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WHAT IS MATH KANGAROO?
WHAT IS MATH KANGAROO?
Math Kangaroo is a one-day international problem-solving math competition that will occur on MONDAY March 23rd, 2026. The test is challenging (but fun!) and is comprised almost entirely of word problems or spatial visualization challenges. Depending on grade level, there are 24 to 30 problems. All students are allowed 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete the test. High scoring students receive a small prize and will be recognized on the Math Kangaroo website in Summer 2026.
A quick overview of Math Kangaroo can be found in this presentation. (The presentation is geared for the youngest participants, children in grades 1&2, but is generally applicable to all levels.)
WHO
WHO
Bringhurst students in grades 1-6 are encouraged to participate.
NOTE: Students must be independent readers (around late first/early 2nd grade level for Level 1-2). No reading help is allowed on the exam. Interested Kindergartners with strong reading skills are allowed to participate on the Level 1-2 exam, but be aware that this test is quite challenging even for mathematically precocious Kindergartners.
WHEN
WHEN
MONDAY, March 23th, 2026
Math Kangaroo will be a different day this year: Monday! We have permission to run the competition on Monday due to the conflict with Spring Break.
Session will be held from 2:45 - 4: 15ish after school at Bringhurst int the MUR.
This year, we will ALSO run an ONLINE session for Bringhurst kids that students can sit from home. This proctored session will run from approximately 5:00-6:30.
Registration begins Sept 15.
See registration directions below.
COST
COST
There is a $18 registration fee that is paid directly to Math Kangaroo upon registration.
The Bringhurst PTO offers need-based scholarships for this competition. Please see the PTO website for more info.
This fee includes a particpation gift that will be distributed the day of the competition. No T-shirts this year, unfortunately!
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
Registration opens on September 15th. (Priority Registration closes December 31st. Final Registrations closes in January with a higher fee.) You will need an invitation code to register for the Bringhurst session. Bringhurst's code FOR THE IN-PERSON session is blazers2026. The invitation code for the ONLINE session is onlineblazers2026. ONLY BRINGHURST FAMILIES MAY REGISTER. Please do not share the codes.
Detailed instructions folow:
Go to the Math Kangaroo Website. Click on Login/Create Account.
If you do not already have an account, you must create one.
2. Log in to your account. You MUST log in to be able to see the next step.
3. If you are logged in, you should see a “By Invitation” button/tab. Click on this tab. It may appear under a "quick links" list as well.
4. Enter the Bringhurst Code: blazers2026 (for in-person)
onlineblazers2026 (for online)
5. Pay the $18 fee directly to Math Kangaroo at registration. After Dec 31st, the fee goes up.
6. Students will receive a mathematical gift that will be handed out the day of the competition. Unfortunately, Math Kangaroo will not be providing T-shirts this year.
7. For tips on how to prepare, check out the info below!
How to Prepare for the Test
How to Prepare for the Test
One great way to prepare is to participate in the "Bringhurst Math Challenge" problems every other week! Although not exactly the same as Kangaroo problems, over the course of the year they will hit on many of the same themes.
Math Kangaroo provides Free Sample Problems going back many years to help students prepare.
Free Math Kangaroo Sample Problems
Kids and parents can work together on the problems at home. As an alternative, grade level study groups can be fun to organize with friends!
At level 1/2, explicitly teaching problem solving strategies will help your child. If you solve problems together and model how to use strategies like Draw a Picture, Find a Pattern, Use Logic, Work Backwards, Guess and Check, List all the Possibilities, Create a Table, or Organize the Information, that can help them prepare.
If your child is going to move to a new level the following year (for example, a second grader taking the level 1/2 exam) looking at the free sample problems for the next level up can also be good practice. In addition, after you register for the test you have access to free videos of many of the problems and explaining how to solve them. All these free resources can help your child prepare.
In later years, math content becomes more important. Here is a list of the content that the test problems draw on. Topics that may appear on tests at the different levels can be found here.
Over the years, I've also stumbled across books/games that help develop the logic and reasoning skills useful for Math Kangaroo. We have used these resources in Math Club classes in the past. You can find my list here.
Math Kangaroo Organized Activities
Math Kangaroo has many other options for prepartion. You can check out their webiste for their offerings of classes, Live Solves, webinars, practice tests, and test anthologies. Math Kangaroo Practice Resources
Most of those prepartion materials cost money, but some are free. The most economical option (in my opinion) is to purchase a copy of the practice test books for your grade level. Working through the tests with your child can be a fun way to prepare.
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