The Euclid Math Contest is a 2.5-hour written exam run by the University of Waterloo’s CEMC, open to Grade 11 and 12 students. Preparing effectively means working through 3 to 5 years of past papers, covering the four core topic areas, and starting at least 3 months before the April contest date. A score above 85/100 stands out in university applications, especially for Waterloo Math and Computer Science.
Each spring, thousands of students across Canada sit down for the Euclid Math Contest. For students aiming at Waterloo’s math or CS programs, it carries real weight. Here is what you need to know to prepare well.
What Is the Euclid Contest?
The Euclid Contest is administered by the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) at the University of Waterloo. It runs annually in April and is open to students in Grade 11 and 12, though most participants are in Grade 12.
The exam is 2.5 hours long with 10 questions, each containing multiple parts. Part (a) is accessible for any strong math student. Parts (b) and (c) get significantly harder. The maximum score is 100 marks, and partial marks are awarded throughout, so showing your work matters as much as getting the right answer.
What Topics Are Tested?
The Euclid draws from a focused set of topics. Here is what appears most consistently across recent contests:
| Topic Area | Frequency | Key Subtopics |
|---|---|---|
| Algebra and Functions | High | Quadratics, logarithms, polynomials |
| Geometry | High | Circles, triangles, coordinate geometry |
| Sequences and Series | Medium | Arithmetic, geometric, recursive patterns |
| Trigonometry | Medium | Sine and cosine rules, identities |
| Counting and Combinatorics | Low to Medium | Permutations, basic probability |
The CEMC publishes past papers going back to 1997 at cemc.uwaterloo.ca. This is your single most useful free resource.
A 12-Week Preparation Plan
Starting 3 months before the April contest date gives you time to address content gaps and do meaningful paper practice.
- Weeks 1 to 3: Content review. Work through topic areas where you feel weak. Logarithms, geometric sequences, and circle geometry trip up the most students.
- Weeks 4 to 7: Past paper exposure. Do one full past paper per week under timed conditions. Grade honestly using the official solutions. Re-do any question you could not complete before checking the answer.
- Weeks 8 to 10: Problem targeting. Pull all the part (c) questions from the past 5 years and work through them as a drill set. These are where scores separate.
- Weeks 11 to 12: Full simulations. Two full timed sittings with a review session after each. Fix pacing and approach, not content gaps.
Students who follow this plan find that part (a) and (b) questions start to feel reliable. Getting all of those right puts a student around 70 to 75 points, which is already a strong showing relative to the field.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Students often lose marks not because they do not know the math, but because they skip steps in their written work. The Euclid grader is looking for logical progressions, not just final answers. Skipping setup on part (b) and (c) questions is one of the most common ways students leave marks on the table.
Do not try to answer questions strictly in order. The 10 questions are not perfectly ranked by difficulty, and getting stuck on one question for 25 minutes will hurt your score on the rest of the paper. Flag it and move on.
Students also under-prepare geometry. Coordinate geometry and circle theorems appear in almost every Euclid going back to 2015, yet many students in Grade 12 have not revisited these topics since Grade 10.
If your student is preparing for the Euclid and wants structured guidance, our tutors work through past contest papers directly during sessions. See our programs page to learn how we approach contest prep alongside regular coursework.
How Euclid Scores Affect University Applications
University of Waterloo requests Euclid scores as part of the supplementary application for its Math, Computer Science, and Engineering programs. They want evidence that a student can handle university-level problem solving, not just high school curriculum.
A score of 85 or above puts a student in the top tier of applicants. Scores in the 60 to 80 range are solid and still noticed. The contest average most years falls between 35 and 45, so a score in the 60s already places a student well above the midpoint of all writers.
For students applying to other schools, listing a strong Euclid score when applying to scholarship programs at U of T or McMaster is worth doing. A 75+ on the Euclid demonstrates quantitative ability in a way that grades alone cannot.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Euclid Contest held each year?
The Euclid Contest typically takes place in April. The exact date is announced by CEMC in the fall. Schools register their students and the exam is written at the student’s own school during school hours.
Can Grade 11 students write the Euclid?
Yes. Some strong math students write it in Grade 11 for the experience, then write it again in Grade 12. There is no penalty for writing early, and a score from either year can be reported to universities.
Is the Euclid required for Waterloo admission?
It is not required, but it is strongly encouraged for students applying to Waterloo Mathematics or Computer Science. Waterloo’s supplementary application explicitly asks for contest scores, and a strong Euclid result can strengthen an application that is borderline on GPA alone.
How hard is the Euclid compared to other math contests?
The Euclid is comparable to the AMC 12 in overall difficulty, though it uses a written format with partial marks rather than multiple-choice. It sits below Olympiad-level competitions like the USAMO or the Canadian Mathematical Olympiad.
What is a good score on the Euclid Contest?
A score above 85/100 is excellent and places a student in the top tier of writers. The contest average most years falls between 35 and 45, so even a score in the 60s puts a student well above the midpoint of all participants.
Ready to Start Euclid Prep?
We work with Grade 11 and 12 students on Euclid preparation throughout the school year, including structured past-paper sessions and targeted topic reviews. Reach out to talk about where your student stands and what a prep plan would look like.