HIMCM Contest Instructions

HiMCM®
Contest Registration and Instructions
November 4–17, 2026

Content marked in red indicates the latest rule changes for HiMCM.

Registration Fee: USD 100
*Please register only teams that intend to participate in the contest. Registration fees are non-refundable.*

COMAP’s High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM) is an international competition designed to give high school students the opportunity to work as team members while developing their modeling, problem-solving, and writing skills.

Teams apply mathematics to model, develop, and communicate solutions to real-world problems.

Contest Dates and Times

Milestone Date & Time (Eastern Time)
Registration Deadline Wednesday, November 4, 2026 — 2:00 PM ET
Contest Window Opens Wednesday, November 4, 2026 — 3:01 PM ET
Contest Window Closes Tuesday, November 17, 2026 — 8:00 PM ET
Solution Paper Deadline Tuesday, November 17, 2026 — 9:00 PM ET
Solution Receipt Verification Wednesday, November 18, 2026 ET
Results Announcement On or before February 28, 2027

After the contest closes, advisors are encouraged to log in through the Advisor Login link to verify that COMAP has received their teams’ electronic solution files. In most cases, COMAP will post solution receipt status for all papers within 24 hours after the contest window closes.

HiMCM Rules, Registration and Instructions

This page includes the following sections:

  1. Participants and Advisors
  2. HiMCM Resource Guide
  3. Changes for 2026
  4. Contest Rules
  5. Contest Registration
  6. Contest Instructions
  7. HiMCM Results and Recognition

Important Notes

  • COMAP is located in the Eastern Time Zone of the United States. Unless otherwise stated, all times in these instructions are given in Eastern Time (ET).
  • COMAP is the final authority on all rules and policies. COMAP may, at its sole discretion, refuse a team registration, disqualify a team, or reduce a team’s award level if the team fails to comply with contest rules, regulations, or requirements.
  • Advisors and teams should print or save a copy of these rules and instructions for reference before, during, and after the contest.

I. Participants and Advisors

To participate in HiMCM, students form a team of up to four high school students or younger students from the same school, institution, or program.

Each team must have a faculty advisor from that school or institution.

There is no limit to the number of teams a school may register. There is also no limit to the number of teams an advisor may advise.

The advisor must complete the registration process for each team.

Advisors have responsibilities before, during, and after the contest. Please read all instructions carefully and make sure every required step is completed. The advisor is responsible for registering the team correctly and completing all steps required for the team to participate in HiMCM.

II. HiMCM Resource Guide

HiMCM/MidMCM: Registration Process

This guide is designed to assist advisors participating in HiMCM and MidMCM. COMAP provides information about the contest registration process to help advisors complete registration correctly.

HiMCM/MidMCM: Procedures and Tips for a Good Contest Experience

This article helps students and advisors understand how to manage the contest process from registration to solution submission. It also provides tips to make the contest experience smooth, successful, and enjoyable.

Use of Large Language Models and Generative AI Tools in COMAP Contests

This policy was created in response to the rise of large language models and generative AI-assisted technologies. It is intended to provide greater transparency and guidance for teams, advisors, and judges. It applies to all aspects of student work, including research, model development, code creation, and the written report. Because these technologies are developing rapidly, COMAP may refine this policy as needed.

New HiMCM/MidMCM Online Submission Process

This guide is designed to help students and advisors understand the new online submission process for HiMCM and MidMCM. COMAP provides information about the new online submission page: https://forms.comap.org/242386224483964

Teams will need their team control number, advisor ID number, and problem selection to complete the submission.

III. Changes for 2026

New Program Type for 2026: For participation in HiMCM and MidMCM, COMAP recognizes certain non-school educational programs whose primary purpose is not limited to mathematical contest participation.

Examples may include:

  • Joint or dual-enrollment programs
  • Magnet school programs
  • Online high schools
  • Academic or enrichment programs in which students from different schools participate in coursework
  • Community-based or nonprofit extracurricular programs

Programs That Do Not Qualify: Tutoring centers, test-preparation programs, contest-training programs, and mathematics or STEM learning centers whose primary mission is short-term teaching or competition training are not considered schools, institutions, or qualifying programs for COMAP contest registration and participation.

If you have questions about your program’s eligibility, please email: himcm@comap.org

IV. Contest Rules

1. Contest Window

The 2026 contest runs from Wednesday, November 4 at 3:01 PM ET through Tuesday, November 17 at 8:00 PM ET.

2. Team Composition

Each HiMCM team may include up to four students from the same school, institution, or program. There is no limit to the number of teams a school or institution may register.

3. Advisor Requirement

Each team must have one advisor. An advisor may advise multiple teams. The advisor must register the team before the contest begins.

4. Control Number and Password

Teams must obtain and use their assigned control number and password after registering for HiMCM.

