International Youth Math Challenge (IYMC) Junior
1st Prize Junior: $175 cash prize
The Junior group of a global online mathematics contest, for students in 10th grade or below and under 16, with its own cash prizes.
Mode
Online
Fee
€13
Duration
Three online rounds, about eleven weeks from the Qualification deadline to the final results
Format
Individual
Time needed
Five take-home problems, then a 60-minute exam and a 30-minute final exam
Eligibility
- Age range
- 13 to 15 years
- Location
- Nationwide
Prerequisites
- 10th grade or below, under 16 on the Qualification Round deadline
- Currently enrolled as a school student
- Internet access to submit solutions and take exams
Current school students in 10th grade or below and under 16 years of age, from any country. Grade and age on the Qualification Round deadline set the group for the whole competition. Entry is individual and online.
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Rewards and recognition
Award
Junior prizes: $175, $125 and $100
The Junior 1st Prize is 175 USD, the 2nd Prize 125 USD and the 3rd Prize 100 USD, each with a special prize certificate.
Prizes
Special 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prize certificates
The three Junior prize winners receive a special prize certificate as a printed copy by post. The top scorers from each country receive a National Award certificate.
Certificate
Certificate for every participant
Every participant receives an official participation certificate, and finalists who score at least half the Final Round points earn a Gold, Silver or Bronze honor. Certificates carry a permanent verification ID. Typed Qualification Round solutions earn a special note on the certificate.
Recognition
International Junior prize ranking
Skills your child builds
Key dates
- Registration closes
- 27 Sept 2026
- Competition
- 8 Nov 2026 to 8 Dec 2026
Online · IYMC website and online exam portal
How to apply
- 1Solve the five Qualification Round problems and upload one solution file on iymc.info
- 2Score at least 15 of 25 points to qualify for the Pre-Final Round
- 3Register and pay the Pre-Final Round fee, or apply for financial aid
- 4Take the supervised Pre-Final and Final Round exams online
Fees & financial support
Fee details
The Qualification Round is free. Students who qualify and choose to continue pay a non-refundable Pre-Final Round registration cost, 13 EUR in 2026, by card, PayPal, Google Pay and other standard methods, and teachers can pay for a group. There are no other costs. Financial aid, a 50% reduction or a full waiver, is available in limited numbers for students who need it.
About this opportunity
The International Youth Math Challenge (IYMC) Junior is the Junior group of a global online mathematics contest, open to students in 10th grade or below and under 16 years of age. Junior students compete for their own three international prizes.
IYMC is organized each year by Edu.Harbour and runs in three online rounds. The free Qualification Round has five take-home problems worth 5 points each, ranging from geometry to number theory. Qualified students may register for the Pre-Final Round, a supervised 60-minute exam with two basic problems, two advanced problems and a research problem built on a published scientific paper. The best go on to the Final Round, a 30-minute online exam of about 20 short-answer and multiple-choice questions.
All age groups solve the same problems, but Junior students need at least 15 of the 25 Qualification Round points to advance, fewer than older students need, and the Junior 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prizes are awarded within the Junior group. Finalists who score at least half the Final Round points earn a Gold, Silver or Bronze honor, and the top scorers from each country receive a National Award.
A student's age group is set by grade and age on the Qualification Round deadline and stays the same for the whole competition.
Rounds & format
Qualification Round: five take-home problems worth 5 points each, solved on paper or typed and uploaded as one file by the deadline. Pre-Final Round: a research paper is released before the exam window opens, then a supervised 60-minute exam with two basic, two advanced and one research problem worth 28 points in all, written on paper and scanned. Final Round: a 30-minute online exam of about 20 short-answer and multiple-choice questions shown one at a time, held on one day worldwide under online supervision.
How entries are judged
Each Qualification Round problem is worth 5 points, and the Pre-Final problems are worth 4, 4, 6, 6 and 8 points. Final Round questions score 1 or 2 points each, with no negative marking. The Junior prizes go to the Junior finalists with the most Final Round points, with ties broken by Pre-Final Round points, then Qualification Round points.
Selection process
Students in the Junior group advance from the Qualification Round with at least 15 of 25 points, fewer than older students need, and from the Pre-Final Round by reaching the Junior threshold there. In the Final Round, the three Junior finalists with the most points win the Junior 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prizes. Ties are broken by Pre-Final Round points, then Qualification Round points, and a tie that remains shares the award and the cash prize.
How to prepare
- https://iymc.info/en/training
Academic details
Frequently asked questions
Who belongs to the Junior group?
Students in 10th grade or below and under 16 years of age, based on grade and age on 27 September 2026, the Qualification Round deadline. The group does not change during the competition.
How many points does a Junior student need to advance?
At least 15 of the 25 Qualification Round points. All age groups solve the same problems, and the Junior threshold is lower than the Youth and Senior thresholds.
What can a Junior student win?
The Junior 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prizes pay 175, 125 and 100 USD with special certificates. The top scorers from each country also receive a National Award.
How is the Final Round run?
It is a 30-minute online exam of about 20 short-answer and multiple-choice questions, shown one at a time, taken from home under online supervision. Calculators and notes are not allowed.
Is there a fee?
The Qualification Round is free. Students who qualify pay 13 EUR for the Pre-Final Round, and financial aid can halve or waive it.
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