Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest

What it is

Math Kangaroo is part of an international contest written by millions of students. In Canada it's run by a volunteer non-profit and is open from Grade 1 to Grade 12.

It's one of the few contests young children can enter, and parents can register them directly without going through school.

Questions are puzzles more than school math. Grades 1–2 answer 18 problems in 45 minutes, Grades 3–4 answer 24 in 60 minutes, and Grades 5–12 answer 30 in 75 minutes. No calculators.

A good fit if: Any child from Grade 1 who likes puzzles. A gentle first contest.

How to register

1. Create a Family account at mathkangaroo.ca and add each child.
2. Choose a test location. In 2026, Metro Vancouver sites included centres in Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam and Langley. The 2027 list may differ.
3. Register before the late-fee date. In 2026 the regular deadline was February 9 and the final deadline February 23.

How to prepare

• Try past contests at mathkangaroo.ca/samples. They go back to 2002.
• Registration in 2026 included one free 60-minute training class for students registered by the deadline.
• Focus on enjoying puzzles. For a first contest, the experience matters more than the score.