Background and Aim
The International Math Challenge (IMC) is a prominent Thailand-based global mathematics competition for school-age students of all grades, attracting thousands of participants from 141 countries through its online and onsite global rounds.
The first Math Challenge was organized in 2012 as an inter-school competition among international schools in Bangkok with the participation of 144 students from 10 schools. Gradually the number of participants increased, and in 2014 Math Challenge went beyond the Thailand borders and started hosting international participants.
In 2020, aiming to encourage students to study and excel in math and critical thinking, IMC team decided to conduct an online version of International Math Challenge to boost the motivation of both teachers and students who have been bored, lost goal-oriented character and stimulus for study under this difficult global pandemic times, when most of the Olympiads and competitions are forced to be cancelled or postponed until unknown time. Now IMC has reached 141 countries. In 2024, IMC received more than 13,000 registrations, and 12,000 students competed in the online round.
What Type of Questions Should Students Expect?
IMC questions are crafted to push students to integrate various mathematical skills while utilizing their creativity, logical reasoning, and critical thinking. The problems encourage students to think beyond conventional methods, find hidden and efficient solutions, and manage their time effectively, all of which are essential for developing strong problem-solving abilities.
Each level of the competition, from Category Kids to Category 5, features problems tailored to the students’ age group and knowledge level. The questions are designed to be both challenging and enjoyable, often incorporating puzzles and riddles that stimulate students’ curiosity and ingenuity. Participants can expect problems that require translating real-life scenarios into mathematical models, multi-step challenges that demand critical thinking, puzzles that involve logical deduction, pattern recognition, and sequence identification, among other topics listed on the website.
For Category Kids (Grade 1 and Grade 2), considering the literacy level of young students, the questions are designed without text instructions and include only images. This ensures that the challenges are accessible and engaging for early learners, focusing on visual problem-solving and intuitive understanding.
How to Join?
University Scholarships
Paragon International University
The top 6-15: 75% scholarship discount on tuition fees for four years.
The top 16-30: 50% scholarship discount on four-year tuition fees.
The top 31-50: 25% scholarship discount on four-year tuition fees.
Vistula University
The top 4-10: 50% scholarship discount on tuition fees for the first year.
The top 11-25: 20% scholarship discount on tuition fees for the first year.
The top 26-50: 10% scholarship discount on tuition fees for the first year
SDU University
The top 2-4 winners will get a 50% discount on tuition fees for four years.
The top 5-14 winners will get a 30% discount on tuition fees for four years.
The top 15-34 winners will get a 20% discount on tuition fees for four years.
Woosong University
1st Place: 70% scholarship
2nd–3rd Place: 50% scholarship
4th–5th Place: 40% scholarship
Valid for the first semester only and applicable to English-taught Bachelor programs.
Recipients must meet admissions requirements and present proof of scholarship during registration.
Non-transferable. Reflected in the first semester invoice.
