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Contest Supervision

Thank you — we are grateful to all of the teachers and administrators who help their students grow and learn with our mathematics and computer science contests.

Once you have ordered CSIMC, PCF, FGH, Euclid, or Gauss Contests for your students, you will receive detailed contest instructions in the mail or through our Contest Supervisor Portal in the weeks before the contest. To help you prepare before these contest materials arrive, we’ve created a broad overview of the steps involved in contest supervision.

Steps for Supervising a Contest

Check the Contest Date and Determine Student Needs


A contest may never be written prior to the official contest date. We will do our best to arrange alternate dates for serious school-wide conflicts. Please contact us if you wish to arrange this.

If there are students with special needs writing at your school, please contact us.

Carefully Review Your Contest Instructions

In the weeks leading up to the official contest date, you will be sent (by mail or electronically) contest papers, forms, and detailed contest instructions. The contest instructions will be specific to the contests you have ordered and will include everything you need to know to supervise the contest, including when to start the contest, time limit, how to supervise the contest, how to submit contest papers or results, and more.

Note that:

  • Some calculators are permitted.
  • Students may use paper dictionaries for translation between English and another language. Students may not use electronic translation devices.
  • Students are allowed to use rough paper, graph paper, rulers and compasses.

Contest Day: Supervise the Contest

For all but the Gauss Contests, ensure that students carefully fill out the Student Information Forms.

If necessary, follow the instructions included in your contest materials to accommodate a larger than expected number of students wishing to write the contest. Please note that extra fees may apply.

Distribute the contest materials and encourage students to read the instructions carefully.

Put forth your best effort to maintain the integrity of the contest. For example, try to prevent communication between participants and ensure students work individually.

Submit Contest Booklets or Results

For the Gauss Contests:

  • Submit results for students who wrote on paper as soon as possible after students complete the contest and generate certificates to celebrate their participation via our Contest Supervisor Portal.
  • For students who write the Gauss Contests online, their results will be submitted automatically.

For all other contests written on paper:

  • Check that students have filled out all forms accurately.
  • Immediately mail all required papers to the CEMC in the pre-addressed envelopes provided with your contest materials. We strongly recommend using a courier service.
  • Encourage students to keep their question papers, discuss answers and look up solutions once they are made available online.

Celebrate Participation

Once you have received contest results from the CEMC (for all but the Gauss Contests, which are marked by teachers), it’s time to celebrate your students’ efforts!