About the International Mathematics Bee
For the 2026-27 competition season, IAC is pleased to introduce the International Mathematics Bee competition. The International Mathematics Bee is a quiz competition for individual students, testing “grade-level plus” mathematics knowledge and computational skill. Note: Grade-level plus means that the questions for this competition, particularly at the Asian Championships and especially in the playoffs, may include topics from 1-2 years higher than a standard curriculum for that age group – but not more than that. For example, in the Middle School Grade Division, some knowledge of Algebra II and Trigonometry will be needed, but not calculus. A specific distribution for all age divisions is available here. Uniquely, due to the sequential nature of a standard mathematics curriculum, all age divisions in this competition will have somewhat different questions (e.g. typically Middle School and Elementary School divisions play the same version of the questions in all other IAC competitions, but not for the International Mathematics Bee).
The International Mathematics Bee for the 2026-27 season will consist of regional buzzer-based competitions, championship qualifying exam, and the Asian Championships of the International Mathematics Bee. For this season, students don’t need to take the online regional qualifying exam before entering the regional buzzer competitions. Top students from the regional competitions will qualify for the Asian Championships. However, the regional buzzer-based competitions of the International Mathematics Bee will only be open to Middle School, Intermediate, and Elementary School division students. For Varsity and Junior Varsity students who wish to qualify for the Asian Championships Mathematics Bee, they can take the championship qualifying exam in person at a regional History Bee & Bowl competition or Geography Bee and Science Bee competition. Students can also take the championship qualifying exam online. Other age divisions can also take the championship qualifying exam to qualify for the Asian Championships. Varsity and Junior Varsity will include concepts from Algebra II, Trig / Precalculus, Statistics, and Calculus AB.
Qualifying for the Asian Championships:
- Taking the respective QE at any in-person regional event and either:
- scoring a 50 or higher,
- finishing in the top 50% of their division at that location, or
- meeting or beating the qualifying score for that exam once it is set on January 1, 2027 (Gamma); March 1, 2027 (Beta); and April 15, 2027 (Alpha).
- Taking the respective QE online and either:
- scoring a 50 or higher, or
- meeting or beating the qualifying score for that exam set on January 1, 2027 (Gamma); March 1, 2027 (Beta); and April 15, 2027 (Alpha).
- Competing in a regional buzzer competition (Middle School division and younger)
- placing in the top half of your age division after the preliminary rounds
You can find past questions here (only Middle School and younger past questions are currently available).
To take the online qualifying exam, please register here.
