Everything Students Need to Know About the Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest

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Everything Students Need to Know About the Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest

Attention families of mathletes, this blog is for you. If your child demonstrates a love of math and is looking for more challenge, you may want to consider offering math enrichment. There are many ways to provide additional opportunities and activities outside of the classroom including professional math tutoring, clubs and official competitions. Annually in the month of March, Canadian students from coast to coast in grades 1 to 12 have a unique extracurricular opportunity to participate in the Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest. If this international math competition is new to you, not to fret, our online and in-person tutoring team rounded up everything you need to know about the CMKC. Whether your child is participating this year, or you are interested in learning more for future, read on!

It’s no secret that the Teachers on Call in-person and online tutoring service regularly promotes recreational reading through our Hooked on Books series. Similarly, our math tutors are often asked to support math enrichment for students who enjoy problem-solving and want to sharpen their critical thinking abilities within the school curriculum. For teachers and parents looking for official competitions, the CMKC is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization with the goal of promoting extracurricular math (in English and French). Many of the in-person test locations are hosted in universities, which is also an exciting experience for elementary and high school students. To simplify the process for you, we have rounded up details that students, teachers and families need to know about this program!

Contest Format for the 6 Categories:

Grades 1 & 2

  • Format: 18 multiple-choice questions, arranged in increasing difficulty, to be answered in 45 minutes.

Grades 3 & 4

  • Format: 24 multiple-choice questions, arranged in increasing difficulty, to be answered in 60 minutes.

……………………………………………………….

Grades 5 & 6

Grades 7 & 8

Grades 9 & 10

Grades 11 & 12

  • Format: For grades 5-12, there are 30 multiple-choice questions, arranged in increasing difficulty, to be answered in 75 minutes.

Contest Rules:

  • Calculators, cell phones, geometry sets and textbooks are not permitted.
  • For in-person contest, students can bring 2 pencils with erasers, 1 pen, snack and/or drink. Scrap paper is provided on site. 
  • For the online contest, parents are NOT permitted to read, give hints, or explain the questions to students.

Contest Content and Practice:

CMKC content is covered in the provincial math curriculum. The multiple-choice questions require students to display creativity, logical and critical thinking skills. Many students are given the opportunity to register through their schools and practice in extracurricular math clubs with their teachers and peers during recess or lunch time. For additional resources and sample tests, you can access on the official CMKC website.

Contest Marks and Grading Policies:

While contestants in different school grades write the same competition, they are evaluated only for their school grade. For example, grade 3 contestants are not ranked with grade 4 participants, even though they write the same test.

The problems are divided in three categories, A, B, and C, by the level of difficulty. Each category consists of 6, 8, or 10 problems.

  • Group A problems are worth three points
  • Group B problems are worth four points
  • Group C problems are worth five points

There is a penalty of one point for each incorrect answer. If the question is left unanswered, it is worth 0 points. The maximum score attained is 90, 120 or 150 points. To avoid negative scores, each student begins with 18, 24, or 30 points. Hence, the minimum score possible is 0 points.

CMKC Results and Awards:

Contest results are released and award status announced approximately 1 month or so after the competition. This can be viewed by logging into student's account. Winners lists and answer keys are available around mid-April.

Students who write the in-person contest are eligible to receive national or regional awards. While students who participate online are only eligible for the regional awards given there is no official supervision.

An awards ceremony is generally held in late May or early June and is open to all award winners and their families. Details are emailed to winners in early May.

CMKC Details for March 2026:

Competition Date (in-person): Sunday March 22, 2026

Competition Date (online): March 23-25, 2026

Registration Fee: $20 - $25, although some schools may cover cost, subsidize or have access to discounts for bulk registrations for their students. All student participants must be signed up by deadline through a family or teacher account.  The early bird fee is $20 if registered by February 9, 2026. The regular fee is $25 from February 10, 2026 to the registration deadline on February 23, 2026. Participants who register by February 21, 2026 will be invited to a free 60-minute training class.

Timing: Check-in and start times may be different based on location. It is recommended to check your account carefully and watch for emails from your location organizer closer to the date of the test.

Check-in Process: Please follow instructions sent by your host organizer and arrive by designated time to get your student registered and seated in time for contest instructions. Students must bring a form of ID during check-in (ie. Report Card, Student Card, Drivers License, Passport, etc.)

Check-out Process: Parents and guardians are asked to be mindful of the contest duration. Students will be released as soon as they finish the test or ask to be released. Please plan accordingly. Students in Grades 1 – 6 should have a parent/guardian at the door for pickup. Students in Grades 7 and up will be dismissed on their own after the contest writing is done. Families of students grades 1 – 4 are asked to bring a form of ID for verification upon pickup. 

