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Princeton University Math Club

Princeton University Math Club

Princeton University Mathematics Competition (PUMaC)

ClosedMathCompetition

About the Program

PUMaC (Princeton University Mathematics Competition) is an annual high school math competition organized entirely by student volunteers in the Princeton University Math Club. Now in its 20th year, PUMaC brings together teams from across the US and internationally to compete across four rounds on the Princeton University campus each November.

Competition rounds:

| Round | Format | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Power Round | Proof-based team test released one week before competition day; all team members collaborate and submit before competition day | | Individual Tests | Each student selects two subject tests from: Algebra, Combinatorics, Geometry, and Number Theory | | Team Round | All team members work together on a collaborative problem set on competition day | | Individual Finals | Top scorers from Individual Tests advance to a live finals round |

Two participation tracks:

  • Main Competition (in-person at Princeton): Teams compete in all four rounds; $12.50 per student
  • Power Competition (remote): Teams complete the Power Round only and are ranked separately; $5 per student — open to teams that cannot travel to Princeton

International teams:

International teams are explicitly welcome and use the same registration form as US teams; they are considered separately in admissions. Regional mirrors for students who prefer local competition:

  • Africa: PUMaC Africa mirror
  • China: Mirror run by ASEEDER

Skill divisions:

PUMaC offers Division A (more advanced) and Division B (accessible to students newer to competitive math). Each team competes in one division as a whole; teams not affiliated with a single high school must compete in Division A.

2026 key dates:

| Milestone | Date | | -------------------- | -------------------------------- | | Registration opens | ~September 2026 (exact date TBA) | | Registration closes | ~October 2026 (exact date TBA) | | Power Round released | ~November 14, 2026 | | Power Round due | ~November 19, 2026 | | Competition day | November 21, 2026 |

Eligibility

Open to high school students worldwide who have not reached their 20th birthday before the competition date and are not enrolled full-time in a post-secondary institution. Teams consist of exactly 8 members; individuals may also register alone. International teams are explicitly accepted and considered separately from US teams in admissions. A remote Power Competition track is available for teams that cannot travel to Princeton; these teams complete the Power Round only and are ranked in a separate division. Regional mirrors exist in Africa and China (via ASEEDER) for students who prefer to compete locally.

Eligible Countries

All countries

How to Apply

Register online at the PUMaC website during the registration window (typically September–October). US and international teams use the same application; international teams are advised to apply as early as possible. Pay the registration fee ($12.50 per student for the Main Competition; $5 per student for Power-Round only) by credit card, check, or cash on competition day. Complete the Power Round (released ~one week before the event) and submit it by the deadline before competition day.