Math Kangaroo USA
International Competition in Mathematics
for K-12 students

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Team Competition – Proctoring Guidelines

Math Kangaroo Team Competition – Proctoring Guidelines

The role of the proctor is to ensure that the Math Kangaroo Team Competition is conducted fairly, securely, and in an encouraging environment for all students. Proctors are responsible for supervising the competition session, distributing and collecting all materials, monitoring the time, and ensuring that students follow the rules without outside assistance.

Responsibilities of the Proctor

  • Supervision: Remain in the room for the entire duration of the competition and oversee the participating team(s).

  • Environment: Create a quiet, organized, and distraction-free space.

  • Identity Verification: Confirm the identity of all participating students.

  • Instructions: Clearly explain the rules before the competition begins.

  • Monitoring: Ensure that students work only within their team and do not use unauthorized materials.

  • Timing: Keep accurate track of the competition time.

  • Answer Submission: Verify that all answers are submitted correctly and securely.

  • Recordkeeping: Take attendance and note any irregularities during the session.

  • Collection: Gather all completed answer sheets and return them according to the provided instructions.

Who Can Serve as a Proctor?

A proctor may be a teacher, staff member, or parent volunteer, provided they are approved by the competition center.

Special note for coaches/parents.

If a coach or parent serves as a proctor, they must strictly follow all proctoring rules and may not assist their own team with answer entry.

Before Test Day

  • Confirm capacity: The number of teams entered on your Center Confirmation Form should match the number you can comfortably host.
  • Register teams: Use your Center ID in the Team Registration Form. Teams consist of 2–4 students, with a captain and an optional coach.
  • Communicate with parents: Share logistics, arrival time, and contest duration.
  • Schedule test time: Choose any date and time in the November 14–21 window.
  • Prepare rooms: If multiple teams are in the same room, avoid placing teams of the same level next to each other. Large rooms are suitable if teams are sufficiently spaced apart.

On Test Day

  • Format: Mix of multiple-choice and open-response questions.
  • Time: Teams have 60 minutes to solve the contest problems.
  • Proctoring: Announce rules, monitor teams, and ensure no communication between teams. Parents may volunteer as proctors.
  • Paper answer sheets: Teams must complete the printed paper answer sheet within the 60-minute time frame. At the end of the test, the proctor signs and timestamps the sheet, takes a photo, and then returns it to the team for online entry. From that moment, no changes can be made.
  • Online Answer Submission: After the paper sheet has been signed, teams have 5 minutes to submit their answers online using one device. If a team does not have a device, the proctor or center manager enters answers online on their behalf, using the signed paper sheet. Once submitted, the answers are final.
  • Verification and disputes: The 5-minute submission time also serves as the time for teams to check their online submission against their signed paper sheet. Teams should check the on-screen submission against their signed paper sheet. If they see a discrepancy, they must report it immediately to the center manager. The center manager can initiate a dispute the same day, and in such cases, the signed paper sheet overrides the online submission.
  • Submission Check: Center manager/proctor verifies that all teams have submitted their answers online.
  • Material Collection: Proctors collect all contest materials – paper answer sheets, test questions, solution sheets, and student draft papers – and submit them to the Center Manager. The Center Manager will keep all materials secure and ensure they are not disclosed to students or parents until December 8, 2025.

After Test

The Center Manager will:

  • Upload a scan or photo of each signed paper answer sheet to MK within 3 days after the competition.
  • Report any irregularities or issues (technical, proctoring, or student-related) to the MK Team.
  • Share feedback about the process. Your observations will help us improve future competitions.

Reminders

  • To protect the integrity of team competition in other countries hosting later than us, all test papers and answer sheets should be returned after December 8, 2025.
  • You should receive your Center ID by October 1. If you have not received it by that date, please contact us. Team registration will open on October 1.
  • Share your Center ID with the person responsible for registering the teams, such as the coach or team coordinator.

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