Mathematics
Mustang Math Tournament
(MMT)
Mustang Math Tournament is an international, qualification-based mathematics competition for students in Grades 4–12 (NZ Years 5-13). It combines an individual challenge with three strategic team rounds, testing mathematical knowledge, collaboration, decision-making and competition strategy.
Course Information
Optional preparation courses or resources for this round (if available)
Submission and Confirmation
Please check your email address carefully before submitting the registration form.
Once you submit the form, you will receive a confirmation email automatically.
All other important communications (including the Exam Instructions, Results and Certificates, etc) will be sent to the email address you submitted to us. Please check your email inbox and junk mail / spam folder regularly!
What Happens Next?
1
2
3
4
Registration Received
We will send you a confirmation email
We may review your registration if required
Eligibility Review
You will receive the Exam Instructions closer to the date
Exam Instructions
Participate and do your best!
Competition Day
Competition Overview
Mustang Math Tournament
Mustang Math Tournament (MMT) is an international mathematics competition organised by Mustang Math, a United States nonprofit organisation developed by high school and university students, including individuals involved in the Stanford and Berkeley Math Tournaments.
The international competition is available through the SIMCC Global Network and covers students from Grades 4–12 (NZ Years 5-13). It is divided into a middle-school track for Grades 4–8 and a high-school track for Grades 9–12.
Unlike a conventional mathematics paper, MMT combines individual performance with collaborative team problem solving. Every participant completes the Solo Stampede individual round before working with teammates through three distinctive, game-like rounds. These rounds require students not only to solve challenging mathematical problems, but also to select questions strategically, manage time, communicate clearly and maximise their team’s score.
The exact team-round formats differ between the middle-school and high-school tracks, ensuring that the structure and level of challenge are appropriate to the participating students.
MMT gives students an opportunity to:
solve advanced and non-routine mathematics problems;
develop mathematical reasoning across several major subject areas;
experience both individual and team-based competition;
strengthen collaboration and mathematical communication;
practise making strategic decisions under time pressure;
learn how to allocate work effectively within a team;
encounter unusual and game-like competition formats;
receive individual and team recognition;
compare their performance using regional award criteria; and
extend their competitive mathematics experience beyond a standard written paper.
A distinctive feature of MMT is that mathematical ability alone is not always enough. Students must also consider which problems to attempt, how to divide tasks and when to submit answers.
MMT is suitable for students who:
are enrolled in Grades 4–12 (NZ Years 5-13);
have demonstrated strong performance in mathematics;
enjoy challenging, unfamiliar or Olympiad-style problems;
have previous mathematics competition experience;
are comfortable working under time pressure;
can contribute constructively within a team;
enjoy strategy-based or game-like challenges;
are willing to explain mathematical ideas to teammates;
want to strengthen skills in algebra, geometry, combinatorics and number theory; or
are looking for a more advanced international competition experience.
MMT is designed primarily for high-achieving competition students. It is not intended as an introductory or general-entry mathematics assessment.
Preparation should cover both mathematical knowledge and the tournament’s unusual team formats.
Recommended preparation includes:
reviewing official MMT past papers;
watching the supplied MMT preparation seminar recordings;
studying the accompanying seminar notes;
practising MathCounts problems;
practising AMC 8 and AMC 10 problems;
practising Berkeley mini Math Tournament problems;
revising algebra, combinatorics, geometry and number theory;
completing timed short-answer problem sets;
practising without calculators or mathematical instruments;
developing clear written working;
practising rapid communication of methods and answers;
deciding in advance how teammates will divide subject areas;
assigning a team leader and agreeing on communication procedures;
practising strategic question selection;
learning when to skip, submit or continue working on a problem;
practising linked relay questions;
practising sequential submission where earlier sets cannot be revisited; and
becoming comfortable learning a new concept from a short explanation document.
Answer-Formatting Preparation
Students should also practise presenting exact answers in the required form:
complete all reasonable calculations;
reduce rational numbers to lowest terms;
use exact decimals only;
simplify radicals;
move square factors outside radicals;
rationalise denominators;
avoid repeated sums or repeated products; and
avoid leaving answers as unnecessarily unevaluated expressions.
Students should retain their working throughout the competition, as organisers may ask them to explain how an answer was obtained.
MMT is an online tournament consisting of:
one individual round; and
three team rounds.
Teams normally consist of three or four students.
Round 1: Solo Stampede
Individual round for all Grades 4–12
25 questions
60 minutes
Questions increase in difficulty
The only individual round in MMT
Individual scores contribute towards overall team performance
Round 2: Herding Hexes
Strategic team round for all Grades 4–12
26 questions
45 minutes
Questions are arranged on connected hexagonal tiles
More difficult questions are generally farther from the centre
Problems 1–10 are worth 2 points each
Problems 11–19 are worth 3 points each
Problems 20–26 are worth 4 points each
The value of a correctly answered tile is doubled when it can be connected to the Free tile through a continuous path of other correctly answered tiles.
