What Is the Putnam Competition: A Guide for K–12 Families

The William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition is widely recognized as the premier undergraduate mathematics contest in the United States and Canada. First held in 1938 as a friendly challenge between college mathematics departments, the Putnam has since become the most respected university-level mathematics competition in the world. Each December, thousands of top undergraduate students spend six hours tackling 12 demanding, proof-based math problems—individually and on behalf of their university teams.

Although the Putnam Competition is designed for college students, its influence reaches far earlier. Many of the students who perform well on the Putnam began their mathematical journeys in elementary or middle school, often through AMC 8, AMC 10/12, AIME, or other problem-solving programs. Understanding the Putnam helps K–12 families see the long-term arc of advanced problem solving, and how early foundations can grow into exceptional mathematical reasoning in the future.

The Structure and Prestige of the Putnam Competition

The Putnam exam includes 12 open-ended problems, each scored from 0 to 10 points, for a total of 120 points. Students work through two three-hour sessions and contribute to both individual and team rankings. Honors include:

• Putnam Fellows, awarded to the top-performing individuals
• Team prizes awarded to the highest-ranking institutions
• The Elizabeth Lowell Putnam Prize, awarded to a woman whose performance is especially outstanding

The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) organizes the Putnam with the support of the William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund. Achieving distinction in the Putnam is considered one of the most significant academic accomplishments available to undergraduate math students.

Important Dates and Updates for 2024–2025

The 86th Putnam Competition (2025)

• Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
• Registration: Open now through November 15, 2025
• Who registers: Putnam Supervisors (full-time university faculty)
• Resources available for institutions:
  • Putnam Supervisor Registration Guide
  • Guide to Registering Students
  • 2025 Instructions for Supervisors
  • Guide to Using the Putnam Portal
  • Putnam Solution Paper
  • Webinar for first-time supervisors

Institutions wishing to offer the exam can follow MAA’s supervisor guidelines.

The 85th Putnam Competition (2024)

Held on December 7, 2024, across the United States and Canada, the 85th Putnam released:

• Session A Problems and Solutions
• Session B Problems and Solutions

Alphabetical lists of individual and team winners have also been published. Contributors, the Putnam Problems Committee, and the William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund are formally recognized. The Putnam Archive contains past problems, solutions, and historical winners, and former participants are invited to share their experiences through the MAA alumni survey.

Why the Putnam Matters to K–12 Families

What makes the Putnam relevant to parents of elementary, middle, or high school students is not the exam itself, but the type of thinking it represents. Putnam-level reasoning—creativity, resilience, structured problem solving, proof-writing—begins years earlier. Students who go on to perform well on the Putnam typically share a long history of curiosity and exposure to challenging problems.

For families who want their children to excel in STEM, strengthen logical reasoning, or pursue competitive high school and college pathways, the Putnam demonstrates how foundational skills developed at younger ages evolve into advanced mathematical thinking in college.

Putnam vs. AMC, AIME, and USAMO: How Competition Pathways Connect

Many K–12 families are familiar with AMC 8, AMC 10, or AIME. Understanding how these competitions relate to the Putnam helps families see the long-term progression of mathematical depth.

Competition	Intended Grade Range	Problem Type	Scoring Format	Key Purpose
AMC 8	Grades 5–8	Short-answer, multiple-choice	25 questions	Introduces structured problem solving
AMC 10/12	Grades 8–11	Short-answer, multiple-choice	25 questions	Builds algebra and geometry foundations; gateway to AIME
AIME	Grades 8–12	Intermediate Olympiad	15 integer-answer questions	Selective pathway to USAMO
USAMO	Grades 8–12	Proof-based Olympiad	6 written problems	Highest K–12 math competition in the U.S.
Putnam Competition	Undergraduate	Advanced proof-based problems	12 written problems	Most prestigious college-level math competition in North America

While K–12 competitions build foundational skills, the Putnam represents the culmination of those same habits—at a much more advanced level.

What Is a Good Putnam Score?

Because the Putnam is exceptionally difficult, parents and students often ask what score counts as “good.” The scoring norms are radically different from school exams or even AMC/AIME contests.

The exam has a total of 120 points (12 problems × 10 points each). Yet most students score between 0 and 10 points. It is common for the median score to be 0 or 1.

Perfect Scores

Across more than 150,000 competitors in the Putnam’s 85-year history, a perfect score of 120/120 has been achieved only five times.

Benchmarks Families Should Know

• 10 points: Above average
• 20 points: Top ~20% of all participants
• 30–40 points: Top ~5%
• 50+ points: Outstanding performance
• 70–80+ points: Typically among the top individuals in the country
• 100+ points: Extremely rare
• 120 points: Only five perfect scores ever recorded

For context, a student solving two problems fully and correctly (20 points) is already outperforming thousands of top undergraduate math students.

Understanding this score distribution helps families appreciate how deep Putnam-level reasoning is—and how it grows from earlier stages of learning.

Skills the Putnam Rewards and How They Begin in K–12

Putnam problems require a unique blend of creativity and structure. Successful participants typically show strength in:

• Number sense and algebraic reasoning
• Pattern recognition and abstract thinking
• Persistence on unfamiliar problems
• Building and justifying logical arguments
• Proof-writing skills
• Comfort with challenge and intellectual struggle

These skills do not require college-level math. They begin with strong Pre-Algebra foundations, engaging puzzles, and exposure to interesting, non-routine problems.

How Younger Students Can Build Putnam-Level Thinking Early

Elementary school: Strengthen number sense, pattern games, logic puzzles, and foundational fluency.
Middle school: Build mastery in Pre-Algebra and Algebra, and introduce AMC-style problems that require reasoning.
High school: Develop algebra and geometry depth, explore AMC 10/12 and AIME-level problems, and begin practicing written reasoning and explanations.

Students do not need to attempt full Putnam problems in high school. Instead, they should focus on building habits—curiosity, persistence, and structured thinking—that support advanced mathematics later.

About Think Academy

Think Academy, part of TAL Education Group, helps K–12 students succeed in school today by building strong math foundations and critical thinking skills. At the same time, we focus on the bigger picture—developing learning ability, curiosity, and healthy study habits that inspire a lifelong love of learning. With expert teachers, proven methods, and innovative AI tools, we support every child’s journey from classroom confidence to long-term growth.

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