Simple ways to begin preparing

General math learning and problem-solving tools

Best for: Students who want to build stronger foundations before focusing on one specific competition.

• Khan Academy - Free lessons for strengthening school math basics.
• Brilliant - Freemium interactive problem solving and logic-style learning.
• Expii - Free math explanations and lessons.
• CK-12 - Free online books and learning material.
• School Yourself - Interactive self-paced math learning.
• Mathigon - Interactive lessons and visual explorations.
• NRICH - Rich problem-solving tasks and challenges.
• Mathpickle - Organized puzzles and problem-solving by grade.
• Polypad - Digital math manipulatives and exploration tools.
• Cut the Knot - Deep puzzle, geometry, and problem-solving ideas.
• Project Euler - Harder challenge problems for students who like math plus coding-style thinking.
• YouTube - Useful for finding walkthroughs, but students should prefer clear, high-quality explanations and official sources when possible.

AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12

Official site: MAA AMC

Best first resources: Official competition information, past exams, answer keys, and basic problem-solving practice.

Helpful starting advice: AMC 8 is usually the best place for middle school students. Start by trying a few past problems before worrying about speed.

• AoPS Wiki - AMC 8 Problems and Solutions
• AoPS Wiki - AMC 10 Problems and Solutions
• AoPS Wiki - AMC 12 Problems and Solutions
• AoPS Wiki - AIME Problems and Solutions
• AoPS Alcumus - Adaptive problem practice.
• AMC Practice - AMC-style practice site. This one may require sign-in.
• AMC Trivial - Extra AMC-style practice and review.
• LambdaMath Books - Free books that can support stronger contest preparation.
• OmegaLearn - Mastering AMC 8
• TMAS Academy Books

MATHCOUNTS

Official site: MATHCOUNTS Competition Series

Best first resources: Competition format guides, round descriptions, official practice materials, and past tests.

Helpful starting advice: If your school has a team, ask how practices work. If not, you can still study the problem style on your own.

• MATHCOUNTS Official Problem Archives and Resources
• AoPS MATHCOUNTS Trainer
• AoPS Alcumus - Good for extra problem practice.
• LambdaMath Books
• TMAS Academy Books

Local and online math contests

Official site: This depends on the organizer, such as a school, math circle, or university.

Best first resources: Event announcements, sample questions, and short local practice sessions.

Helpful starting advice: These are often a strong first step because they can feel less intimidating than national competitions.

• Khan Academy - Best for strengthening weak areas before contest practice.
• CK-12 - Free books for review and topic support.
• School Yourself
• Mathigon
• NRICH
• Mathpickle
• Polypad
• Cut the Knot
• Expii
• Brilliant

National Science Bowl

Official site: U.S. DOE National Science Bowl

Official resources:

• Rules, forms & resources — current official rules, coach materials, and competition resources.
• Sample questions — DOE provides separate middle- and high-school sample questions on this page.
• Team preparation tips — official preparation guidance for students and coaches.

Helpful starting advice: Work on broad knowledge first, then build speed with timed team practice.

Science Olympiad

Official site: Science Olympiad

Official resources:

• 2027 Rules Manuals — current Division B and Division C rules.
• Rules corrections — official updates and corrections during the season.
• Rule clarifications & questions — official answers to event-rule questions.
• Event pages & state organizations — use the official site to find current event resources and your state program.

Helpful starting advice: Pick one or two events that match your strengths instead of trying to learn every event at once.

Science fairs

Official site: Regeneron ISEF / Society for Science

Official resources:

• ISEF rules for all projects — eligibility, requirements, approvals, ethics, and project rules.
• Find an affiliated fair — locate the fair pathway students use to qualify toward ISEF.
• ISEF FAQ — answers about eligibility, timelines, research, and qualification.
• Judging guidance — useful context on what judges look for.

Helpful starting advice: A good science fair project starts with a clear question and a manageable experiment, not the biggest idea possible.

Debate

Official site: National Speech & Debate Association

Useful official starting points:

• NSDA — start here for current event descriptions, rules, topics, and educational resources.
• Tabroom — find tournaments, entries, pairings, and results used by many debate programs.
• National Tournament videos — watch high-level debate and speech rounds.

Helpful starting advice: First learn which debate format your school or local league uses—Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas, Policy, or another format—because the rules and preparation differ.

Quiz Bowl (NAQT)

Official site: National Academic Quiz Tournaments

Useful starting resources:

• How to play Quiz Bowl — NAQT's introduction to the game and format.
• Sample questions — practice with NAQT-style questions.
• Tournament schedule — find upcoming events.
• Compete Smart NAQT guide — scoring, powers, negs, categories, and practice strategy.

Helpful starting advice: Build a few subject strengths first instead of trying to cover every topic equally, then practice buzzing with real questions.

History and geography competitions

Official site: International Academic Competitions (IAC)

Official resources:

• IAC resource center — study guides, rules, question distribution, recommended materials, and available past questions/exams.
• Competition descriptions — compare National History Bee, National Geography Bee, History Bowl, and other IAC events.
• Regional registration & qualification — current regional events and qualification information.

Helpful starting advice: Use the official study guides to organize topics, then practice buzzer-style questions so you learn to recognize clues earlier.