Quick answer
MOEMS serves elementary and middle school divisions, while AMC 8 is for students in grade 8 and below and AMC 10/12 serve older students. Start with strategy-based problem solving and explanation, then add contest practice after checking that core math foundations are secure.
Parents search "math olympiad for 3rd grade," "for 5th grade," "for middle school" — usually after a teacher says their child is "good at math" and they wonder what's next.
Competition math is different from school math. It's less about speed and more about reasoning through problems you've never seen. That's why a strong school math student isn't always ready — and why a child who is bored in class sometimes thrives.
Which contest fits which grade
Details below are from each organizer's published information as of September 2026. Always confirm dates and eligibility with the organizer or your testing site.
| Contest | Who | Format | 2026–27 timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOEMS (Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools) | Elementary division: grades 4–6; Middle division: grades 6–8 (younger students may enter) | 5 contests, 5 problems each, 30 minutes | Monthly, November–March |
| AMC 8 (Mathematical Association of America) | Grade 8 and below, under 15.5 years old on test day | 25 multiple-choice questions, 40 minutes | January 21–27, 2027 |
| AMC 10 / AMC 12 (MAA) | AMC 10: grade 10 and below; AMC 12: grade 12 and below | 25 multiple-choice questions, 75 minutes | A: Nov 5, 2026 · B: Nov 13, 2026 |
Students don't register for the AMC directly with MAA; they take it through an approved testing site such as a school or learning center.
Signs your child may be ready
- Finishes school math quickly and asks "why does that work?"
- Enjoys puzzles and sticks with a hard problem for 10+ minutes.
- Can explain their reasoning out loud, not just give answers.
- Tries a different approach when the first one fails.
Signs to build first
- Strong grades, but relies on memorized steps.
- Gets frustrated and stops when a problem looks unfamiliar.
- Makes the same mistake pattern under time pressure.
- Weak fraction, ratio or number sense despite good grades.
Competition prep works best on a solid foundation. For some children, the best "olympiad prep" is first closing a quiet gap in school math.
The real problem behind the question
Many parents treat competitions as the goal. The real value is the thinking: representing a problem, looking for patterns, testing cases and explaining why. Those skills transfer to Algebra, Geometry and the SAT. Drilling past contests without building the reasoning usually stalls quickly.
How most programs miss this
- Too much timed drilling, too little explanation.
- Contest tricks without the underlying concept.
- Placing children by grade instead of by reasoning level.
Why GrowWise?
- Diagnostic first — is the child ready for competition problems, or is a foundation gap in the way?
- Explicit strategies — representation, pattern-finding, invariants and proof-style explanation.
- Explain-it-out-loud practice, so reasoning is visible and correctable.
- Math with pattern correction for errors that show up under time pressure.
Program fit
- Math Olympiad Camp (Dublin)
- Math tutoring for foundation gaps first
What to look for in any olympiad program
- Does it teach strategies, or only give past contests?
- Does your child explain solutions, not just mark answers?
- Is placement based on reasoning level, not grade alone?
- Does it keep school math foundations strong?
Next step
Not sure if your child is ready? Take the free Self-Check or book a diagnostic assessment. Call or text (925) 456-4606.