Design of Contests
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Design of Contests
The questions are different for each grade. Students are not all working on the same problems, and the contests are carefully tailored to grade-level expectations.
For each grade, the contest is structured in three levels of difficulty:
- 3-point questions: Designed to be accessible and confidence-building; most students should be able to solve these.
- 4-point questions: Moderately challenging and require deeper thinking.
- 5-point questions: More advanced problems intended to identify students with strong problem-solving or gifted potential.
This structure allows students at different ability levels within the same grade to feel challenged while still experiencing success.
Starting February, 2026, we’ll be launching our Practice Gym, a personalized practice module. In the Practice Gym:
- Students will receive practice questions tailored to their individual needs
- Hints and guided support will be available to help them learn from mistakes
- Students can work at their own pace, whether they need reinforcement or extra challenge
Consistent practice in the Practice Gym will also be recognized at the end of the school year, with awards designed to motivate perseverance and grit, not just top performance.