control number as the PDF file name – for example 1234.pdf. The file must be under 20 MB. Page 1 is the team summary, followed by the solution, references, and appendices. Do not include or send programs, software, databases, or other files – they are not used in judging. No names of students, advisor, or institution on any page.
Verify receipt
The PDF must be received at COMAP by 9:00 pm EST on November 17, 2026; late or non-conforming submissions may be disqualified or have their award level reduced. Advisors should use the Advisor Login one to two days after the close to verify COMAP received the solution – status for most papers is posted within 24 hours.
Section VII – Results and recognition
HOW RESULTS
ARE JUDGED.
Judging is completed in January 2027. Award levels are Unsuccessful, Successful Participant, Honorable Mention, Meritorious, Finalist, and Outstanding. Advisors and teams are notified on or before January 31, 2027, and COMAP posts results on the contest website, prepares news releases, and announces results in professional publications. Every team that successfully submits a solution paper receives a PDF certificate of participation. Select teams have portions of their solutions published in COMAP’s Consortium newsletter.
- IM²C invitations: all USA HiMCM teams awarded Meritorious or above (Meritorious, Finalist, Outstanding) are invited to the International Mathematical Modeling Challenge (March-April 2027). All USA MidMCM teams awarded Finalist or above are invited (March 2027).
- NCTM Award: 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 chosen at final judging.
| Official designation | What it means |
|---|---|
| Outstanding Winner | The “best of the best” in the final round of judging – exemplary student work in modeling, problem solving, analysis, and communication at the highest level relative to all submissions. COMAP may publish and use all or part of these papers as examples of outstanding student work. |
| Finalist | Exemplary reports that reached the final round of judging – complete, logical analysis in an organized, clear presentation above and beyond simply addressing the requirements; easy to read, easy to follow, logical, and comprehensive. Among the best of all submissions. |
| Meritorious | Excellent in many aspects of modeling and problem solving, analysis, conclusions, and communication; addresses all requirements in a clear, well-supported, well-organized, and well-presented manner. |
| Honorable Mention | Above-average effort addressing all problem requirements, with sound and supported processes in modeling and problem solving, analysis, conclusions, and communication of results. |
| Successful Participant | A concerted effort to respond to the problem and submit a report, but with incomplete responses to some or all requirements, and/or deficiencies in modeling, analysis, conclusions, or communication. |
| Unsuccessful Participant | The report did not adequately respond to the requirements of the problem, or a team member was found to have visited internet sites discussing the contest problem during the contest period. |
| Unsuccessful – Web | A team member visited websites or social media where contest problems were being openly discussed. COMAP continually monitors the internet, including websites and social media, during the contest period. |
| Unsuccessful – Incomplete | The solution paper was significantly incomplete and showed no serious effort to adequately respond to the problem or its requirements. |
| Disqualified | The team’s report was found to be in violation of the contest rules. |
| Disqualified – Plagiarism | The paper had undocumented sources, verbatim text or information lifted from the internet, and/or was very similar to other submitted papers as determined by judges and/or COMAP’s pairwise comparison software. All outside information, ideas, data, and algorithms must have the original source documented and properly referenced. |
| Disqualified – Web | COMAP identified the solution (or portions of it) as shared or posted, or team members received assistance through interactive websites or electronic media. Posting or sharing any part of the problem statement or any solution during the contest is strictly prohibited, as is obtaining any part of anyone else’s solution. |
| Not Judged | The solution was not submitted correctly – for example a damaged or corrupted file, a wrong format, or a submission that did not follow the instructions. |
Rules FAQ – direct answers
QUICK
ANSWERS.
When is HiMCM 2026?
The 2026 HiMCM contest window runs November 4-17, 2026. Problems are released at 3:00 pm EST on Wednesday, November 4; all work must stop by 8:00 pm EST on Tuesday, November 17; and the solution PDF must reach COMAP by 9:00 pm EST the same day. Registration closes at 2:00 pm EST on November 4, and results are posted on or before January 31, 2027.
How many students can be on a HiMCM team?
A HiMCM team consists of up to four students in high school or below, all from the same school, institution, or approved program, plus one faculty advisor from that same school or program. Four is a maximum, not a requirement. There is no limit to the number of teams a school may register or an advisor may advise, but membership locks when the contest window opens.
What is the HiMCM page limit?
The complete solution is one PDF of at most 25 pages: the summary sheet first, then up to 24 further pages. A table of contents, the reference list, and all appendices count toward the 25-page limit. The official Report on Use of AI is appended after the solution and has no page limit. Every page carries the team control number and page number, in a readable font of at least 12 points.
How much does HiMCM cost?
The registration fee is $100 per team, paid by credit card through COMAP’s secure website, and it is non-refundable. There are no other participation fees in the official instructions; teams supply their own computers and materials.
Are AI tools like ChatGPT allowed in HiMCM?
Yes – HiMCM teams may use AI tools, but disclosure is mandatory. COMAP’s 2026 instructions require teams that use large language models or other AI tools to clearly indicate that use in the report: name the model, explain what it was used for, add inline citations, and include entries in the reference section. A Report on Use of AI is appended after the 25-page solution and does not count toward the limit. The wider rules still apply: once the window opens, teams may not seek help from any person outside the team, and every outside source – AI-generated or not – must be cited.
Who can serve as the team advisor?
Any faculty or staff member at the students’ school, institution, or approved program can serve as the advisor – they do not have to be from the mathematics department. The advisor registers each team, receives the problems at the contest start, ensures the rules are followed, verifies name spelling for certificates, and confirms that COMAP received the team’s solution.
What are the HiMCM award levels?
From highest to lowest, HiMCM designations are Outstanding Winner, Finalist, Meritorious, Honorable Mention, and Successful Participant, with Unsuccessful, Disqualified, and Not Judged below them. All USA teams awarded Meritorious or above are invited to the International Mathematical Modeling Challenge (IM2C), and an NCTM Award goes to two Outstanding HiMCM teams.
Next steps on this site: the registration guide for the advisor workflow, team matching for roster planning, the awarded paper library for exemplars, and the academic integrity checklist before submission.
Official sources
This page reproduces COMAP’s published 2026 HiMCM/MidMCM rules and instructions in full for reference, accessed July 2026. Where COMAP’s instructions page still shows leftover 2025 dates in individual rule sentences, this page follows COMAP’s official 2026 contest dates (November 4-17, 2026) as published in the dates section and on comap.com. COMAP may update requirements at any time – the official pages above are always controlling.