CEMC Contests (Gauss, Euclid & more)
Waterloo's nationally recognised math contest series
Why It Matters
The CEMC runs nationally recognised contests that universities use as evidence of mathematical ability. Waterloo Math/CS applicants report contest results on a supplementary form, and the Euclid or CSMC is required for some Faculty of Mathematics scholarships.
How to Start
Register through your school's math department. Registration opens in September. The CIMC and CSMC are written in November, Pascal/Cayley/Fermat in February, the Euclid in April and Gauss in May. Practice with free past papers on the CEMC website. Progress through Gauss (G7/8) to Pascal/Cayley (G9/10) to Fermat/Euclid (G11/12).
Commitment
- Medium commitment: a few hours most weeks during the school year.
- Best starting grade: G7
- Start with Gauss in G7 - building a multi-year contest history is more impressive than a single strong score.
Programs It Supports
- Mathematics
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Actuarial Science
Majors it supports
- Mathematics – high 80s to low 90s; CEMC contest scores are relevant at Waterloo
- Computer Science – high 80s to high 90s depending on school
- Economics – high 80s to low 90s at top schools
- Actuarial Science – high 80s to low 90s; strong CEMC contest performance helps at Waterloo
Universities where it fits
Our profiles for these schools suggest CEMC Contests (Gauss, Euclid & more) as a good fit for their applicants.
- University of Toronto – Toronto, ON
- University of Waterloo – Waterloo, ON
- McGill University – Montreal, QC
- Université de Montréal – Montreal, QC
- Université Laval – Quebec City, QC
- Bishop's University – Lennoxville, QC
- University of Alberta – Edmonton, AB
- Mount Allison University – Sackville, NB
Similar extracurriculars
- Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest (CSMC) – Waterloo's top G11-G12 math contest
- Math Kangaroo Canada – International math competition accessible for all levels
- School Math Team – Compete against other schools in mathematics
- Statistics & Data Science Club – Analyse real-world data as a team
- AMC 8 / AMC 10 / AMC 12 – American Mathematics Competition - written across Canada
- Math Contests Study Group Founder – Create a club dedicated to solving advanced math problems
- Financial Literacy Workshops – Teach crucial financial skills to younger students