What is Math Kangaroo?
Math Kangaroo (officially known as Kangourou Sans Frontières, or “Kangaroo Without Borders”) is the world’s largest international mathematics competition. Each year, millions of students from over 90 countries participate on the same day, solving the same carefully crafted problems designed to make mathematics engaging, creative, and fun. It is not a race to find the best — it is a celebration of mathematical thinking for all.
History & Origins
The story of Math Kangaroo begins in Australia in the early 1980s, where educator Peter O’Halloran created a fun, accessible mathematics competition in multiple-choice format to reach students who might never see themselves as ‘math people.’ The idea quickly spread.
In 1991, two French teachers, André Deledicq and Jean-Pierre Boudine, inspired by their Australian colleagues, launched a similar competition in France under the name Kangourou des Mathématiques. The response was extraordinary: 120,000 participants in the first year, rising to 300,000 in 1992 and 500,000 by 1993.
Energized by this rapid growth, mathematicians and educators from across Europe convened in Strasbourg, France in June 1994. Representatives of 10 countries formally established the Association Kangourou Sans Frontières (AKSF), with legal statutes registered in Paris on January 17, 1995. From that moment, Math Kangaroo became a truly global movement.
The Association Kangourou Sans Frontières (AKSF)
AKSF is a non-profit international association headquartered in Paris, France. Its primary mission is to popularize mathematics globally through the annual Kangaroo competition. AKSF coordinates the shared problem sets, standardizes competition formats, and supports new national programs — while giving each member country full autonomy over its local logistics, prizes, and outreach.
Today, AKSF has members from over 100 countries and continues to welcome new nations into the fold. Its leadership includes delegates who meet annually to select and design the problems for each competition level. The association is currently presided over by Meike Akveld of ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
Competition Format
The competition is a timed multiple-choice test, typically 75 minutes in duration, consisting of 24 to 30 problems. Problems are grouped into three difficulty tiers worth 3, 4, and 5 points respectively. There is a small penalty for incorrect answers to encourage thoughtful problem-solving, but no penalty for skipping a question.
All participating countries administer the same test on the same day each year, creating a unique sense of global community. Results, marking, and awarding of prizes are managed nationally by each member country.
Six Competition Levels
Math Kangaroo is open to all students from Grade 1 through Grade 12, organized into six age-appropriate levels:
- Pre-Ecolier — Grades 1 & 2
- Ecolier — Grades 3 & 4
- Benjamin — Grades 5 & 6
- Cadet — Grades 7 & 8
- Junior — Grades 9 & 10
- Student — Grades 11 & 12
Why Math Kangaroo?
Math Kangaroo stands apart from traditional competitions because it is fundamentally inclusive. There are no prerequisites, no qualifying rounds, and no requirement for prior competition experience. Any student can register and compete. The problems are designed to be thought-provoking, creative, and enjoyable — using games, visual puzzles, and real-world scenarios rather than routine drills.
The competition’s core philosophy is to foster a love of mathematics, develop logical thinking and creative problem-solving, and build a global community of young mathematical thinkers. In 2025, over 6.5 million students from 90+ countries participated — making it by far the largest mathematics competition on Earth.
Math Kangaroo in Bangladesh
Bangladesh officially joined the AKSF family in 2026, becoming one of the newest members of this global movement. Math Kangaroo Bangladesh is organized by the Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN), a trusted non-profit dedicated to advancing open knowledge and technology in Bangladesh.
The initiative will be rolled out progressively across 10 districts in the first year, with the vision of bringing the Math Kangaroo experience to every school in Bangladesh. This is a historic step toward building a mathematically empowered generation in our country.