Mathlete Challenge

Date April 25, 2026

Time 8:00 - 4:00  

Location Ventura County Office of Education

Who 4th and 5th Grade Student Teams

4th and 5th grade students in schools throughout Ventura County are invited to participate in a mathematics competition event that is exciting and challenging.  Each school may use a screening process of its own design in order to select four students from each grade level (4th and 5th) who will best represent the school at the Ventura County Mathlete Challenge. 

Competition Format

Awards

The individual awards will be for the top individual scores from adding together the two individual tests.  Each test is worth 25 points for a total of 50 points.  Grade level awards will calculated by adding together the two individual tests (25+25) for each of the 4 participants from a school and the team test of 100 points.  Each of the three sections will be worth 1/3 of the grade level teams overall score. School level awards will be calculated by adding together the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade team scores. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Registration

How do I register?

Submit a completed School Registration form.  It must be returned to the Ventura County Office of Education, along with the registration fee of $50 per school. Although we anticipate being able to accommodate all interested schools, it is in each school’s best interest to return the School Registration Form as soon as possible to assure a place in the event. Payment and school registration form is due no later than April 1, 2024.   Registration Opens November 1, 2024

When do I submit names?  How?

Submit student names through a shared google form by 4/11/25.

Do I have to have both grade levels participate?

No. Schools in the past have sent only 1 or 2 grade levels.

Do I have to have 4 students per grade level?

No.  Although having 4 students is an advantage when taking the team test, schools may compete with less than 4.

What is the cost?

$50 per school.  The cost goes towards purchasing snacks, copies, awards,...  

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What schools can participate?

All public schools in Ventura County.  Students must attend the school they are competing with. Parents may not individually sign up their child to compete.  

Can I send more than one team per grade level?

Due to space and management logistics, each school may only send four 4th graders and four 5th graders. 

Can students participate in a higher grade level?

No.  Students may only participate in the grade level that they are enrolled in school.  

What should we use to practice?  

The best practice materials are old tests.  Be sure to save them from year to year.  Link to sample tests. 

How do we select our team?  

Each school determines their own process for selecting their team.  Ideas to select your team include teacher choice, internal competition using prior year tests, district assessments,... 

Schedule and logistics

Can parents, teachers, and administrators attend and watch?

Parents, teachers, and administrators are invited to attend but must wait outside the testing rooms for the three tests.  Everyone is welcome to attend the awards ceremony.

Can alternates attend?

We recommend that alternates do not attend.  If alternates do attend, they must remain outside with the parents, teachers, and administrators until the awards ceremony. 

Can alternate participate?

No.  Only 4 students per grade level can participate.  The purpose of an alternate is to only attend if one of the 4 participants is unable to attend on the day of the event.

What is the schedule?

Schedule 

What do we do when we arrive?

Students need to meet together as a school outside the Ventura County Office of Education.  Only one person, usually the coach or a teacher, needs to check in at the registration table.  

Where is the competition?

Ventura County Office of Education 

5100 Adolfo Road

Camarillo, CA 93012

What to Bring

What type of calculator can we use?

Students are welcome to use any calculator that does not have internet access.  Phones, tablets, and computers are not allowed.

What do students need to bring?

Calculators.  Pencils, scratch paper, and erasers are provided.  

Can we use graph paper, colored pencils, highlighters,...?

No.  Students may only bring calculators.  Nothing else for the competition.

Can students bring snacks?

Yes.  Snacks are provided but students may bring their own, especially if there are specific dietary needs.  

Part I

How much time do we get?

25 minutes.  

Do students get to use calculators?

No.  Students must keep their calculators on the floor for this test.  

How are answers recorded?

We will use an answer sheet that students bubble in.   We will also go over filling out the answer sheet before part 1.  Here is a copy of the answer sheet.  You may then use that answer sheet to practice on.

Will there be “not given”?  How many answer choices?

There will only be 4 answer choices, A-D.  Each one will have a possible answer. “Not given” will not be on the test.  

Are the questions in any specific order?

No, the questions are in random order.  

Part II

How much time do we get?

30 minutes.

Do students get to use calculators?

Yes.  Students may use any calculator that does not have internet access.  Phones, tablets, and computers are not allowed.

How are answers recorded? Do students get partial credit?

Students write their answer on the provided answer sheet.  Students do not need to write down the units. In most cases, the units are already written on the answer sheet.  Students must get all parts of the problem correct to get credit. Students can not get partial credit.

Are the questions in any specific order?

Yes.  On this test only, the questions are ordered from easiest to hardest.  Although some students may disagree with the order of difficulty depended on individual strength, it is our attempt to order the questions from easiest to most difficult.  

Part III

How much time do we get?

30 minutes.

Do students get to use calculators?

Yes.  Students may use any calculator that does not have internet access.  Phones, tablets, and computers are not allowed.

How are answers recorded? Do students get partial credit?

Students get one answer sheet per team.  Students do not need to write down the units.   In most cases, the units are already written on the answer sheet.  Students must get all parts of the problem correct to get credit. Students can not get partial credit.

Are the questions in any specific order?

No.  There is not an intended order to the questions.

How many copies of the test will the team get?

Each team will get 4 copies of the test and one copy of the answer sheet.  

Awards

How many points for each section?

Part 1 questions are worth 1 point each for a total of 25 points.  

Part 2 questions are worth 5 point each for a total of 25 points.

Part 3 questions are worth 20 point each for a total of 100 points.

How many students earn awards?

The individual awards will be for the top 6 individuals at 4th and 5th grade. Scores are calculated by adding together the two individual tests (part 1 and park 2).  Each test is worth 25 points for a total of 50 points.

Do only the top students find out their results?

We publicly announce only the top 6 for each grade level.  We can share other results with coaches. 

How do the grade level and school awards work?

Grade level awards will be for top 6 schools at 4th and 5th grade.  Scores are calculated by adding together the two individual tests (25+25) x 4 and the team test of 100 points.  

School level awards will be for the top 6 schools.  Scores are calculated by adding together the 4th and 5th grade team scores.