The centre for education in mathematics and computing

The Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) has become Canada's largest and most recognized outreach organization dedicated to helping young people reach further heights with their mathematics and computer science.

The CEMC is the largest organization of its kind in Canada, and is housed within the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo — a leading research institution known for educating some of the world's most talented computer science and engineering graduates. With over 50 years of experience, the CEMC is committed to giving students the tools they need to build their confidence, grow their problem-solving skills, and get excited about mathematics and computing. And as one of the official testing centres for the CEMC, students of the Dr. Jenny Chan School for Education are more than welcome to write these contests with us!

CEMC CONTESTS

Beaver Computing Challenge

The Beaver Computing Challenge (BCC) introduces computer science to students, and is designed to get those with little or no previous experience excited about computing.

The BCC is a problem-solving contest with a focus on computational and logical thinking, with questions that are inspired by topics in computer science. However, it only requires familiarity with concepts found in math curriculums common to all Canadian provinces.

Depending on the student's age, they may participate in different categories of the BCC:

Students in Grade 6 or below are eligible for the Grade 5/6 BCC.
Students in Grade 8 or below are eligible for the Grade 7/8 BCC.
Students in Grade 10 or below are eligible for the Grade 9/10 BCC.

The challenge will consist of either 12 multiple choice questions for 60 total marks (5/6 BCC), or 15 multiple choice questions for 90 total marks (7/8 and 9/10 BCCs). The test has a time limit of 45 minutes, and is taken online. Certain calculators are permitted.

Competition Date: November 10, 2024
Deadline: October 25, 2024

Gauss Contest 7/8

The Gauss contest introduces students in Grades 7 and 8 to a broader perspective of mathematics in a fun and accessible way. With intriguing problems in a multiple-choice format, the Gauss contest is a wonderful opportunity for all participants to grow their interest in and get curious about the power of math.

The Gauss contest bases its questions on curriculum content common to all Canadian provinces. The last few questions are designed to test ingenuity and insight. Rather than testing content, most of the contest problems test logical thinking and mathematical problem-solving.

This challenge is designed for students in Grades 7 and 8, but is also open to interested students from lower grades. It consists of 25 multiple choice questions for a total score of 150. The test has a time limit of 60 minutes, and is written by participants at school, either on paper or online. Certain calculators are permitted.

Competition Date: To be determined

Pascal, Cayley, and
Fermat Contests (PCF)

The Pascal, Cayley, and Fermat (PCF) Contests are a fun opportunity for participants to explore the potential of mathematics. Designed to be accessible both to those that have written math contests in the past and to those who haven't, these multiple-choice contests can help learners build confidence and inspire them to get excited about math.

The PCF Contests base their questions on curriculum content common to all Canadian provinces. The last few questions are designed to test ingenuity and insight. Rather than testing content, most of the contest problems test logical thinking and mathematical problem-solving.

Depending on the student's age, they may participate in different categories of the PCF:

Students in Grade 9 or below are eligible to write the Pascal Contest.
Students in Grade 10 or below are eligible to write the Cayley Contest.
Students in Grade 11 or below are eligible to write the Fermat Contest.

The PCF Contests consist of 25 multiple-choice questions for a total score of 150. The tests are separated into 3 parts:

Parts A and B follow a traditional multiple-choice format, where the answer is one of either A, B, C, D, or E.
In Part C, participants select a whole number from 0 to 99 based on the question.

Each test has a time limit of 60 minutes, and participants write online. Certain calculators are permitted.

Competition Date: To be determined

Fryer, Galois, and
Hypatia Contests (FGH)

The Fryer, Galois, and Hypatia (FGH) Contests are a unique opportunity for participants to write a full-solution contest — a format that can help learners develop both problem-solving and communication skills. These fun and engaging contests encourage critical thinking, as each question requires participants to tackle larger, more complex tasks and break them down into smaller, more manageable problems.

The FGH Contests base their questions on curriculum content common to all Canadian provinces. Rather than testing content, most of the problems test logical thinking and mathematical problem-solving. Practicing with past contests is a great way for participants to learn the style of questions that will appear on the contests, as well as common topics.

Depending on the student's age, they may participate in different categories of the FGH:

Students in Grade 9 or below are eligible to write the Fryer Contest.
Students in Grade 10 or below are eligible to write the Galois Contest.
Students in Grade 11 or below are eligible to write the Hypatia Contest.

The FGH Contests consist of 4 questions for a total score of 40; a mix of final answer only and full-solution questions. Marks are awarded for completeness, clarity, and style of presentation. Even a correct solution, if poorly presented, will not earn full marks.

Each test has a time limit of 75 minutes, and are written by participants at school on paper. Certain calculators are permitted.

Competition Date: To be determined

Our
student
winners

Below, you can find several of our student winners regarding the various CEMC Competitions. Congratulations to our students on their outstanding performances!