Frequently Asked Questions

Boston | Contest Difficulty | Contest Rules
Directions & Maps | Registration & Fees

Boston

Where can we stay in Boston?

You can download this PDF document, a descriptive list of accommodations available in the area, broken up into sections by price. Also visit the MIT Hotel Directory for details and links to information on hotels in Boston and Cambridge that offer discounts for Harvard-related reservations.

If your students would like to have a college trip type of experience and/or save a little money, it may be possible to stay with Harvard or MIT undergraduates, but we must be notified as soon as possible, [email hmmt-request@mit.edu ], so that necessary arrangements can be made.

What is there to do in Boston?

Boston is a very pedestrian-friendly city, especially since everything is linked by the T subway system; you and your students can trek easily from lunch in Chinatown to a nice theatre, or to the bustle of the many shops and restaurants of Downtown Crossing or Newbury Street. Take a look at http://www.boston.citysearch.com for things to do.

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Contest Difficulty

How hard are the tests?

They are not easy. There have been years when the top scores have been less than a 50%. The sample problems should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect in terms of difficulty. We hope the contestants find the problems interesting and fun to work on even after the test is over (along the lines of the AIME or the Mandelbrot), but few if any will be able to do all 10 problems on a Subject Test in the 50 minutes allotted.

For students who may feel ill-prepared to take on two Subject Tests, the General Test is an easier alternative. The General Test will last 100 minutes, and will be administered simultaneously with the two rounds of Subject Tests. With respect to individual and team awards, the General Test is weighted at 80% the point value of two Subject Tests.

The only test which requires knowledge of calculus is the Calculus Subject Test.

Should I take the subject tests or the general test?

The general test is aimed at younger and/or less experienced problem solvers. If you think you have a shot at winning the general test, you probably should not take it. To determine which test(s) are best for you, check out the archive.

What is a Guts Round?

The Guts Round is a fun-filled event like team ciphering at Florida Mu Alpha Theta tournaments. At the judge's signal, teams of eight will send a runner to the front of the room to collect three problems. After the team solves these problems, the runner will return with the answers and collect the next set of problems.

What about the Team Round?

The Team Round is a proof based test where students have one hour to tackle a set of problems designed to elicit creative and rigorous thinking. These problems are similar in style to questions in the Power Round at the American Regions Math League. The Team Round progresses over a wide range of difficulty, and it will motivate and challenge all members of a team.

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Contest Rules

What are the contest rules?

The rules are available online for your reading pleasure.

Are calculators allowed?

No, calculators are not permitted on any of the tests except in the Guts Round (computers, books, sliderules, abaci, etc. are also not permitted). Similarly, drawing aids such as rulers, protractors, compasses, and graph paper are also not allowed except in the Guts Round. Contestants may count on their fingers and use the scratch paper we will provide.

How many teams can each school bring?

Due to staff and space limitations, the HMMT will likely be oversubscribed this year. We anticipate being able to allow each school that registers by December 1 to bring at least one team; see our registration policy for more details.

How many students can be on a team?

Each team will consist of no more than eight students If a team has fewer than eight students, it has the option of merging with participants from another school. Extra team members from different schools will be combined to form composite teams.

Do all students on a team have to be from the same school?

No, a coach can bring a team that includes students from multiple schools (including homeschooled students). We will put all of the material for that team into one packet.

Must all teams be affiliated with a school?

No! We welcome students who wish to come on their own or with friends from other schools.

Can students who are not yet in the 9th grade compete?

Yes. Any middle school student who feels ready to compete is welcome to come.

Can students who have already graduated from high school compete?

Sorry, all participants must be currently pursuing a secondary school education and must not be twenty years of age by March 1, 2008 . International students in thirteen-year programs are welcome, provided they fulfill the age limit. If you feel that an exception to this rule ought to be made or are unsure as to the eligibility of a student, please e-mail hmmt-request@mit.edu.

Can international students compete?

We don't have any rules for eligibility beyond those listed above. That means, if you are not twenty years of age by March 1, 2008 and you are still in high school, you can participate in this program.

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Directions to Harvard

For an area map, see here.
For a map of the Harvard Campus, see here.
The competition takes place at the Science Center, which is located just north of Harvard Yard.

Text directions detailing how to get to Harvard by car, train, or bus, and from Logan Airport are available here.


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Registration Policy

How do I register?

Teams can register at hmmt.mit.edu/welcome.

The HMMT has received an increasing number of student registrations over the past several years. Our capacity is approximately 600 students, and last year we had to turn away even some teams that registered on time. If we again have too many registered teams, we will give priority to the first few teams registered per school. You should register on time to maximize your chances of being able to attend.

The regular registration deadline is December 1. Organizations that register by December 1 will be sent email by December 15, confirming if we have space for them to attend. All teams registered by December 1 will have priority over all teams registering after that date. No new reservations will be accepted after February 1.

Schools should not pay for teams until we have confirmed by e-mail that we will have space for them. In case of cancellations, we will inform schools on our wait list that they can bring (additional) teams.

If I already registered last year, am I all set?

No. Whether or not you registered last year is irrelevant. You need to reregister every year that you compete.

Am I really supposed to determine how many students I'm bringing, which students to put on which teams, and what subject tests each student is taking all by December 1st?

Before December 1, all parts of registrations may be changed freely. From December 2 through February 1, the names of students, the tests they are taking, and their teams may be changed freely. Any extra students added will be treated as late registrations. After February 1, no changes will be allowed. Until February 1, we will give refunds if a student is not able to come. After February 1, there will be no refunds.

What if I don't have a team? Can I register as an individual?

Yes! Any student without a team is welcome to register their own team with only one student on it. The student will be considered equally for individual awards and be placed on a composite team for the team rounds.

How much does it cost to attend the competition?

The participation fee for teams registered before December 1 and paid for by February 1 is $10/student. (Note that this means you should mail payment before then.) The fee for any teams registered after December 1 is $15/student. Regardless of when registration occured, if the registration fee has not been paid by February 1 it rises to $15/student, and then to $25/student on the day of the contest.

How do I pay?

Schools should not pay for teams until we have confirmed by e-mail whether and how many of their students we have room for.

Make checks payable to Harvard-MIT Math Tournament. Send them to
HMMT c/o Maria Monks
290 Mass Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139

Are there any other policies that I should be aware of?

We require each school to provide one adult per team to help proctor on the day of the contest. This proctor must be available between 10:00 and 12:30. If you can't manage to bring one proctor per team, please contact us at hmmt-request@mit.edu for an exception.

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Miscellaneous

Will there be a place to keep stuff throughout the day?

We will occupy Harvard Science Center Hall C for the entire day; students may hang out and store their goods here. It will be the location of the Guts Round, as well as the awards ceremony.

What about parking?

The parking option we recommend is the garage at 124 Mt. Auburn Street. (Click here for a map.) It is a 12 minute walk from Harvard's Science Center, where most of the tournament events, including registration and the awards ceremony, will take place. The cost will be $10 for the entire day on Saturday. (Note: Do not confuse the garage with the Charles Hotel parking lot across the street.)

It is also possible to obtain a visitor pass for parking on the Harvard campus. Click here for details.

Are there any other fees?

Teams will have to pay for their own lunches. They are welcome to go out to local restaurants or to order pizza through us. To be safe, each person should bring about $5 or pack a lunch.

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This page is maintained by Beth Schaffer <hmmt-webmaster@mit.edu>.