NSIA MathFest crest MathFest
MathFest: The Competition Has Begun. Our divisional events are now open to students in grades 1-8. Think. Solve. Compete. Your road to Nationals starts here.

Upcoming Events

📍
Asheville, NC
Divisional Event
October 24, 2026
📍
Elizabeth City, NC
Divisional Event
November 7, 2026
📍
Raleigh, NC
Divisional Event
November 21, 2026
Cover of Preparing Students For MathFest guide

How to Prepare Your Students for MathFest

A full guide to getting students ready for competition day.

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Standards Assessed

Aligned to the current NC Standard Course of Study (adopted 2017).

1st
Grade

1st Grade MathFest Skills

  • Solve addition and subtraction word problems within 20 using objects, drawings, or equations
  • Add three whole numbers with a sum up to 20
  • Add and subtract within 20 using strategies such as counting on, making ten, and using a number line
  • Determine whether addition and subtraction equations are true using the equal sign
  • Count to 150 starting at any number less than 150
  • Understand two-digit numbers as amounts of tens and ones; compare two-digit numbers using greater than, less than, and equal
  • Add within 100 using models, drawings, and place value strategies
  • Measure and compare lengths of objects using non-standard units
  • Tell and write time to the hour and half-hour
  • Identify quarters, dimes, and nickels and relate their values to pennies
  • Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories
  • Reason with shapes and their attributes; partition circles and rectangles into halves and fourths
2nd
Grade

2nd Grade MathFest Skills

  • Represent and solve addition and subtraction word problems within 100
  • Demonstrate fluency with addition and subtraction within 20
  • Determine whether a group of objects has an odd or even number of members
  • Use addition to find totals of objects arranged in rectangular arrays
  • Understand place value for three-digit numbers (hundreds, tens, and ones)
  • Count within 1,000; skip-count by 5s, 10s, and 100s
  • Add and subtract within 1,000 using place value strategies and properties of operations
  • Measure length of objects using standard units such as rulers, yardsticks, and meter sticks
  • Tell and write time to the nearest five minutes, using a.m. and p.m.
  • Solve word problems involving quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies, and whole dollar amounts
  • Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to four categories using picture and bar graphs
  • Recognize and draw shapes with specified attributes; partition shapes into halves, thirds, and fourths
3rd
Grade

3rd Grade MathFest Skills

  • Interpret products and quotients of whole numbers as equal groups
  • Solve one-step multiplication and division word problems with factors and quotients up to 10
  • Demonstrate fluency with multiplication and division facts up to 10
  • Solve two-step word problems using the four operations
  • Identify and interpret arithmetic patterns
  • Add and subtract whole numbers up to 1,000 using place value strategies
  • Understand fractions as numbers; interpret and compare unit fractions
  • Tell and write time to the nearest minute; solve word problems involving time intervals
  • Measure length, weight, and capacity using customary units
  • Represent and interpret scaled picture and bar graphs
  • Understand and find the area of rectangles; solve problems involving perimeter
  • Reason with two-dimensional shapes and their attributes
4th
Grade

4th Grade MathFest Skills

  • Understand multi-digit place value up to 100,000; read, write, and compare multi-digit numbers
  • Solve multi-step word problems using the four operations, including interpreting remainders
  • Add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm
  • Interpret multiplication as a comparison and distinguish it from additive comparison
  • Find factor pairs and multiples for numbers up to 50; determine prime and composite numbers
  • Multiply multi-digit numbers and divide with one-digit divisors
  • Draw and identify points, lines, angles, and parallel and perpendicular lines; measure angles with a protractor
  • Classify quadrilaterals and triangles by angle measure and side length; recognize symmetry
  • Solve area and perimeter problems involving rectangles
  • Compare and add fractions with related denominators; connect fractions to decimal notation
  • Convert metric measurement units; solve word problems involving elapsed time
  • Represent and interpret data in frequency tables, bar graphs, and line plots; generate number and shape patterns
5th
Grade

5th Grade MathFest Skills

  • Write, explain, and evaluate numerical expressions using the order of operations
  • Generate and graph numerical patterns from two given rules
  • Understand the place value system from one million to the thousandths place
  • Multiply multi-digit whole numbers fluently using the standard algorithm
  • Divide whole numbers with up to four-digit dividends and two-digit divisors
  • Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to the hundredths place
  • Add and subtract fractions, including mixed numbers, with unlike denominators
  • Multiply and divide fractions, including word problems involving unit fractions
  • Convert measurement units within a system using multiplicative reasoning
  • Represent and interpret data using line graphs, including data that changes over time
  • Understand volume as an attribute of solid figures; find the volume of rectangular prisms
  • Graph points on a coordinate plane; classify quadrilaterals by their properties
6th
Grade

6th Grade MathFest Skills

  • Understand ratio concepts and use ratio language and reasoning to solve problems
  • Solve real-world percent problems using ratio reasoning
  • Divide fractions by fractions using visual models
  • Fluently divide multi-digit numbers; add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals
  • Find the greatest common factor and least common multiple of whole numbers
  • Understand positive and negative numbers, absolute value, and the coordinate plane in all four quadrants
  • Write, read, and evaluate algebraic expressions; apply properties to generate equivalent expressions
  • Solve one-variable equations and inequalities
  • Represent and analyze relationships between dependent and independent variables
  • Find the area of triangles, quadrilaterals, and polygons; find the volume of rectangular prisms with fractional edge lengths
  • Use nets made of rectangles and triangles to find surface area
  • Understand statistical variability; summarize numerical data sets using measures of center and spread
7th
Grade