5. Problem Access

At the beginning of the contest (Wednesday, November 4 at 3:01 PM ET), the advisor must log in to receive the contest problems for their teams.

6. Team Assignment

Before the contest window opens, advisors must assign team members to specific teams. Students may not change teams during the contest.

7. Independent Team Work

Once the contest window opens, team membership is fixed. Teams may not discuss ideas, solutions, or approaches with anyone outside their own team members.

Teams may use any inanimate resources they find, such as web pages, books, articles, research reports, databases, and software tools.

Teams may not seek help from anyone outside the team, including advisors, other teachers, other students, or experts/professionals in fields related to the problem. This restriction also includes electronic communication and social media, including but not limited to: email, text messages, chat rooms, interactive blogs, Twitter, Weibo, help sites, and support sites.

Posting or sharing any part of the problem statement, solution, or team work in any form or medium during the contest is strictly prohibited. COMAP may disqualify or mark as unsuccessful any team that violates this rule.

Each student team is expected to develop all substantial analysis and solutions without assistance from others.

8. Citation of Sources

Teams must document all external sources of information using footnotes, endnotes, or inline documentation. All sources must be properly cited in a reference list.

9. Use of AI Tools

Teams must clearly state in their report whether they used large language models or other AI tools. The report must identify which model was used and for what purpose. Teams should use inline citations and include relevant information in the reference section.

In addition, teams must attach an AI Use Report (described here) after the 25-page solution paper. This new section has no page limit and does not count as part of the 25-page solution paper.

10. Problem Selection

Teams choose either Problem A or Problem B and submit one solution for the selected problem.

11. Work Period

Teams may work on the contest problem at any time during the 14-day contest window.

12. No Identifying Information

Student names, advisor names, and school or institution names must not appear on any page of the solution. The solution must not contain any identifying information other than the team control number.

13. File Format and Language

The paper must be submitted as an Adobe PDF electronic file. It must be written in English and typed in a readable font of at least 12-point size.

14. No Changes After Contest Deadline

After the contest window closes (Tuesday, November 17 at 8:00 PM ET), advisors must ensure that teams make no further changes to their solution files. The advisor must ensure that all solution documents are properly prepared and submitted to COMAP by the official deadline: Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 9:00 PM ET.

15. Control Sheet and Parent/Guardian Permission Form

The control sheet and parent or guardian permission form are no longer required as separate submission materials. This step is now part of the registration process. Advisors should still keep a copy of the parent or guardian permission form for their records (Parent/Guardian Permission Form), but they do not need to send it to COMAP.

16. Student Accommodations

COMAP follows accommodations related to individual student learning conditions that are part of the student’s regular educational program. If specialized personnel are required, the school is responsible for providing any specialized assistance required by law. If a participating student requires such accommodations, the school should describe the accommodations and how they will be used during the HiMCM activity.

17. Rule Enforcement

COMAP reserves the right to disqualify a team or reduce its award level if the team is found to have violated contest rules.

V. Contest Registration

The HiMCM registration fee is USD 100 per team. Please register only teams that will participate in the contest. Registration fees are non-refundable.

COMAP accepts credit card payments only. Payments must be made through the secure contest website. Other payment methods are not currently accepted.

Advisors must register all teams before the registration deadline (Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 2:00 PM ET). After the deadline, the registration system will stop accepting new team registrations. To avoid possible internet service interruptions, COMAP recommends that teams complete registration well before the deadline. Late registrations will not be accepted.

Advisors do not need to specify exact team members at the time they register a team. COMAP recommends registering the required number of teams before the deadline and then returning to the contest site to enter specific student information for each control number.

The registration process will guide advisors through a series of screens requesting an email address and contact information. Please enter all required information carefully. Make sure to use a valid and current email address so COMAP can contact you before, during, or after the contest if necessary.

Registration Steps

  1. Register through the contest website. No other form of registration is accepted. Advisors may register any number of teams. All teams under the same advisor should use the same email address and password.
  2. Click the registration link on the contest page. If you have already registered one or more teams for the current year and would like to register additional teams, contact COMAP by email at himcm@comap.com.
  3. Specify team members during registration or enter team information later. Team members may be assigned to specific teams until the contest begins. Once the contest problems have been released, team members may not be changed. Advisors are responsible for the correct spelling of all names. Names will appear exactly as entered on certificates. COMAP will not reprint certificates.
  4. Receive your team control number. After completing team registration, the team control number will appear on the screen. This is the only confirmation that your team has been successfully registered. Record this number or print the screen for future reference.
  5. Update registration information if needed. If any information entered during registration needs to be changed before or during the contest, advisors may log in to the contest website using the email address and password used during registration, then click the Registration/Update button.
  6. Check for updates regularly. Advisors should return to the contest website regularly to check for updates or announcements. Except in extreme circumstances, COMAP will not send confirmations, reminders, or announcements by email. Contest communications will be posted on the contest website and Twitter.
  7. Confirm team information. To ensure that a team’s paper is considered and judged, advisors must return to the contest website to confirm the team’s information.

