Problem of the Month (POM) begins on September 1, 2026.
Interested in participating in POM? Create a student account now so you'll be ready. Join our mailing list, and we’ll let you know when the first problems are available.
Problem of the Month
Solve math and science problems written by top scientists and mathematicians, get personalized feedback, and win prizes!
Example Past Mathematics Problem
Gerry the grasshopper lives on a grid. He starts at (85, 36), and his home is at (0,0). Each hop he takes, he can either go 5 in one direction and 7 in another, or 4 in one direction and 2 in another. Can he get home?
From September 2024 POM
Example Past Project
Build a cantilever out of cardboard and adhesive. Provide a theoretical motivation for your design. Include a quantitative prediction of the maximum weight your cantilever will be able to support.
From December 2025 POM
Example Past Biology Problem
- Identify and explain the process in the diagram.
- Explain the role played by the cells of cell type A in this process, and provide two reasons why it is important.
- Explain how this process would be different if Cell C were a pathogen.
From September 2023 POM
Example Past Chemistry Problem
Circle all the explosive molecules, and justify your answers.
From November 2023 POM
Example Past Computer Science Problem
Shurik is designing a moving robot with path-finding capabilities. The robot moves on a board, and can move in four directions: left, right, up, or down. Shurik wants to get the robot to come up with a sequence of moves to get from point A to point B. Write a Python program that receives the robot’s starting and desired positions and sequence of moves, and determines whether the robot will reach its desired position.
From September 2024 POM
What is POM?
Started in 2012, Problem of the Month (POM) is a free international competition aimed to stimulate inquisitive minds and cultivate interest in science and math for students aged 11-17. Each month, we publish a set of problems written by our team of scientists and mathematicians in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Applied Sciences, and Linguistics.
When you submit to POM, your solutions receive personalized feedback from our team of professors, industry professionals, and students from top universities around the world such as MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, University of Toronto, Stony Brook University, and many more.
POM runs from September through December. New problems go up on the 1st of every month, and they are due by the last day of that month.
How to Participate in POM
- Create a student account or log in to your existing account.
- Read the POM rules and download the latest problems.
- Solve as many of the problems as you like, and submit your solutions by the end of the month.
- Check the scores and graders' comments for your solutions in your account.
Highlighted Solutions
Every month, we award the most outstanding and high-effort submissions with a $25 gift card and feature them in the official solutions on our site and our monthly newsletter.
Henry Kendall, October 2025 Applied Sciences 5pt
Lili Sigalov, October 2025 Bio/Chem Project
Alice Cheremukhina, September 2025 Math/CS Project
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can participate?
Participation is entirely free and open to all primary and high school students around the world.
What do I get for participating?
- Easier admission to Sigma: Top eligible scorers will be directly admitted into SigmaCamp, SigmaWest, or SigmaNext if they apply, with no need to write the Qualifying Quiz or the Entrance Exam.
- Direct feedback from top scientists and mathematicians: Your solutions will be graded by a member of our team, consisting of professors, industry professionals, PhD, Master's, and Bachelor's students, who will give you thorough, individualized feedback. You can also discuss the problems directly with our team during our office hours.
- Win prizes: Every month, we award 5+ prizes (gift cards!) for creative and high-effort submissions, and feature them in our newsletter. At the end of the season, we award top POM scorers with larger prizes ($100+).
- POM certificates: At the end of the POM season, we will award each participant an official certificate with their POM score to showcase their participation and performance.
Do I have to solve all of the problems?
No! You can solve as many or as few of the problems or projects as you wish. For Sigma admission-related purposes, we only count your top few problems for points, based on your age and the camps you are eligible to apply for. You don't need to solve all problems to be competitive for camp admission. See the rules for more information.
When are problems due by?
POM runs from September to December. Problems are posted on the first of every month and are due by the last day of each month.
How do I get help?
Every month, we host virtual office hours, where you can directly ask our team any questions you might have about the problems. See more information here: sigmacamp.org/pom/office-hours. You can also ask your teachers at school, your parents, or Google. You can use the internet and books for research and learning, as long as your final solution is written in your own words.
When will I receive feedback for my submissions?
We aim to return all grades and solution feedback within two weeks of the problem due date.
I still have more questions!
Please email us at pom@sigmacamp.org. We will be happy to clarify anything!
