Q: What does Singapore Math Kangaroo Contest (SMKC): Parent & Student Guide cover?
A: Syllabus tiers, registration timeline, medal cut-offs and IP advantages - what every parent and student needs to know about SMKC before signing up.
TL;DR SMKC has run in Singapore since 2013 and now draws >10 000 pupils a year from P1 to JC2. The paper has no negative marking, and from 2024 tie-breakers were scrapped - only raw score determines rank. Medals go to roughly top 8 % (Gold), next 12 % (Silver) and next 20 % (Bronze). A Gold or Silver certificate is a credible data-point for DSA-Sec STEM domains and early IP talent files.
Registration quick answer (Singapore): Register through your school or via the official Math Kangaroo Singapore site (when individual/open‑centre options are offered). Dates, venues and fees vary yearly - confirm on the official page before paying: https://mathkangaroo.sg/
1 Global snapshot - what is Math Kangaroo?
Originated in Australia in 1991 to honour teacher Peter O'Halloran.
Adopted by France in 1995; today it unites 80+ countries and ≈6 million contestants annually.
International Association AKSF standardises 24 or 30 multiple-choice questions, each worth 3, 4 or 5 points, for a maximum 120 (upper levels) or 90 (lower levels).
2 How SMKC is structured
SMKC Grade
Singapore school level
No. of questions
Duration
Max score
1 & 2
P1-P2
24
60 min
90
3 & 4
P3-P4
24
60 min
90
5 & 6
P5-P6
30
75 min
120
7 & 8
Sec 1-Sec 2 (IP Year 1-2)
30
75 min
120
9 & 10
Sec 3-Sec 4 (IP Year 3-4)
30
75 min
120
11 & 12
JC 1-JC 2 or IB DP Yr 5-6
30
75 min
120
All papers use 5-option MCQ and no marks are deducted for wrong answers.
Levels are named after US grade numbers; check the mapping above when signing up.
3 Registration & key dates
Phase
Typical window (2025)
Action
Early-bird sign-up
05 Jan - 15 Feb
Online at SIMCC portal \( ≈ SGD 28 \)
Regular sign-up
16 Feb - 15 Mar
Fee rises \( ≈ SGD 35 \)
Contest day
Sat 29 Mar
Sit at authorised centres / schools
Results release
Late May
E-certificates + percentile
Prize ceremony
Mid Jun
Hybrid or physical, venue TBC
Schools may bulk-register; check with Math HOD before paying individually.
4 Scoring, ranking & medals
4.1 Raw-score only
Since 2024 SMKC removed tie-break rules; contestants with equal points share the same rank.
4.2 Medal cut-off percentiles*
Gold - top (8\space\%)
Silver - next (12\space\%)
Bronze - next (20\space\%)
Medal band width=40%(8+12+20)of cohort
*Exact borders can shift by ±1 % if two pupils straddle a boundary.
4.3 Certificates & further awards
All participants receive a certificate of Participation or Achievement; top Gold winners may be invited to SIMCC's Global Finals or STEAM AHEAD camps.
5 Why SMKC matters for IP & DSA
DSA-Sec STEM domain - Gold or Silver strengthens the “Mathematical Thinking” portfolio for schools like NUS High, RI or Hwa Chong.
Early proof of problem-solving - questions emphasise reasoning, not syllabus grinding, mirroring IP exam style.
Bridges to higher contests - strong SMKC scorers often progress to SASMO, SIMOC and NMOS.
6 Three smart prep moves
Micro-set drill - attempt 4 past-year Qs daily; mark immediately to reinforce heuristics.
Error journal - write the wrong path and the fix; pattern-spot your own blind spots.
Speed-then-slow - first pass: answer sure-things in <40s each; second pass: deep-think the rest.
Parents: register during the early-bird window to save fees and secure preferred venue. Students: download two past-year sets and start the micro-set drill tonight - ten minutes pays dividends in March.
Last updated 05 Aug 2025 - will refresh when SIMCC publishes the 2026 regulations.
Singapore Math Kangaroo Contest (SMKC): Parent & Student Guide