VI. Contest Instructions

Before the Contest: Team Preparation

Advisors and teachers are encouraged to guide and prepare students before the contest begins. COMAP provides several resources:

  • Visit the HiMCM website to review the rules, guidelines, and past problems.
  • Visit MathModels.org to review problems and solutions from previous years.
  • Read the Spring/Summer Consortium HiMCM article, which includes comments from the contest director and judges. This article explains what judges look for in different parts of a solution and provides examples for each section.
  • Read the HiMCM Tips article (linked above in the Resource Guide), which provides suggestions for students and advisors before, during, and after the contest.

Advisors should also make sure students have access to computers for word processing, spreadsheets, dynamic modeling, graphing, and geometric relationships. Graphing calculators may also be helpful.

The parent or guardian permission form is now part of the registration process. Advisors should still keep a copy of the signed form for their records, but they do not need to send it to COMAP.

During the Contest: Choosing and Solving the Problem

The contest problems will appear when the contest window opens (Wednesday, November 4 at 3:01 PM ET). When the team is ready to compete, the advisor must log in to view the two problems.

After logging in, look for the * VIEW PROBLEMS * link. COMAP recommends printing copies of both problems so students can read them and select the problem they wish to solve.

Each team chooses one of the two problems, Problem A or Problem B. Both problems are available to any HiMCM team.

Teams may use any inanimate sources, including data, materials, computers, software, references, websites, and books. Teams must cite all sources used through footnotes, endnotes, or inline documentation and include a reference list.

HiMCM solutions are judged at different levels of success. Partial solutions are acceptable, and teams are encouraged to address as many parts of the problem as possible. HiMCM judges are especially interested in the team’s thought process, analysis of the problem, modeling approach, and mathematical method.

When developing their solution, teams should keep the following principles in mind:

  • The solution should be clear, concise, and well organized so that readers can easily understand the process and conclusions.
  • Key statements should present the main ideas and results.
  • The problem should be clarified or restated appropriately.
  • All variables, assumptions, and hypotheses should be clearly explained.
  • The problem should be analyzed in a way that motivates or justifies the model used.
  • The design of the model should be included. Teams should also discuss how the model was tested.
  • Any clear strengths or weaknesses of the model or method should be discussed.
  • Derivations, calculations, or illustrative examples should be summarized in the main body of the solution. Lengthy derivations, calculations, and data should be placed in appropriate appendices.
  • Conclusions should be provided, and results should be clearly reported.
  • Resources and references should be documented.

During the Contest: Preparing the Solution Document

Teams must submit the entire solution as one Adobe PDF electronic file. The file must include written text, graphics, charts, and supporting materials. The paper must be written in English and typed in a readable font of at least 12-point size.

Each page of the solution must include the team control number and page number at the top of the page. For example: Team #1234, Page 6 of 13.

The solution file should begin with a summary page, followed by the team’s solution content (25 pages total, with the solution section not exceeding 24 pages). A table of contents is recommended, and the table of contents counts toward the page limit. The reference list, explanatory notes, and any appendices also count toward the 25-page limit and should be placed after the solution pages.

Teams must clearly disclose the use of AI tools in the report, including the specific model used and the purpose of use. An AI Use Report should be attached after the 25-page solution (described here). This new section has no page limit and does not count toward the 25-page solution.

Student names, advisor names, and institution names must not appear on any page of the solution. The solution file must not contain any identifying information other than the team control number.

Teams must stop making any changes to the solution after Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 8:00 PM ET.

During the Contest: Advisor Activities

  1. Log in to the contest website using your email address and password.
  2. For each control number, enter or check the names of team members and confirm that all names are spelled correctly.
  3. Specify the problem selected by each team.
  4. Print or download a copy of the control form and obtain all required signatures.
  5. Ensure the parent or guardian permission form has been completed and retained for your records.

After the Contest: Submitting the Solution File — New for 2026

1. Teams must finish all work on their solution before the contest window closes on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET, and submit the Adobe PDF electronic file to COMAP by Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 9:00 PM ET.

2. After 8:00 PM ET on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, no further modification, enhancement, addition, or improvement may be made to the solution paper. Any change to the solution after the deadline is a violation of contest rules and may result in disqualification.

3. Each team must submit its Adobe PDF electronic solution through the new online submission page: https://forms.comap.org/242386224483964. Any team member or advisor may submit the PDF.