In-Person Participating Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest Locations for 2026:

Alberta Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest Locations - 6 Participating Sites

Calgary

Mount Royal University, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary, AB T3E 6K6

Renert School at Royal Vista in northwest Calgary, 14 Royal Vista Link, NW Calgary, AB T3R 0K4

Edmonton

Concordia University of Edmonton, 7128 Ada Boulevard Hole Academic Centre Building, Edmonton, AB T5B 4E4

MacEwan University, 10700 - 104 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5J 4S2

Spruce Grove Public Library, 35 5 Ave, Parkland County, AB T7X 2C4

Fort McMurray

Keyano College, 8115 Franklin Ave, Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2H7

British Columbia Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest Locations - 15 Participating Sites

Kelowna 

Okanagan College, Kelowna Campus, 1000 K.L.O Road, Kelowna, BC V1Y 4X8

Prince George 

University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9

Vancouver 

University of Fraser Valley, 33844 King Road, Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8

G&A Coquitlam Education Center, #206, 3030 Lincoln Avenue, Coquitlam, BC V3B 6B4

ALPS Education Inc, 110-5751 Cedarbridge Way, Richmond, BC V6X 2A8

Dr. Jenny Chan School for Education, 185-6971 Elmbridge Way, Richmond, BC V7C 4N1

EM Academy Canada, 6060-4000 No.3 Road, Richmond, BC V6X 0J8

U Will Education, 241-8680 Cambie Rd, Richmond, BC V6X 4K1

Kwantlen Polytechnic University, 12666 72nd Avenue, Surrey, BC V3W 2M8

EY Masters Academy Ltd,  2608 Granville St #340, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V3

Gateway College, 300-1215 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G7

Hillhouse Education Inc., 5549 Dunbar Street, Vancouver (Hillhouse), BC V6N 1W5

YES Education Centre, 204 - 2112 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6K 2C8

Victoria

University of Victoria, PO BOX 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2

Vancouver Public Education Alliance Corp., 100-3550 Saanich Rd, Victoria, BC V8X 1X2

Manitoba Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest Locations - 2 Participating Sites

Brandon 

Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB R7A 6A9

Winnipeg

University of Manitoba, 420 Machray Hall 186 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2

New Brunswick Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest Locations - 3 Participating Sites

Fredericton

University of New Brunswick, Fredericton Campus, 9 Macauley Ln, Fredericton, NB E3B 9V7

Sackville 

Mount Allison University, 230 Dunn Building, 67 York St, Sackville, NB E4L1E4

Saint John

University of New Brunswick, Saint John Campus, Ganong Hall 100 Tucker Park Rd, Saint John, NB E2L 4l5

Newfoundland & Labrador Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest Locations - 1 Participating Site

St. Johns 

Memorial University of Newfoundland, Dept. Math and Stats, 230 Elizabeth Ave, St. Johns, NL A1C 5S7

Nova Scotia Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest Locations - 2 Participating Sites

Halifax 

Dalhousie University, the Chase Building on Lord Dalhousie Drive, 6316 Coburg Road, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2

Mount Saint Vincent University, 166 Bedford Highway, Halifax, NS B3M 2J6

Ontario Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest Locations - 24 Participating Sites

GTA/Brampton

CanSTEM Education Private School, Unit 10, Plaza 1, 350 Rutherford Rd South, Brampton, ON L6W 4N6

GTA/Markham

Canada Ututoring Learning Institute, 200 Town Centre Blvd, Unit 203, Markham, ON L3R 8G5

GTA/Richmond Hill

U+ Education, 650 highway 7 East, Unit 101, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 2N7

TT Math School, 590 Alden Road Unit 101, Markham, ON L3R 8N2

Guelph

University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1

Hamilton

ArcelorMittal Dofasco, 1330 Burlington Street East, Hamilton, ON L8N 3J5

McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton (McMaster), ON L8S 4K1

Kingston

Queen’s University, 64 Bader Lane, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6

London

Western University, Western Science Center, Room 262, London, ON N6A 5B7

Mississauga

University of Toronto, Mississauga Campus, 3359 Mississauga Road, Deerfield Hall, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6

North Bay

Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, North Bay, ON P1B 8L7

Orillia

Lakehead University, Orillia Campus, 500 University Avenue, Orillia, ON L3V 0B9

Oshawa

Trent University, Durham GTA Campus, 55 Thornton Road South, Oshawa, ON L1Y 5Y1

Ottawa

Carleton University, School of Mathematics and Statistics, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6

Peterborough

Trent University, Peterborough Campus, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 0G2

St. Catherines

Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1

Sudbury

Laurentian University, Dept. of Math & Computer Science, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6

Thunder Bay

Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1

Toronto

Humber College, Lakeshore Campus, 3199 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Toronto/Etobicoke, ON M8V 1K8

Toronto Metropolitan University, Dept. of Math, 350 Victoria Street, ON M5B 2K3

University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus, 1095 Military Trail, Scarborough, ON M1C5J9

University of Toronto, St. George Downtown Toronto Campus, Bahen Centre for Information Technology, 40 St. George St. Toronto, ON M5S 2E4

Waterloo

Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5

Windsor

University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4

Prince Edward Island Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest Location - 1 Participating Site

Charlottetown

University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3

Quebec Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest Location - 1 Participating Site

Montreal

Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3H 0A1

Saskatchewan Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest Location - 2 Participating Sites

Regina

University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S 0A2

Saskatoon

Walter Murray Collegiate, 1905 Preston Avenue, Saskatoon, SK S7J 2E7

*It’s recommended to check official contest website and your student account closer to date to confirm full details. Participating host locations may also post instructions on their websites, such as University of Toronto, Western University, and University of Northern British Columbia.

We hope this blog has been helpful to learn more about this math enrichment opportunity for Canadian students. Wishing all of our math students the best of luck!

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