High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM) 2026
An international mathematical modeling contest where teams apply mathematics, data analysis and written communication to a real-world problem. Open to teams of up to four eligible students from the same school, institution or approved program, with a faculty advisor. Rated Advanced, with difficulty mainly coming from building a defensible model and producing a complete technical report within the contest period.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗Competition overview
Key information
School level
High school students or below
Registration method
School Only
Competition stages
Advisor registers team; 14-day online contest window; teams choose a modeling problem and submit one English PDF solution report for judging.
Fee
USD 100 per team; non-refundable
Online / in-person
Online
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
Not yet announced by the organiser
Registration closes
4 Nov 2026
Competition starts
4 Nov 2026
Competition ends
18 Nov 2026
Editorial perspective
Our Take
HiMCM asks students to use mathematics as a tool for understanding an open-ended situation. Teams receive a real-world modelling problem, decide what information matters, make assumptions, build and test a model, and submit a written explanation. There is no single classroom method that guarantees a solution; the team has to decide what a reasonable simplification looks like and defend that decision. The official HiMCM site describes the contest as a team opportunity to improve modelling problem solving and writing. A technically clever model that cannot be explained is weak, while a beautifully written report with no meaningful analysis is also incomplete. HiMCM is not a harder version of AMC or an Olympiad. AMC rewards individual problem solving in a controlled paper; Olympiads reward proof and mathematical structure; HiMCM rewards the ability to turn an ambiguous real-world question into a transparent, testable model. It can suit students interested in mathematics, statistics, engineering, economics, computer science, environmental science or policy. The current CompeteMap listing does not yet have an approved Evaluation level, so this guide does not assign one. The key question is fit: HiMCM becomes manageable when a team has a clear workflow and understands that assumptions are part of the answer. Parent perspective: the quality of a model depends as much on the questions the team asks as on the equations it writes. ---
Read full guide →Preparation support
Recommended resources
2026 Rules, Registration and Instructions
Open resource ↗Official team, modeling, report, citation, AI-disclosure and judging guidance; confirm contest dates separately on the homepage.
Official · Free · Rules and solution guide · Essential
Previous Problems and Results
Open resource ↗Authentic problems and results for timed practice across recurring modeling genres.
Official · Free · Past problems and results · Essential
HiMCM/MidMCM Tips Article
Open resource ↗Practical advice on problem choice, teamwork, research, writing and submission.
Official · Free · Preparation guide · Essential
Director's Article and Judges' Commentary
Open resource ↗Section-level exemplars explaining what judges seek in a modeling solution.
Official · Free · Judges' commentary and exemplars · Recommended
Source information
Official source changed recently; details may need review.
- https://www.comap.org/contests/himcm-midmcm
- https://www.contest.comap.com/highschool/contests/himcm/index.html
- https://www.contest.comap.com/highschool/contests/himcm/instructions.html
- https://www.contest.comap.com/highschool/contests/himcm/himcmpayment.html
- https://www.contest.comap.com/highschool/contests/himcm/about.html