⏱️ Pacing and Triage

Master time management to maximize your score across all MATHCOUNTS rounds.

The Three-Pass System

First Pass: Quick Wins (40% of time)

Goal: Answer easy problems quickly and accurately

Strategy:

  • Scan all problems quickly
  • Identify problems you can solve in 30 seconds or less
  • Answer these problems immediately
  • Don’t get stuck on any single problem

Problem Types to Target:

  • Basic arithmetic
  • Simple algebra
  • Obvious geometry
  • Pattern recognition
  • Mental math problems

Second Pass: Medium Difficulty (50% of time)

Goal: Work on problems that require moderate effort

Strategy:

  • Focus on problems you understand but need time to solve
  • Use systematic problem-solving approaches
  • Show clear work for complex calculations
  • Check answers before moving on

Problem Types to Target:

  • Multi-step word problems
  • Coordinate geometry
  • Number theory
  • Counting problems
  • Probability calculations

Third Pass: Difficult Problems (10% of time)

Goal: Attempt remaining problems or make educated guesses

Strategy:

  • Work on problems you haven’t attempted
  • Use estimation and approximation
  • Make educated guesses when appropriate
  • Don’t leave problems blank

Problem Types to Target:

  • Complex geometry
  • Advanced algebra
  • Challenging number theory
  • Multi-step counting
  • Any remaining problems

Round-Specific Pacing

Sprint Round Pacing

Total Time: 40 minutes for 30 problems Target: 1.33 minutes per problem

Time Allocation:

  • First Pass (15 minutes): 15 easy problems
  • Second Pass (20 minutes): 10 medium problems
  • Third Pass (5 minutes): 5 difficult problems or guesses

Key Strategies:

  • Skip problems that take more than 2 minutes
  • Use mental math whenever possible
  • Don’t show work unless necessary
  • Make educated guesses on remaining problems

Target Round Pacing

Total Time: 24 minutes for 8 problems Target: 3 minutes per problem

Time Allocation:

  • First Pass (8 minutes): 3 easy problems
  • Second Pass (12 minutes): 4 medium problems
  • Third Pass (4 minutes): 1 difficult problem

Key Strategies:

  • Use calculator effectively
  • Show clear work for partial credit
  • Check answers carefully
  • Don’t rush - accuracy is more important than speed

Team Round Pacing

Total Time: 20 minutes for 10 problems Target: 2 minutes per problem

Time Allocation:

  • Planning (2 minutes): Assign problems to team members
  • Working (15 minutes): Solve assigned problems
  • Checking (3 minutes): Review and verify answers

Key Strategies:

  • Divide problems based on strengths
  • Communicate clearly with teammates
  • Check each other’s work
  • Collaborate on difficult problems

Problem Triage System

Level 1: Immediate (0-30 seconds)

Characteristics:

  • Single-step problems
  • Basic arithmetic
  • Obvious pattern recognition
  • Simple substitution

Examples:

  • $2 + 3 = ?$
  • What is $5^2$?
  • Find the next term: $2, 4, 6, 8, ?$
  • Evaluate $3x$ when $x = 4$

Level 2: Quick (30 seconds - 2 minutes)

Characteristics:

  • Two to three steps
  • Basic algebra
  • Simple geometry
  • Pattern completion

Examples:

  • Solve $2x + 5 = 13$
  • Find the area of a rectangle with length 6 and width 4
  • What is $15%$ of 80?
  • Find the next two terms: $1, 3, 9, 27, ?$

Level 3: Moderate (2-5 minutes)

Characteristics:

  • Multiple steps
  • Word problems
  • Coordinate geometry
  • Number theory

Examples:

  • A train travels 120 miles in 2 hours. How far will it travel in 5 hours?
  • Find the distance between points $(1, 2)$ and $(4, 6)$
  • What is the greatest common divisor of 24 and 36?
  • How many ways can 3 people sit in 5 chairs?

Level 4: Difficult (5+ minutes)

Characteristics:

  • Complex multi-step problems
  • Advanced concepts
  • Multiple solution paths
  • High computational requirements

Examples:

  • Find the area of a triangle with vertices at $(0,0)$, $(4,0)$, and $(2,3)$
  • How many positive integers less than 100 are divisible by 3 or 5?
  • Solve the system: $x + y = 10$, $2x - y = 5$
  • Find the sum of the first 20 terms of the arithmetic sequence $3, 7, 11, 15, \ldots$

Time Management Tips

Before Starting

  • Read all problems quickly to assess difficulty
  • Identify your strengths and target those problems first
  • Set time limits for each pass
  • Prepare your workspace (calculator, scratch paper, etc.)

During the Round

  • Stick to your plan - don’t deviate unless necessary
  • Use a timer to track your progress
  • Skip problems that take too long
  • Make educated guesses rather than leaving problems blank

When Stuck

  • Move on after 2-3 minutes on a problem
  • Try a different approach if you have time
  • Use estimation to narrow down answer choices
  • Make an educated guess based on partial work

Common Time Wasters

Avoid These Mistakes

  • Getting stuck on one difficult problem
  • Overthinking simple problems
  • Showing unnecessary work in Sprint round
  • Not using calculator effectively in Target round
  • Arguing with teammates in Team round
  • Second-guessing yourself in Countdown round

Time-Saving Techniques

  • Use mental math for basic calculations
  • Estimate when exact answers aren’t needed
  • Recognize patterns quickly
  • Use calculator shortcuts effectively
  • Skip steps that are obvious to you
  • Make educated guesses when appropriate

Practice Strategies

Speed Drills

  • Time yourself on individual problems
  • Practice mental math daily
  • Work on pattern recognition exercises
  • Use estimation techniques regularly

Full-Length Practice

  • Take practice tests under timed conditions
  • Simulate competition environment
  • Practice pacing strategies
  • Review time allocation after each test

Targeted Practice

  • Focus on weak areas that slow you down
  • Practice problem triage with mixed difficulty sets
  • Work on speed for your strong areas
  • Practice guessing strategies for difficult problems

Next: Round-Specific Playbooks
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