The Honors Mathematics Contest is a San Diego tradition dating back to 1948. It is co-sponsored the UC San Diego Division of Physical Sciences and the UC San Diego Department of Mathematics.
The purpose of the contest is to provide recognition and encouragement to mathematically-talented high school students. Each year it attracts hundreds of students from more than 20 high schools throughout the county (and beyond) to participate in a two-part mathematics competition held on the UC San Diego campus in late April.
Students compete for both team and individual awards that are presented at an awards ceremony shortly after the competition. The contest continues a tradition that promotes good relations between UC San Diego and local high schools, teachers, and students.
The contest is administered in two 90-minute parts. Part I consists of 25 multiple choice problems. Part II consists of 4 long-answer problems.
This year we will be holding the competition in person once again.
However, with our recent experience with online competitions we will be
experimenting with a new Division D for people who wish to take the
competition online (though they will not be eligible for prizes).
The in-person 2022 Honors Math Contest will be held on Saturday, April 16th. Part I begins promptly at 8:30am, on the UC San Diego campus.
Registration opens at 7:45am, and closes at 8:20am. You must first register your team online.
The instructions for taking the contest online can be found here.
We will attempt to have an in person awards ceremony this year on Wednesday April 27th.
The 2021 Honors Math Contest was held on the weekend of Saturday, April 24, 2021. Here is the contest, along with solutions.
| Part | Problems | Solutions |
| Part I | HMC.2021.Part1.pdf | HMC.2021.Part1.Solution.pdf |
| Part II | HMC.2021.Part2.pdf | HMC.2021.Part2.Solution.pdf |
The 2020 Honors Math Contest was held on the weekend of Saturday, April 25, 2020. Here is the contest, along with solutions.
| Part | Problems | Solutions |
| Part I | HMC.2020.Part1.pdf | HMC.2020.Part1.Solution.pdf |
| Part II | HMC.2020.Part2.pdf | HMC.2020.Part2.Solution.pdf |
The 2019 Honors Math Contest was held on Saturday, April 20, 2019. Here is the contest, along with solutions.
| Part | Problems | Solutions |
| Part I | HMC.2019.Part1.pdf | HMC.2019.Part1.Solution.pdf |
| Part II | HMC.2019.Part2.pdf | HMC.2019.Part2.Solution.pdf |
| Part | Problems | Solutions |
| Part I | HMC.2018.Part1.pdf | HMC.2018.Part1.Solution.pdf |
| Part II | HMC.2018.Part2.pdf | HMC.2018.Part2.Solution.pdf |
The 2017 Honors Math Contest was held on Saturday, April 22, 2017. Here is the contest, along with solutions.
| Part | Problems | Solutions |
| Part I | HMC.2017.Part1.pdf | HMC.2017.Part1.Solution.pdf |
| Part II | HMC.2017.Part2.pdf | HMC.2017.Part2.Solution.pdf |
| Part | Problems | Solutions |
| Part I | HMC.2016.Part1.pdf | HMC.2016.Part1.Solution.pdf |
| Part II | HMC.2016.Part2.pdf | HMC.2016.Part2.Solution.pdf |
The 2015 Honors Math Contest was held on Saturday, April 18, 2016. Here is the contest, along with solutions.
| Part | Problems | Solutions |
| Part I | HMC.2015.Part1.pdf | HMC.2015.Part1.Solution.pdf |
| Part II | HMC.2015.Part2.pdf | HMC.2015.Part2.Solution.pdf |
The 2014 Honors Math Contest was held on Saturday, April 19, 2014. Here is the contest, along with solutions.
| Part | Problems | Solutions |
| Part I | HMC.2014.Part1.pdf | HMC.2014.Part1.Solution.pdf |
| Part II | HMC.2014.Part2.pdf | HMC.2014.Part2.Solution.pdf |
For any further information, please contact Prof. Daniel Kane at dakane@ucsd.edu.