About IYMC

Established in 2018, the International Youth Math Challenge is an educational mathematics competition designed to enable students from around the world to test their problem-solving skills and expand their knowledge through diverse math problems:


Mathematics lies at the heart of understanding our world, driving scientific achievements, technological advancements, and societal progress. It plays a crucial role in innovation and the prosperity of modern society. Recognizing the importance of math education for students of all ages, IYMC provides an educational program accessible to both students and teachers. This competition program offers young minds the opportunity to challenge their skills, learn more, be rewarded, and enjoy the fascinating world of mathematics beyond what the typical school curriculum has to offer.

What is unique about IYMC?

Although the competition format is integral to the IYMC, its primary goal is to encourage students to engage with mathematics and spark further interest in this and related scientific fields. As a result, IYMC serves as a learning experience, motivating students and allowing them to learn through experimental problem-solving formats. Noteworthy aspects of the IYMC program include the following:

• Internationality:
  The International Youth Math Challenge is a global competition from the first round onward. All participants solve the same problems in every round: This enables a fair evaluation and allows for international exchange among participants, which is usually only available to a few national representatives participating in international rounds.


• Digital Accessibility:
  The competition uses the possibilities of the modern internet to give all students the opportunity to participate regardless of nation, region or school affiliation. Although having a teacher's support is beneficial, participating as an individual is always possible from anywhere around the world.


• Experimental Formats:
  Part of the IYMC experience are problem formats, which are uncommon for traditional competitions and aim for a distinctive learning experience. This includes problems that focus on the extension of school-typical formats through thought-provoking modifications or types of problems, which require a deeper dive into the research surrounding a topic.


• Real-World Research:
  Getting students in touch with real-world examples of mathematical research is an essential feature. The Pre-Final Round usually includes recently published research articles as part of the problem format, which is unique to IYMC: For many participants, this is the first time learning about actual research, and we offer additional support to expand this learning experience.


• Adjusted Difficulty:
  The problems are designed to appeal to both math enthusiasts as well as students who are just starting to find interest in mathematics beyond the school curriculum. To ensure that everyone has a positive experience, the level of difficulty is adjusted to include more approachable problems similar to those typically seen in school, as well as more challenging problems that incorporate unusual formats.


• Online Tools for Teachers:
  We provide teachers and schools with supplementary resources and support them throughout each edition. Teachers have access to a dedicated interface for managing the submissions of their students, tracking their results & certificates and supervising the Final Round exam.


• Local Groups & Ambassadors:
  As IYMC goes far beyond the annual competition, we strongly encourage and support the formation of local student groups related to mathematics & IYMC around the world, including meetups and other events. The IYMC Ambassador Program allows motivated students and mentors to encourage other youths to engage with mathematics and to establish a local community that brings together students over mathematics.


• Supportive Alumni Network:
  Since its first edition in 2018, thousands of students have participated in IYMC, creating a vast alumni network. This network encourages international exchange, including the distribution of various relevant opportunities like scholarships or sponsored events, to support each participant's academic career.

How does IYMC compare to other competitions? (e.g., IMO)

Comparing the International Youth Math Challenge to other mathematics competitions can be misleading: IYMC does not intend to be an alternative to established competitions like the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) or its national variations and actively encourages students to take part in such opportunities.

Instead, IYMC serves as a supplementary program designed to engage a wide range of students, particularly those just beginning to develop an interest in mathematics and scientific subjects. It focuses on accessibility, making it a platform for students of all skill levels to explore and grow their mathematical fascination.

Although the annual competition is the central element, IYMC is not primarily structured around competitiveness but instead prioritizes the learning experience. Through experimental problem formats and real-world research topics, the competition introduces students to thought-provoking challenges that extend beyond standard school curricula and differ from traditional competition content. This approach appeals to students with varying levels of mathematical expertise, offering both approachable problems and more advanced tasks that inspire curiosity and creativity.

Moreover, IYMC empowers students by providing an independent platform that does not rely on their school or country. It connects participants through a global network, encouraging international collaboration and exchange. With a strong alumni community and supportive resources for teachers and local groups, IYMC goes beyond being just a competition.

History, Organisation and Funding

The International Youth Math Challenge is coordinated by Edu.Harbour and takes place annually on a global scale. Since its first edition in 2018, IYMC has attracted thousands of students from all over the world (30,000+). The organizing team is continually evolving with many members based in Germany. The competition was established to provide an innovative platform for students to engage with mathematics, promoting learning and problem-solving in a unique and accessible way.

The full organizing team of IYMC 2024 can be found on this page: Organizing Team of 2024

Organizing such an international competition involves significant costs, including human resources, technical infrastructure, materials, and more. As an independent and globally accessible program, IYMC is grateful to its sponsors for covering some of these expenses. The remaining costs are funded through participant contributions, such as the registration costs for the Pre-Final Round (Information Flyer).

As a growing competition, IYMC is continuously evolving and improving each year to enhance the experience for participants and expand its impact worldwide!



All information about the International Youth Math Challenge is available here: Information Flyer