June 2026 Contest — Grade 8
The June 2026 North Star contest paper for Grade 8 has 12 questions and a 60-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 8
- Questions
- 12
- Time limit
- 60 minutes
- Contest
- June 2026
- Subject
- Mathematics
- School year
- 2025-26
Before you start
- The timer starts when you press Start and runs for 60 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 — Number Sense & Operations
Only two of the digits in the year 2026 are prime numbers. After how many years, all of the digits in the year number will be prime numbers?
- A.1
- B.5
- C.196
- D.197
- E.None of these
Show the worked solution
First, identify the prime digits: 2, 3, 5, 7. The current year is 2026. We need to find the next year number where all four digits are prime. The year must be greater than 2026. The thousands digit must be 2, as 1xxx is before 2026 and 3xxx is too far. For the hundreds digit, the smallest prime digit is 2, making the year 22xx. For the tens digit, the smallest prime digit is 2, making the year 222x. For the units digit, the smallest prime digit is 2, making the year 2222. All digits in 2222 (2, 2, 2, 2) are prime. This is the first year after 2026 where all digits are prime. To find out after how many years, subtract the current year from the new year: 2222 - 2026 = 196 years.
Question 12 — Ratios & Proportional Reasoning
Tara and Liam had savings in the ratio 3:2. After Tara bought a video game for $100, the ratio of their savings changed to 2:3. How many dollars did Tara have before buying the video game?
- A.150
- B.180
- C.200
- D.160
- E.None of these
Show the worked solution
Let Tara's initial savings be 3x and Liam's be 2x. After Tara spends 100, her savings become 3x - 100. The new ratio of their savings is (3x - 100) : 2x, which is given as 2:3. We can write this as an equation: (3x - 100) / (2x) = 2/3. Cross-multiply to get 3(3x - 100) = 2(2x). This simplifies to 9x - 300 = 4x. Subtract 4x from both sides: 5x - 300 = 0. Add 300 to both sides: 5x = 300. Divide by 5: x = 60. Tara's initial savings were 3x, so 3 * 60 = 180 dollars.
Take the whole paper
All 12 questions, 60 minutes, marked as you go. No account needed.