March 2026 Contest — Grade 2
The March 2026 North Star contest paper for Grade 2 has 12 questions and a 30-minute limit. Two sample questions with worked solutions are below, and you can take the whole paper online for free — no account, no sign-up.
- Grade
- Grade 2
- Questions
- 12
- Time limit
- 30 minutes
- Contest
- March 2026
- Subject
- Mathematics
- School year
- 2025-26
Before you start
- The timer starts when you press Start and runs for 30 minutes.
- Answer the 12 questions in any order; each is multiple choice.
- Your answers are marked as you go. Nothing is saved to an account, so finish in one sitting.
Sample questions
The first and last questions from this paper, with their worked solutions.
Question 1 — Logical Reasoning & Problem Solving
Steve writes a single digit number in each of the four circles such that the sum of the digits in any two connected circles is equal to the sum of any other connected pair. If two of the numbers are shown in the image, what is the number in the circle X?
- A.1
- B.2
- C.3
- D.4
- E.5
Show the worked solution
Step 1 — Read the image:
There are four circles arranged in a square, connected by lines.
The top-right circle has the number 5.
The bottom-right circle has the number 5.
The bottom-left circle has the letter X.
The top-left circle is empty.
The lines connect:
The top-left circle and the top-right circle.
The top-right circle and the bottom-right circle.
The bottom-right circle and the bottom-left circle (X).
The bottom-left circle (X) and the top-left circle.
Step 2 — Solve:
The top-right circle (5) and the bottom-right circle (5) are connected. Their sum is:
5 + 5 = 10
Since the sum of any two connected circles must be the same, every connected pair must add up to 10.
The bottom-right circle (5) and the bottom-left circle (X) are connected. Their sum must also be 10:
5 + X = 10
Since 5 + 5 = 10, the number in circle X must be 5.
Let's check the other circles: the top-left circle must also be 5 because it is connected to the top-right circle (5) to make 10. Then, the top-left circle (5) and the bottom-left circle (5) are connected and also add up to 10. This works perfectly!
Step 3 — Select:
The number in circle X is 5, which corresponds to option E.
The answer is E
Question 12 — Number Sense & Operations
Children are lining up for the ice cream truck
- Mia knows that 4 children are standing in front of her
- Noah knows there are 8 children in the line altogether
- Mia is standing just in front of Noah
How many children are behind Noah?
- A.1
- B.2
- C.3
- D.4
- E.5
Show the worked solution
Let's find the position of each child in the line step by step:
1. There are 4 children standing in front of Mia. This means Mia is the 5th child in the line.
2. Mia is standing just in front of Noah, which means Noah is right behind Mia. So, Noah is the 6th child in the line.
3. There are 8 children in the line altogether.
4. To find how many children are behind Noah, we count the children after the 6th child up to the 8th child. These are the 7th and 8th children.
5. Counting them, we find there are 2 children behind Noah.
Therefore, there are 2 children behind Noah.
The answer is B.
Take the whole paper
All 12 questions, 30 minutes, marked as you go. No account needed.