GRADES 2–3
Foundations
Basic arithmetic, patterns, simple geometry, word problems, basic logic and counting — routine and non-routine.
Canadian Innovation Contests · Leadership 2027
Canadian Innovation Math Contest
Explore the mathematics behind responsible decisions: compare options, make sense of information and solve problems involving shared resources. CIMC combines practical mental mathematics with problem solving at each student's grade level.
2027 theme · Leadership
The Mathematics of Leadership
How can numbers help a leader make a responsible decision? The Mathematics of Leadership connects mathematical reasoning with choices that affect a group: sharing limited resources, comparing plans and interpreting information. Students explore how a calculation can support a decision, and why a convincing answer must fit the situation as well as the numbers.
What the contest develops
Build mental-math fluency and solve unfamiliar problems using reasoning, patterns and mathematical connections.
Find the right level
Eligibility and entry levels
Grades 2–10
Enter the category for your current school grade. Contact CKSTEM if your grade falls outside the published levels or you need help choosing a category. The contest instructions will confirm placement and any accommodations before entry.
Published CIMC entry guidance allows a ready Grade 1 student to write the Grade 2 paper. Confirm the 2027 school-grade cutoff with CKSTEM before entry; entering the wrong contest grade can lead to disqualification.
What students do
Contest format
75-minute online test
One test combines mental mathematics and problem solving. The published format has 15 questions in Part A (Mental Math) and 15 in Part B (Problem Solving), each section worth 100 points. Questions are tailored to the contest grade. Confirm the current grade-placement cutoff before registration.
Supervision and equipment
The published school format is teacher-supervised and does not permit calculators. Schools coordinate a sitting within the contest window; current individual supervision arrangements will be confirmed.
Two complementary sections
Part A develops practical mental mathematics and numerical fluency. Part B tests problem solving and reasoning through grade-appropriate questions. Each section is worth 100 points, for a total of 200. Calculators are not permitted in the published school format.
For school entries, teachers supervise the sitting. Students writing the same grade’s contest in a school should complete it on the same day within the contest window.
Grade-level mathematics
Syllabus overview
GRADES 4–6
Building blocks
Introductory algebra, elementary geometry, introductory number theory and counting, divisibility tests, spatial visualization, simple cryptarithms.
GRADES 7–8
Expanding
Algebra, geometry, introductory coordinate geometry, number theory, introductory combinatorics, divisibility, logic problems, cryptarithms.
GRADES 9–10
High school
High-school algebra including functions, geometry of triangles/quadrilaterals/circles, counting and probability, number theory, non-routine problem-solving.
Help your child prepare
Explore the theme, practise the skills
Practise age-appropriate mental mathematics and discuss more than one way to solve a problem. Ask your child to explain what a number represents and whether the answer makes sense in the situation.
Preparation idea
Preparation idea: a class has a fixed budget for a shared activity. Compare two plans, work out what each would cost and explain what the class gains or gives up with each choice. This is a practice situation, not an announced contest question.
For teachers
Use short problems about planning and shared resources to connect the theme to grade-level mathematics. Encourage students to explain their methods, then coordinate and supervise the contest sitting.
The themes below describe the 2027 creative direction. Exact questions, grade-specific prompts, speech topics, artwork requirements and judging rubrics will be provided in the contest instructions. The preparation examples are ideas to explore, not official contest tasks.
Previous contest guide & practice resources (2026) · Explore CKSTEM’s learning resources · CIMC 2026 solution videos · Mathematics games and practice
Achievement and participation
Awards and results
CIC recognises student achievement through awards and participation certificates. Current 2027 award details will be announced separately.
The published CIC award framework includes Gold, Silver, Bronze and Honors recognition by contest level, with a participation certificate for each participant. Medal delivery and any Greater Toronto Area award-ceremony arrangements are communicated separately; CKSTEM does not cover international award shipping.
| Recognition | Placing |
|---|---|
| Gold | Top 1% |
| Silver | Top 2–3% |
| Bronze | Top 4–6% |
| Honors | Top 7–10% |
For families and school coordinators
Registration and fees
2027 registration details and any individual-entry fees to be announced. Schools can contact CKSTEM to coordinate a group.
School entry
A coordinator can register a group, confirm categories and organise the supervised sitting or submission process. Contact CKSTEM with the participating grades and approximate student count.
Individual entry
Ask CKSTEM for the current individual registration route, fee and supervision instructions before entry.
Email info@ckstem.org or send a contest enquiry. Dates and registration deadlines are listed below.
CIMC Advisory Board
Educators and mathematical thinkers
Cerasela Tesleanu
Math professor at Collège Stanislas Montreal specializing in Math and Algorithmics. She has trained gifted students for national and international competitions, and champions the STREAM approach — math taught alongside programming and robotics.
Ansh Agarwal
Grade 12 student and bronze medalist in the Canadian Mathematical Olympiad (CMO) and the Asian Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO), 2025. As student advisor, Ansh brings a competitor's eye to contest design across all nine grade levels.
Plan your year
CIMC · Math dates & deadlines
Dates below are for CKSTEM’s Canadian entries. ET means Toronto time; PT means Vancouver time. Use “Other time zones” for your location.
1 calendar entries
| Contest & round | Date & start time | Duration / format | Register by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math · Contest windowOpen entry | Apr 1, 2027 – Apr 16, 2027 Choose one supervised sitting | 75 minutes | Mar 15, 2027 |
No contests match both filters. Choose another format or reset the filters.
For a fixed-date contest, registration closes three weeks before the sitting. For a submission or sitting window, registration closes two weeks before it begins, except Math, Science, Computing and Writing: their confirmed deadline is March 15, 2027. Finals require qualification and a separate invitation or registration.
Download contest calendar (CSV) · Academic calendar and class schedule