The 2026 season was held on March 28, 2026; regional results were released on April 15, and global awards were announced on May 10. The preparation window for the 2026–27 new season is now officially open.
Math Kangaroo is the world's largest youth mathematics event, with approximately 6.5 million participants globally in 2025, including 350,000 in China. It is open to students in grades 1–12 and is divided into six difficulty levels (A–F), with two grade levels sharing the same set of questions.
Specific registration and exam dates for the 2027 season have not yet been announced by the organizers. Based on past patterns, registration typically opens in September of the previous year, and the exam is usually held in March of the following year. For exact dates, please refer to the official announcements from ASDAN and the Math Kangaroo China official website.
I. Core Format Rules for Levels A–F
1. Six-Level Structure at a Glance
| Level | Target Grades | Questions / Total Points | 2026 Exam Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level A | Grades 1–2 | 24 questions / 120 points | 9:00–10:15 (75 min) |
| Level B | Grades 3–4 | 24 questions / 120 points | 9:00–10:15 (75 min) |
| Level C | Grades 5–6 | 30 questions / 150 points | 14:00–15:15 (75 min) |
| Level D | Grades 7–8 | 30 questions / 150 points | 14:00–15:15 (75 min) |
| Level E | Grades 9–10 | 30 questions / 150 points | 14:00–15:15 (75 min) |
| Level F | Grades 11–12 | 30 questions / 150 points | 14:00–15:15 (75 min) |
Levels A–B consist of 24 multiple‑choice questions worth 120 points; Levels C–F consist of 30 multiple‑choice questions worth 150 points. The exam lasts 75 minutes, calculators are not permitted, and the test paper is bilingual (Chinese and English).
The scoring system is unique: a starting score of 24 points (Levels A–B) or 30 points (Levels C–F). Questions 1–8 (or 1–10) are worth 3 points each, questions 9–16 (or 11–20) are worth 4 points each, and questions 17–24 (or 21–30) are worth 5 points each. Incorrect answers deduct 1 point; unanswered questions do not deduct points.
2. Difficulty Gradient and Question Type Differences Across Levels A–F
- Level A (Grades 1–2): Online exams provide Chinese audio reading of questions. Question types focus on shape recognition, simple patterns, and fun logic – no complex calculations.
- Level B (Grades 3–4): Introduces the four arithmetic operations, simple word problems, shape symmetry and folding; logical reasoning questions account for a larger proportion.
- Level C (Grades 5–6): Question count increases from 24 to 30; introduces fractions, decimals, perimeter, area, and basic divisibility; geometry questions account for 30%.
- Level D (Grades 7–8): Ratios, percentages, introductory algebra, circles and angles; interdisciplinary word problems increase significantly.
- Level E (Grades 9–10): Sequences, introductory functions, elementary number theory and combinatorics; logical reasoning accounts for 25%.
- Level F (Grades 11–12): Sets, permutations and combinations, introductory probability, complex logical reasoning – difficulty level is comparable to the first 10 questions of AMC 10.
Breakdown of the four major question types: Calculations + Word Problems + Fun Questions = 45%; Geometry = 30%; Logical Reasoning = 25%. Levels A–B have a higher proportion of geometry and logic (approximately 60%), while Levels C–F place increasing weight on calculations and word problems.
Level selection rule: Students may choose to challenge a level above their current grade, but are not allowed to choose a level below their current grade – this means a G1 student may jump to Level F, but a G12 student cannot take Level A.
II. Award Structure in China and Winning Probabilities
1. Five Award Tiers (Ranked separately by grade)
- Math Kangaroo Achievement Award: Perfect score recipients – only about 200 students in China each year (≈0.1%)
- Top Gold: Top 5% nationally
- Gold Award: Top 15% nationally
- Silver Award: Top 30% nationally
- Bronze Award: Top 45% nationally
- Proficiency Award: Top 25% in each province/municipality/autonomous region/special administrative region (in addition to national awards)
Key mechanism: Each grade is ranked separately – Grade 1 competes only with Grade 1, Grade 2 only with Grade 2. A dual‑track award system (global awards + China region awards) runs in parallel, with an overall award rate of approximately 70%.
2. 2025 Award Cutoff References (2026 cutoffs may vary due to difficulty fluctuations – for reference only)
| Grade Group | Top Gold | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 1–2 (A) | 114–116 | 104–109 | 92–103 | 83–95 |
| Grades 3–4 (B) | 114–116 | 105–110 | 95–103 | 87–97 |
| Grades 5–6 (C) | 135–140 | 123–130 | 110–118 | 98–108 |
Levels A–B have a maximum score of 120; Top Gold typically requires 114 points or above (answering 22–24 questions correctly). Levels C–F have a maximum score of 150; Top Gold typically requires 140 points or above (answering 28–30 questions correctly).
Important reminder: Math Kangaroo awards are based on percentile rankings rather than fixed cutoffs – whether you receive an award ultimately depends on your score's relative ranking among all participants at the same level globally. The cutoffs above are historical references only.
