THE VTEACH
MATH CHALLENGE 2026
Think. Solve. Excel.
Edmonton's premier mathematical competition for Grades 3 through 8. Every grade writes its own paper and competes only against peers in their grade level.
Not a math test. A competition.
Most math contests ask whether a student has memorized the curriculum. This one asks a different question: who are the strongest young mathematical thinkers in Edmonton?
Every grade writes its own paper and competes only against its own grade. A Grade 5 student is never measured against a Grade 6 student. The problems reward reasoning, pattern-recognition, and persistence — not how many topics a student has covered yet.
What the day looks like
Students sit one paper, broken into four sections. Each section is designed to feel different from the one before it.
Speed Sprint
Fast, clean, confidence-building. Mental math and number sense under time pressure. Almost every student finishes this section feeling good.
Thinking Skills
Sequences, visual reasoning, and logic. No formula will help here — students have to notice something.
Problem Solvers
Multi-step problems drawn from real situations. Reading carefully matters as much as calculating correctly.
Brain Busters
Five problems that are meant to be remembered. Students who solve them will still be talking about them years from now. Students who don't will still want to know the answer.
Difficulty climbs steadily from the first question to the last. Nearly every student will solve the opening problems. Only the very strongest will finish the final ones.
No multiple choice. Every answer is a student's own.
Two sittings
| Session | Grades | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 3, 4, 5 | 30 | 60 minutes |
| Afternoon | 6, 7, 8 | 40 | 75 minutes |
Younger students write a shorter paper in a shorter sitting. Papers are written specifically for each grade level.
Who can enter
Grades 3 through 8. Any student, from any school.
There is no qualifying round, no nomination, and no invitation required. Public school, separate school, private school, charter, and homeschool students are all equally welcome.
Every student is recognized
Celebrating excellence and effort at every level.
Per grade awards
- 🏆Grade Champion
- 🥇Gold · 🥇 Silver · 🥉 Bronze
- Top Ten recognition
- Merit Awards
Every entrant receives
- A participation certificate
- Personal Performance Report
Showing their score in each of the four sections, how they compared to their grade's average, and where their mathematical strengths lie.
Want to see a sample paper?
We don't publish competition questions — half the fun is walking in not knowing what's coming. But if you'd like a sense of the style before you register, we'll send you a short sample paper with worked solutions.
Key dates
Pricing
Transparent pricing with early bird & bundle discounts.
Single Registration
Season Pass
Enter your child in both Vteach competitions this school year:
- Vteach Math Challenge — November 21, 2026
- Vteach Spelling Bee (4th Edition) — May 1, 2027
✓ Save $15 overall
✓ Secure a Spelling Bee place before public registration opens in January
*Non-refundable, but transferable to a sibling.
Preparation Classes
Four one-hour sessions building the skills the Challenge actually tests: working backwards, spotting patterns, estimating to check your own answer, and staying calm inside a hard problem.
Students work through practice problems written for their own grade level, so no one is stretched past where they are.
Our preparation classes teach general problem-solving technique. They never cover competition questions, and no student who attends them sees any part of the paper in advance. Students who prepare on their own compete on exactly equal footing.
Questions
Everything you need to know before registering.
Does my child need to qualify?
No. The Challenge is open to every student in Grades 3–8.
Are calculators allowed?
No. Every problem is solvable without one.
What should my child bring?
Two pencils, an eraser, and a water bottle. We provide everything else, including scrap paper.
Can I stay during the competition?
Parents are welcome to wait in the designated parent lounge, but the exam room is students only.
What happens if two students tie?
Ties are broken by performance on the Brain Busters section, then by the highest-numbered question answered correctly. Full rules are in the Competition Handbook.
My child has an IEP or needs an accommodation.
Please contact us at info@vteach.ca at least two weeks before the competition. We will do our best to accommodate.
What is the refund policy?
Full refunds are available up to 14 days before competition day. Transfer to a sibling or future competition is available up to 48 hours prior.
Will photos be taken?
Yes — we photograph the awards presentation and publish winners' photos on our website. You may opt out during registration. See our photo consent policy.
Stay in touch
Be first to hear about results, next year's competition, and the Vteach Spelling Bee.
Our 2026 Sponsors
Supporting mathematical excellence in Edmonton.
Interested in sponsoring? Contact us at info@vteach.ca