Waterloo Mathematics and Computing

CEMC contests hosted at Johnathan Academy — Canada's foremost mathematics and computer science competitions.

The CEMC is dedicated to inspiring students to reach further with mathematics and computer science. Housed within the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo, the CEMC is the largest organization of its kind in Canada.

We accept JA students to take these competitions.

Canadian Senior and Intermediate Mathematics Contests

Date: Nov 12, 2025Time: 3:30–5:30 PMDeadline: Oct 16, 2025

Canadian Computing Competition

Date: Feb 18, 2026Time: 2:30–5:30 PMDeadline: Feb 12, 2026

Euclid Contest

Date: Mar 31, 2026Time: 3:30–6:00 PMDeadline: Mar 5, 2026

Fryer, Galois and Hypatia Contests

Date: Apr 1, 2026Time: 3:30–4:45 PMDeadline: Mar 5, 2026

Pascal, Cayley and Fermat Contests

Date: Feb 25, 2026Time: 3:30–4:30 PMDeadline: Feb 10, 2026

Contest Fees

ContestContest FeeSchool AdminTotal
CSMC$14$11$35
CCC$10$20$35
Euclid$18$7$35
Fryer/Galois/Hypatia$12$13$35

Fees

The school collects and remits contest fees. The charge is CAD $35 per participant per contest, which covers the CEMC contest fee, order processing and shipping, and the school's administration.

ContestContest fee / studentCEMC processing & shipping / orderSchool adminTotal / student
Canadian Senior & Intermediate Mathematics Contests$14$10$11$35
Canadian Computing Competition (CCC)$10$5$20$35
Euclid Contest$18$10$7$35
Fryer / Galois / Hypatia Contests$12$10$13$35

CEMC charges $5 processing per order plus $5 shipping per order within Canada (CCC has no shipping). Figures are CEMC's current schedule; the official rates govern.

The University of Waterloo's Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing runs the contests that Canadian universities know best. Johnathan Academy hosts them on site — students write here rather than travelling to another centre.

Contests Hosted

By grade level

  • Grades 9–11 — Pascal (9), Cayley (10), Fermat (11): a 60-minute multiple-choice contest, the usual starting point
  • Grades 9–11 — Fryer (9), Galois (10), Hypatia (11): full-solution contests, where the marking rewards how you argue, not just the answer
  • Grades 11–12 — Euclid: the one that carries weight in Waterloo admissions and scholarship decisions
  • Senior and Intermediate — Canadian Senior and Intermediate Mathematics Contests
  • Computing — Canadian Computing Competition, for students who program

Chemistry

  • Avogadro Exam — Grade 11
  • Chem 13 News Exam — Grade 12

Both chemistry exams are written digitally on the student's own device.

When They Run

Contests are spread across the school year — the mathematics contests fall between November and April, and the Canadian Computing Competition in February. Dates and registration deadlines are set by CEMC and published each season; registration typically closes two to four weeks before the contest.

Watch the deadline rather than the contest date. Most students who miss out miss the registration, not the exam.

Which to Enter

A student new to contests usually starts with Pascal, Cayley, or Fermat for their grade. Students who find those comfortable move to the full-solution contests, where the skill being tested is constructing an argument — closer to what university mathematics actually asks for.

Euclid is worth planning for specifically if Waterloo is on the target list.

Registering

Fees are set by CEMC plus a school administration fee. Speak with your mathematics teacher or the school office well ahead of the deadline.

[email protected] · 604.971.6888