III. 75‑Minute Test‑Taking Strategies for Levels A–F
1. Conservative Strategy Based on "Incorrect Answers Deduct 1 Point"
- The biggest strategic feature of Math Kangaroo: Incorrect answers deduct 1 point, unanswered questions do not deduct points – this overturns the traditional "guess if unsure" logic of most competitions.
- Conservative principle: For questions you are uncertain about, it is better to leave them blank than to guess randomly. This ensures that even if you only answer the rest correctly, you will still secure a solid base score.
- Levels A–B target: To aim for Top Gold, you need to answer 22–24 questions correctly (≥114 points). For Levels C–F, you need to answer 28–30 questions correctly (≥140 points).
- Time allocation: Spend 20 minutes on questions 1–10 (3‑point questions), 25 minutes on questions 11–20 (4‑point questions), and 30 minutes on questions 21–30 (5‑point questions).
2. Key Score‑Boosting Priorities by Level
- Levels A–B: Geometry questions account for 30%; train spatial imagination through shape symmetry, folding, and rotation. Logical reasoning accounts for 25% and requires dedicated practice.
- Levels C–D: Calculations + Word Problems + Fun Questions account for 45%; fractions, decimals, ratios, and percentages are the dividing line between score levels.
- Levels E–F: The 5‑point questions (21–30) are the key to differentiating scores; mastery of permutations and combinations, elementary number theory, and complex logical reasoning is essential.
IV. Training Path Using Past Papers for Levels A–F
1. Accessing and Categorizing Past Papers
- The Math Kangaroo China official website (math‑kangaroo.org.cn) provides free download of past papers (2013–2025) with answers and video solutions for all levels A–F.
- The ASDAN "International Science Assessment" mini‑program offers sample questions and academic resources.
- Past papers are archived by level: Levels A/B (24‑question version), Levels C/D/E/F (30‑question version).
2. Three‑Stage Past Paper Training Method
- Foundation stage (3 months before the exam): Work through past papers from the last 5 years at your level without time limits, focusing on understanding the logic behind the four major question types.
- Advanced stage (1 month before the exam): Take timed mock exams (75 minutes) to practice the conservative "guess or leave blank" strategy under the "incorrect answers deduct 1 point" rule.
- Sprint stage (2 weeks before the exam): Repeatedly work through past papers from the last 3 years, with a focus on conquering the 5‑point questions (21–30).
Data shows that students who start participating in Math Kangaroo from Grade 2 have a 50% higher pass rate when transitioning to AMC 8 in Grade 3 – Math Kangaroo is widely recognised as a "stepping stone" to higher‑level competitions such as AMC 8 and SASMO.
V. Preparation Tips for Beginners
- Tip 1: Understand the positioning of Math Kangaroo. With a low entry barrier, high fun factor, and an overall award rate of nearly 70%, it is an ideal choice for early‑stage mathematics initiation and as a stepping stone to higher‑level competitions.
- Tip 2: For Levels A–B (Grades 1–4), geometry and logical reasoning together account for 55% – children need to develop spatial imagination and logical deduction from an early age, rather than focusing solely on calculation drills.
- Tip 3: "Incorrect answers deduct 1 point, unanswered questions do not deduct points" is Math Kangaroo's most distinctive scoring rule – for uncertain questions, it is better to leave them blank. A conservative strategy secures your base score.
- Tip 4: For Levels C–F (Grades 5–12), the question count increases from 24 to 30 and the maximum score rises from 120 to 150. The 5‑point questions (21–30) are the key battleground for aiming for Top Gold.
- Tip 5: For the 2027 season, registration typically opens in September of the previous year and the exam is usually held in March of the following year. Math Kangaroo does not support individual direct registration; you must register through your school, the ASDAN mini‑program, or authorised agencies.
The 2026 season was held on March 28, 2026; regional results and global awards have been announced. The preparation window for the 2026–27 new season is now officially open.
On "A–F question type differences": Levels A–B have 24 questions / 120 points; Levels C–F have 30 questions / 150 points. The four major question types break down as Calculations + Word Problems + Fun Questions = 45%, Geometry = 30%, Logical Reasoning = 25%. Levels A–B have a higher proportion of geometry and logic.
On "award cutoffs": China region awards are determined by percentile rankings – Top Gold = top 5%, Gold = top 15%, Silver = top 30%, Bronze = top 45%. In 2025, Levels A–B required 114–116 points for Top Gold, and Levels C–F required 135–140 points (for reference only).
On "winning probabilities": The overall award rate is nearly 70%. The dual‑track award system (global + China region) increases the chances of receiving an award. Each grade is ranked separately, ensuring fair competition within the same grade.
On "past papers for all levels": The Math Kangaroo China official website provides free download of past papers (2013–2025) with answers and video solutions for all levels A–F. It is recommended to follow the "Foundation → Advanced → Sprint" three‑stage training approach, with a focus on conquering the 5‑point questions.
Specific registration and exam dates for the 2027 season have not yet been announced by the organizers. Based on past patterns, registration typically opens in September of the previous year and the exam is usually held in March of the following year. Please be sure to check the latest announcements from ASDAN and the Math Kangaroo China official website.