Teams are not necessarily expected to solve every question. They must decide which questions and pathways are most likely to maximise their score.
Middle-School Team Rounds: Grades 4–8
Round 3: Focused Filly
20 questions
60 minutes
Four subject sets:Algebra
Geometry
Number Theory
CombinatoricsFive questions in each subject set
The number of points earned per question increases as the team solves more questions within the same subject set. The first correctly solved problem in a set earns 4 points, followed by 5, 6, 7 and 8 points, for a maximum of 30 points per subject set.
This format encourages teams to decide whether to specialise deeply in particular subjects or distribute their efforts across several areas.
Round 4: Relay Rodeo
16 questions
45 minutes
Four relay sets of four linked questions
Each team member is assigned one problem in each set
The answer to one problem is used in the next problem
All four relay sets operate at the same time. Success depends on accurate working, efficient communication and the reliable transfer of answers between teammates.
High-School Team Rounds: Grades 9–12
Round 3: Mare Museum
21 questions
Three sets of seven problems
75 minutes in total
15 minutes to study an explanation document
60 minutes to solve the problems
Students may be introduced to mathematical ideas that they have not previously studied. Problems within each set increase in difficulty, although each problem within the set carries the same point value.
This round assesses how effectively students can learn from a short mathematical text and apply new ideas immediately.
Round 4: Gallop
27 questions
60 minutes
Nine sets of three questions
Sets become progressively more difficult
Later sets are worth more points
Teams must submit each set before gaining access to the next one. Once a set has been submitted, the team cannot return to it.
Teams must therefore decide whether to spend more time completing a current set or submit it early in order to access later, higher-value problems.
General Competition Rules
Calculators are not permitted.
Rulers, compasses, protractors and other mathematical aids are not permitted.
The internet may not be used as a mathematical resource.
Participants should retain clear working, as they may be asked to explain a solution.
Team members must communicate through the designated online breakout-room platform.
Each team should appoint a team leader.
Official competition instructions and support arrangements are communicated through the designated online platforms.
MMT recognises both individual and team performance.
Individual Awards
Individual awards are determined separately for each grade from Grade 4 to Grade 12 using SIMCC regional criteria rather than a single local-country ranking.
The supplied 2026 information packs show the following distribution:
Gold Award — top 10%;
Silver Award — next 15%;
Bronze Award — next 25%;
Honorable Mention — next 20%; and
Certificate of Participation — remaining 30%.
Team Awards
Team awards are provided across the applicable team divisions:
Gold Award — top 8%;
Silver Award — next 12%; and
Bronze Award — next 20%.
Overall Championship
Where a grade level has more than 50 contestants, the following titles may be awarded:
Overall Champion;
Overall Runner-up; and
Overall Second Runner-up.
The overall result combines:
the student’s individual score; and
points derived from the student’s team award.
The 2026 scoring model assigns:
Gold team award — 10 points;
Silver team award — 7 points; and
Bronze team award — 4 points.
The 2026 information packs also list contest vouchers and IJHS Scholarship points for the top three overall students. These rewards are cycle-specific and should be confirmed for the relevant year.
MMT is itself an advanced, qualification-based competition within the wider SIMCC academic competition network.
Participation gives students the opportunity to demonstrate:
individual competition performance;
advanced mathematical problem solving;
teamwork and communication;
strategic decision-making; and
the ability to perform in an international competition environment.
For the 2026 cycle, eligible Overall Champions and runners-up receive IJHS Scholarship points. However, the supplied information packs do not describe an automatic progression route into another competition or programme.
Any scholarship, training programme or subsequent international opportunity should therefore be treated as separate and subject to its own eligibility and application requirements.
Preparation should cover both mathematical knowledge and the tournament’s unusual team formats.
Recommended preparation includes:
reviewing official MMT past papers;
watching the supplied MMT preparation seminar recordings;
studying the accompanying seminar notes;
practising MathCounts problems;
practising AMC 8 and AMC 10 problems;
practising Berkeley mini Math Tournament problems;
revising algebra, combinatorics, geometry and number theory;
completing timed short-answer problem sets;
practising without calculators or mathematical instruments;
developing clear written working;
practising rapid communication of methods and answers;
deciding in advance how teammates will divide subject areas;
assigning a team leader and agreeing on communication procedures;
practising strategic question selection;
learning when to skip, submit or continue working on a problem;
practising linked relay questions;
practising sequential submission where earlier sets cannot be revisited; and
becoming comfortable learning a new concept from a short explanation document.
Answer-Formatting Preparation
Students should also practise presenting exact answers in the required form:
complete all reasonable calculations;
reduce rational numbers to lowest terms;
use exact decimals only;
simplify radicals;
move square factors outside radicals;
rationalise denominators;
avoid repeated sums or repeated products; and
avoid leaving answers as unnecessarily unevaluated expressions.
Students should retain their working throughout the competition, as organisers may ask them to explain how an answer was obtained.
Resources & Downloads
Access all available competition information, preparation materials, past papers and official documents.