  • a. You will need the team control number, advisor ID number, and problem selection to complete the submission.
  • b. COMAP must receive the electronic PDF solution file by 9:00 PM ET on Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
  • c. Name the file attachment using the team control number. For example: 1234.pdf. *Note: The attachment must be less than 20 MB.
  • d. The first page of the solution should be the team summary, followed by the solution, references, and any appendices.
  • e. Do not include or send programs, software, databases, or other files, as they will not be used during judging.
  • f. Student, advisor, or institution names must not appear on any page of the electronic solution.
  • g. COMAP will accept only Adobe PDF files. Each submission form is limited to one solution.

4. Failure to submit the solution according to the instructions by 9:00 PM ET on Tuesday, November 17, 2026 may result in disqualification or a reduced award level.

5. Advisors should use the Advisor Login one to two days after the contest closes to verify that COMAP has received their teams’ electronic solutions. In most cases, COMAP will post the solution receipt status for all papers within 24 hours after the contest window closes.

After the Contest: Advisor Actions

  1. Verify solution receipt. One to two days after the contest ends, advisors are encouraged to log in through the Advisor Login link to verify that COMAP has received their teams’ electronic solution files.
  2. Forms no longer required. The control sheet and parent or guardian permission form are no longer required as separate submission materials. This step is now part of the registration process. Advisors should still keep copies of the parent or guardian permission forms for their records but do not need to send them to COMAP.

VII. HiMCM Results and Recognition

Judging will be completed before the official results announcement. Award levels include:

  • Unsuccessful
  • Successful Participant
  • Honorable Mention
  • Meritorious
  • Finalist
  • Outstanding

Advisors and teams will be notified of the results, and COMAP will publish the results on the HiMCM website. COMAP may also prepare press releases for local and national distribution, and professional publications may announce the results.

Each team that successfully submits a solution file will receive a participation certificate. All international teams will receive electronic (PDF) certificates. U.S. teams should receive printed certificates several weeks after the results are posted on the contest website.

Click here to download the HiMCM certificate.

All U.S. teams that successfully participate in HiMCM and receive Meritorious, Finalist, or Outstanding recognition will be invited to participate in the IM2C International Mathematical Modeling Challenge held in March–April 2027. Click here for more information about IM2C.

Selected portions of some teams’ solution papers may be published in COMAP’s Consortium newsletter. Identifying information may also be sent to local newspapers and radio or television stations.

Award and Status Definitions

Disqualified

The team report violated contest rules.

Disqualified — Plagiarism

The solution file contains undocumented sources, verbatim text, information taken from the internet without proper citation, or content that is very similar to other papers as determined by judges or comparison software. All information, ideas, data, algorithms, and other materials from external sources must be documented and properly cited. COMAP’s comparison software may identify papers or portions of papers that are similar or identical to other submitted papers.

Disqualified — Use of Internet Resources

COMAP has determined that the solution file, or part of the solution file, was shared or posted, or that one or more team members received help through interactive websites or electronic media. Posting or sharing any part of the problem statement, solution, or partial solution during the contest is strictly prohibited. Receiving all or any part of another person’s solution is also prohibited. Contest rules prohibit seeking assistance from anyone outside the team or from human sources, whether in person or through any medium. COMAP monitors the internet during the contest.

Unsuccessful Participant

The team report did not adequately address the requirements of the contest problem, or a team or team member was found to have accessed an internet site discussing the contest problem during the contest.

Unsuccessful — Use of Internet Resources

One or more team members accessed websites or social media platforms where contest problems were being publicly discussed. Contest rules prohibit seeking assistance from anyone outside the team or from human sources, whether in person or through any medium. COMAP continuously monitors the internet during the contest, including websites and social media platforms where contest solutions may be publicly discussed.

Unsuccessful — Incomplete Submission

The solution file was found to be seriously incomplete and did not demonstrate a serious effort to respond adequately to the contest problem or its requirements.

Successful Participant

The team worked together, addressed the contest problem, and submitted a solution report. However, the report may have answered some requirements incompletely or shown weaknesses in modeling, analysis, conclusions, or communication.

Honorable Mention

The team’s solution report shows above-average work in addressing the contest requirements. It includes elements that demonstrate a good and well-supported process in modeling, problem solving, analysis, conclusions, and communication of results.

Meritorious

The team’s solution report is very strong in many aspects of modeling, problem solving, analysis, conclusions, and communication. The report meets all requirements in a clear, well-supported, well-organized, and well-presented manner.

Finalist

Finalist recognition is given to teams whose solution reports are exemplary and advance to the final round of judging. These papers go beyond simply answering the requirements. They provide complete and logical analysis in an organized and clearly written form. Finalist papers are easy to read, easy to follow, logical, and comprehensive. They are among the best papers submitted by all teams.

Outstanding Winner

In the final round of judging, the Outstanding Award recognizes teams whose solution reports are identified as the best of the best. These reports represent the highest level among contest submissions in terms of modeling, problem solving, analysis, and communication. COMAP may publish and use all or part of these submissions as examples of excellent student work.

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