Harvard Crimson Global Quiz Bowl - Mathematics | Middle School (G6-G8)
Honor, Merit and global team awards
A team mathematics quiz for students in Grades 6 to 8, run by The Harvard Crimson with AlgoEd. Teams of 2 to 5 from one school take an online test, and the 15 highest-scoring teams go on to a live semi-final on Zoom.
Mode
Online
Fee
$35 by the priority deadline, $45 regular, $55 late, per student per category
Participation format
Team
Teams of 2 to 5
Duration
A 60-minute online test, then live Zoom rounds for qualifying teams
Time needed
60-minute online test; live Zoom semi-final and final for qualifiers
Eligibility
Open to students in Grades 6 to 8 (Year 7 to 9), in teams of 2 to 5 from the same school. Homeschooled students may take part.
- Grade level
- Grade 6 to 8
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- No school enrollment is needed: homeschooled students may take part. The grade that counts is the one the student is in when the competition begins.
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Prizes
Global Champion and finalist awards
The final names a Global Champion, Global Second Place, Global Third Place and Global Finalists ranked 4 to 8, and semi-final teams are Global Semi-Finalists. In the preliminary round, Honor goes to the top 25% and Merit to the top 50%, and a student can win individual honors even if the team wins no award. Medals are presented at the award ceremony at Harvard University.
Certificate
Certificate of participation for all
Every participant gets a certificate of participation and a score. The name and school are printed on the certificate as entered at registration.
Recognition
International math recognition
Key dates
- Registration closed
- 24 Sept 2026
- Competition
- 26 Sept 2026 to 25 Oct 2026
Priority deadline
US$35 per student.
Regular deadline
US$45 per student. Fee waivers must be asked for before this deadline.
Semi-final
Live on Zoom, 12:00 to 12:45 PM ET, for the 15 highest-scoring teams.
Final
Live on Zoom, 12:00 to 12:45 PM ET, for the top 5 teams.
Award ceremony
In person at Harvard University. Medals are presented.
Online · AlgoEd online test platform and Zoom
How to apply
- 1Click Register Now on the competition page and sign up for an AlgoEd account
- 2Register a new team, or join the team a teammate registered
- 3Pay the fee for each student, or send a payment link to a parent
- 4Take the 60-minute online test at the time set for your school's country
Rules and guidelines
- Teams of 2 to 5 students, all from the same school
- Each member takes the test alone, without talking to teammates
- The front camera stays on and shows the face for the whole test; a teacher can supervise instead
- A physical calculator is allowed and a graphing calculator is not; the organizer asks students to avoid online calculators
- A wrong answer loses one third of the question's points
Technology requirements
- A laptop or desktop computer with a camera
- A stable internet connection
- An updated browser with pop-ups enabled
Fees and financial support
Fee details
US$35 per student by the priority deadline, US$45 by the regular deadline and US$55 by the late deadline. A student can pay online or send a payment link to a parent. The fee is not refunded. A low-income student can ask for a fee waiver: the school principal (or, for US schools only, the school counselor) emails waivers@algoed.co before the regular deadline.
Financial support
A low-income student can get a fee waiver. The school principal emails waivers@algoed.co from the official school email before the regular deadline; for US schools, the school counselor can ask too. Each student can get up to two fee waivers across all the years of school.
Refund policy
Fees are not refunded, including for not taking part or disqualification.
About this opportunity
The Harvard Crimson Global Quiz Bowl in Mathematics is a team quiz for students in Grades 6 to 8. The Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper of Harvard University, runs it in partnership with AlgoEd, which hosts it online.
Teams of 2 to 5 students from the same school take part. Each member takes a 60-minute online test of multiple-choice and short-answer questions alone. The team's score is the sum of its two highest individual scores, and a wrong answer loses one third of the question's points. The 15 highest-scoring teams play a live semi-final of rapid-fire questions on Zoom, and the top 5 play the final.
The test covers arithmetic, factors and multiples, fractions, decimals and percentages, ratios, integers, simple equations, graphing linear equations, angles, triangles and circles, area, perimeter and volume, the Pythagorean theorem, statistics and probability, and word problems. Problems go no further than algebra and geometry.
The fee is US$35 per student by the priority deadline, US$45 by the regular deadline and US$55 by the late deadline. It is not refunded. A low-income student can ask for a fee waiver through the school principal.
Every student gets a certificate of participation and a score. In the preliminary round, Honor goes to the top 25% and Merit to the top 50%. The final names a Global Champion, second and third place, and Global Finalists ranked 4 to 8. Medals are presented at an award ceremony at Harvard University.
Exam format
- Duration
- 60 minutes
- Format
- Multiple choice and short answer in the preliminary round; live rapid-fire questions in the semi-final and final rounds.
Rounds and format
Preliminary round: a 60-minute online test of multiple-choice and short-answer questions, which each team member takes alone. Semi-final: live rapid-fire questions on Zoom for the 15 highest-scoring teams in each quiz category. Final: live rapid-fire questions on Zoom for the top 5 teams from the semi-final.
How entries are judged
Each question shows its points. A wrong answer loses one third of them. A team's score is the sum of its two highest individual scores.
Selection process
Top 15 teams per category advance from the preliminary to the semi-final round. Top 5 teams per category advance from the semi-final to the global final.
How to prepare
- Full-length practice tests in the competition portal
Academic details
Difficulty: Mixed Levels
What's covered
Arithmetic, factors and multiples, fractions, decimals and percentages, ratios and proportions, integers and rational numbers, algebraic expressions and simple equations, the coordinate plane and graphing linear equations, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals and circles, area, perimeter and volume, the Pythagorean theorem, statistics and probability, and word problems on budgeting, percentages and measurement conversions. Problems go no further than algebra and geometry.
Frequently asked questions
Who can take part?
Students in Grades 6 to 8 (Year 7 to 9), in teams of 2 to 5 from the same school. Homeschooled students may take part.
What does it cost?
US$35 per student by 24 May, US$45 by 15 September or US$55 by 24 September 2026. The fee is not refunded. A low-income student can ask for a fee waiver through the school principal before the regular deadline.
When are the rounds?
The preliminary test was on 26 September 2026. The semi-final is on 24 October and the final on 25 October 2026, both live on Zoom from 12:00 to 12:45 PM ET.
How is a team scored?
Each member takes the 60-minute test alone. The team's score is the sum of its two highest individual scores, and a wrong answer loses one third of the question's points.
Can my child use a calculator?
A physical calculator, yes. Graphing calculators are not allowed, and the organizer asks students to avoid online calculators.
What does my child get?
A certificate of participation and a score. In the preliminary round, Honor goes to the top 25% and Merit to the top 50%. Medals are presented at the award ceremony at Harvard University on 27 March 2027.
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