Purple Comet! Math Meet
The Purple Comet! Math Meet has been fun and free since 2003!
It’s an online team-based international math competition designed for middle and high school students. The problems range in difficulty from fairly easy to extremely challenging. Compete with tens of thousands of students from nearly 60 countries.
- Middle school teams have 60 minutes to work on 20 problems
- High school teams have 90 minutes to work on 30 problems
- Each problem has a solution that is a non-negative integer
- Teams are comprised of 1 – 6 students
- For more information, go to purplecomet.org
Click here to purchase Purple Comet! Math Meet: The First Ten Years
Purple Comet! Math Meet – Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Purple Comet! Math Meet?
The Purple Comet! Math Meet is a free, annual, international, online team mathematics competition for middle and high school students. Running since 2003 and sponsored by AwesomeMath, it features problems ranging from fairly easy to extremely challenging. In 2025, 4,613 teams from 80 countries participated.
When does the Purple Comet! Math Meet take place?
The next competition runs Tuesday, April 14 through Thursday, April 23, 2026. Teams can compete anytime during this ten-day window. Registration opens February 1, 2026.
Who can participate and how are teams formed?
Teams consist of 1-6 students. Middle school teams include students under 16 who haven’t completed 8th grade. High school teams include students under 20 who haven’t graduated. Teams compete in four categories: Large School (>400 MS or >1,200 HS students), Small School (≤400 MS or ≤1,200 HS students), Mixed (multiple schools, homeschooled, or math clubs within 150 miles), or Non-Competitive.
How long is the contest and what format are the answers?
Middle school teams have 60 minutes for 20 problems. High school teams have 90 minutes for 30 problems. All answers are non-negative integers with no partial credit.
How do I register for the Purple Comet! Math Meet?
An adult supervisor (21+) must register at purplecomet.org using the SUPERVISOR LOGIN link, then register teams providing team name, country, student names/grades, and team category. Supervisor accounts carry over year to year.
Can we use calculators and reference materials?
Yes! Teams may use calculators, reference books, and computer programs. However, no outside help is allowed – no internet searches, online forums, or communication with people not on the team.
What awards do participants receive?
All participants receive certificates of participation. Top-performing competitive teams receive certificates of merit and have results posted on the website. No physical trophies or medals are provided to keep the competition free.
How can students prepare for the Purple Comet! Math Meet?
Practice with past problems available on purplecomet.org, study Algebra, Geometry, Number Theory, and Combinatorics, and purchase preparation books: “Purple Comet! Math Meet: The First Ten Years” (2003-2012) and “The Next Ten Years” (2013-2022) from the AwesomeMath Bookstore.
Is the competition really free?
Yes! The Purple Comet! Math Meet has been “fun and free since 2003.” However, it costs approximately $12,000/year to operate. Donations are encouraged to help cover staff, server space, and administration costs. Visit awesomemath.org to donate (note: not tax-deductible as AwesomeMath is not a nonprofit).