7th Grade MathFest Skills

  • Compute unit rates, including with fractions, to solve real-world problems
  • Recognize and represent proportional relationships using tables, graphs, equations, and words
  • Use scale factors to create scale drawings and find lengths and areas
  • Add, subtract, multiply, and divide positive and negative fractions and integers
  • Calculate and apply percentages to real-world problems
  • Write expressions in different forms using the distributive property and by combining like terms
  • Solve multi-step real-world problems involving rational numbers
  • Draw, construct, and describe geometric figures and the relationships between them
  • Solve problems involving angle measure, area, surface area, and volume
  • Develop and use probability models to find theoretical and experimental probabilities
  • Calculate mean, median, mean absolute deviation, range, and interquartile range to compare data sets
8th
Grade

8th Grade MathFest Skills

  • Understand irrational numbers as non-repeating, non-terminating decimals and estimate their value
  • Apply integer exponents and the properties of exponents
  • Express very large and very small numbers using scientific notation
  • Solve problems involving the relationship between angles formed by a line crossing parallel lines
  • Understand translations, rotations, and reflections as rigid transformations, and dilations as non-rigid transformations
  • Understand congruence and similarity using physical models, transparencies, or geometry software
  • Graph proportional relationships and interpret the slope as a rate of change
  • Write linear equations using slope and initial value, and interpret their meaning in context
  • Analyze scatterplots for linear or nonlinear association, and identify outliers, gaps, and clusters
  • Use two-way tables to summarize data and describe association between two variables

Event Formats

A student holding up a dry erase board with her answer during an individual MathFest event

Individual / Large Group Event

Students compete individually or as part of a large group during the event, working through math challenges for personal-best moments or group recognition.

On the day of the MathFest Competition each student receives a dry erase marker, board, scratch paper, and tickets. Students are then given math problems to solve. The problems will be given to the students on sheets called math script. All students will work the same problem during a specified time limit; however students are paired by grade. The students will solve the specified problem within a given time frame and the answer will be written on his/her dry erase board. Each time a student answers correctly he/she will receive a ticket. The competition will continue until time expires. The level of difficulty of the work may exceed the current grade level expectations. Awards are only presented at the Regional and National levels.

A small group of students working together at a table during a Solve & Defend event

Solve & Defend (Critical Thinking)

A critical-thinking format where small teams solve a challenge together, then explain and defend their reasoning — built to sharpen problem-solving, not just computation.

1. Participant Grouping

  • Students compete in teams of 3–4 participants.
  • Teams are organized strictly by grade level (3rd–8th grade).
  • Teams will compete only against others in the same grade division.

2. Competition Structure

  • The National Competition focuses on advancement through Regionals.
  • Teams will solve rigorous, scenario-based math problems and defend their reasoning.
  • Multiple problem sets will be available, allowing teams to continue competing as time permits.

3. Problem Design

  • All problems are real-world, scenario-based tasks requiring mathematical calculations, critical thinking and analysis, application of solutions, and clear verbal justification.
  • Each grade level includes four unique problem sets (labeled 1–4) — for example, 3rd Grade: 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4.
  • While rigor remains consistent within a level, problem scenarios vary.

4. Skill Development Assistance

  • Divisional Level: after the second unsuccessful attempt, groups are assigned an adult mentor to help guide their success with the Green Sheet Scenarios.
  • Regional and National Level: no assistance is allowed.

5. Scoring System

  • Teams are evaluated on accuracy and reasoning, with a maximum of 100 points per Blue Level challenge.
  • 25 points – Accurate Income Calculation
  • 25 points – Accurate Expense Totals
  • 15 points – Correct Solution (shortfall or surplus)
  • 35 points – Clear and logical Explanation (awarded only if calculations are correct)

6. Judging Process

  • Teams submit a Response Record (score sheet) at the Scoring Area.
  • Judges review calculations, listen to team explanations, and score using the official rubric.

7. Attempts & Score Adjustments

  • Teams must earn a minimum of 65 points for a successful attempt.
  • If a team scores below 65, they may retry the same problem, though each additional attempt reduces the maximum possible score by 25 points.
  • Example: 1st attempt – up to 100 points; 2nd attempt – up to 75 points; 3rd attempt – up to 50 points.

8. Advancement & Participation

  • Teams may continue working through multiple scenarios during the competition.
  • Final rankings are based on total points earned, accuracy and quality of explanations, and number of successfully completed challenges.

9. Competition Expectations

  • No adult assistance is permitted at the National level.
  • Teams are expected to demonstrate independent problem-solving, collaboration and teamwork, and clear mathematical communication.
Bring MathFest to your school or district

Let's give more students a reason to love math.

National School Improvement Alliance · Regional and National MathFest events held throughout the year.

Contact us: rboykins@debatefest.com