High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM)

High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM) provides an opportunity for students to work in team and solve real-world problems using mathematical modeling, problem-solving, and technical writing skills.

Interested in the competition?

Competition Overview

Students in high school grades or below

Eligibility

$100

Entry Fee

2:00 pm EST Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Registration deadline

On or before February, 2026

Contest results

📌 Note: Aralia is not the organizer of this competition. For official rules, deadlines, and updates, please refer directly to the competition organizer. Aralia provides listings and information about competitions for student reference. Aralia is an online education platform offering competition preparation classes to students worldwide.

Competition Details

1. Eligibility

Team Composition: Up to 4 high school (or below) students from the same school.
Eligibility: Students in high school grades or below
Each team must have a faculty advisor from their school. The advisor must complete registration for each team. Please note that there is no limit to the number of teams a school can register or the number of teams an advisor can advise.

2. Contest Dates

Registration Deadline: 2:00 pm EST Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Contest Window Opens: 3:01 pm EST Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Contest Window Closes: 8:00 pm EST Tuesday, November 17, 2026
Solution Report Deadline: 9:00 pm EST Tuesday, November 17, 2026
Receipt of Solution: 8:00 pm EST Wednesday, November 17, 2026
Contest Results: The results will be posted on or before February 28, 2027

3. Previous Problems

Roller Coasters: Develop an Objective Ranking System
Drone Clusters as Sky Light Displays: Design an Aerial Drone Light Show
Shop and Ship: Optimal Placement of Warehouses for 1-Day Ground Shipping
Swim, Bike, and Run: Minimize Congestion and Road Closures for a Triathlon
Art Gallery Security: Determine Most Secure Configuration for an Art Exhibit

4. Prizes and Recognition

Level of Awards: Unsuccessful, Successful Participant, Honorable Mention, Meritorious, Finalist, Outstanding

Recognition:

All teams submitting a solution will receive a PDF certificate of participation.
Meritorious or higher (HiMCM) USA teams qualify for the International Mathematical Modeling Challenge (IM2C).
Select solution papers may be published in COMAP’s Consortium newsletter and featured in local/national media.

Special Awards:

The NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) Award, supported by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, is given to two Outstanding HiMCM teams. Winners will be announced on the COMAP and NCTM websites.

Contest instruction

1. During the Contest – Choosing and Solving the Problem

HiMCM teams can select from Problem A or B after they register. Solutions are judged on varying levels of success, so partial solutions are acceptable. Judges prioritize the team’s thought process, problem analysis, modeling strategies, and mathematical methods. Solutions should be articulate, concise, and well-organized, with key points clearly presented.

2. During the Contest – Preparing a Solution Document

Teams must submit their entire solution as a single Adobe PDF file, including written text, figures, charts, and supporting materials. The paper must be typed in English using a readable font (minimum 12-point).

3. After the Contest – Submitting a Solution Document

All teams must submit their solution as a PDF file to a COMAP link. The PDF file must:

Be named using your team’s control number (e.g., 1234.pdf).
Be under 20MB in size.
Begin with the Summary Sheet (Page 1), followed by the solution, references, and appendices.
NOT include names of students, advisors, or institutions on any page.
NOT include programs, software, databases, or other files, as these will not be considered in judging.

4. Related Resources