Celebrating the 2025–2026 Math Olympiads Season 🎉🧠
Meryl FordinAnother incredible season of Math Olympiads has come to a close, and what a year it has been! Across classrooms and math clubs around the world, students gathered week after week to tackle challenging problems, sharpen their thinking, and experience the joy of creative problem solving.
The Math Olympiads program is about far more than competition. It is about learning to think deeply, exploring mathematical ideas, and discovering the excitement of solving problems that do not have immediate answers. This season once again demonstrated the power of perseverance, curiosity, and collaboration.
A Season of Growth and Participation 📈
The 2025–2026 season reached an impressive number of students and teams:
- Total Students Participating: 80,462
- Students with Recorded Scores: 77,343
- Teams without scores: 445
Students competed in two divisions:
- Division E (Elementary): 56,913 students
- Division M (Middle School): 20,430 students
These numbers reflect a vibrant global community of young mathematicians who spent the year strengthening their reasoning skills and learning to approach problems creatively.
Celebrating Mathematical Excellence 🏅
Among the thousands of participants, many students achieved extraordinary results through dedication, practice, and ingenuity.
Perfect Scores - George Lenchner Medallion Winners
The prestigious George Lenchner Medallion recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional mathematical ability.
- Division E: 369 winners
- Division M: 120 winners
Near-Perfect Scores
Some students achieved remarkable results with scores of 24 out of 25:
- Division E: 438 students
- Division M: 121 students
These scores represent not just strong math skills, but also persistence and strategic thinking when faced with challenging problems.
The Score Bands 📊
Math Olympiads celebrates achievement at many levels, encouraging students to improve their personal best each year.
|
Student Scoring Bands |
Division E |
Division M |
|
Top 2% Score |
23-25 |
23-25 |
|
Top 10% Score |
18-22 |
18-22 |
|
Top 20% Score |
15-17 |
14-17 |
|
Top 25% Score |
14 |
13 |
|
Top 30% Score |
13 |
11-12 |
|
Top 40% Score |
11-12 |
9-10 |
|
Top 50% Score |
10 |
8 |
|
Team Scoring Bands |
Division E |
Division M |
|
Top 10% Score |
190-250 |
176-250 |
|
Top 20% Score |
170-189 |
148-175 |
|
Top 25% Score |
162-169 |
139-147 |
|
Top 30% Score |
155-161 |
130-138 |
|
Top 40% Score |
143-154 |
111-129 |
|
Top 50% Score |
129-142 |
90-110 |
These benchmarks provide students and coaches with valuable feedback while reinforcing the program’s core mission: progress through practice and persistence.
The Power of Practice and Problem Solving 💡
Throughout the season, students encountered problems that required them to:
- Look at mathematics from new perspectives
- Experiment with different strategies
- Work through false starts and try again
- Explain their reasoning clearly
This process helps students develop confidence, resilience, and mathematical creativity—skills that extend far beyond the contest itself.
Math + Fun = Lasting Impact 🎯
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of the Math Olympiads program is seeing students enjoy the challenge. Many participants report that the program helped them:
- Discover the excitement of tackling difficult problems
- Build friendships through collaborative thinking
- Develop a stronger appreciation for mathematics
When students realize that math can be both challenging and fun, they begin to see themselves as true problem solvers.
Looking Ahead 🚀
As we celebrate the achievements of the 2025–2026 season, we also look forward to the next year of exploration, learning, and discovery. Thousands of students will return ready to push their thinking even further.
To every student, coach, teacher, and supporter:
Thank you for making this season such a success.
Keep asking questions!
Keep problem solving!
And most importantly—keep enjoying the beauty of mathematics!
