🎯 Take AIM 2026
Analytics, Innovation & Mathematics Competition
Online Competition for U.S. High School Students
📅 Key Dates
Sep 20 — Registration Deadline
Sep 26 — Championship Stage (2–3 PM EST)
Oct 7 — Presentation slides due
Oct 10 — Presentation Stage (2-3 PM EST)
Oct 17 — Winners Announced
🏆 Awards
🥇 1st Place — $2,000 + Certificate
🥈 2nd Place — $1,000 + Certificate
🥉 3rd Place — $500 + Certificate
Top teams featured on the INFORMS K-12 website!
What Is Take AIM?
Take AIM is a free online competition where high school students run and grow a virtual bike rental business using mathematical optimization and data analytics. Think of it as a strategy game backed by real math—the kind used to optimize flight schedules, package deliveries, and more.
The competition has two stages: a Championship Stage (75% of your score) where you play the BikeSmart game, and a Presentation Stage (25%) where top teams present what they learned. To win, you must complete both stages and achieve the highest combined score.
Who can participate?
• U.S. high school students with a teacher or educator advisor (school email required)
• Up to 4 students per team, all from the same school or math club
• Middle schoolers who have completed coursework beyond Algebra may also compete with advisor permission
Getting Started
Step 1 — Practice the BikeSmart Game
No account needed to practice! Just visit isearcade.com/games, create a unique Gamer Tag (6+ characters, no spaces), and start playing. The game works on computers, tablets, and phones.
💎 Practice Tips
• Start with Level 1 to get the basics (fixed demand).
• Focus most of your practice on Levels 2–4, where random demand kicks in.
• Watch the Game Library page for bi-weekly "Special Challenge" games that mimic Championship difficulty.
• Each team member can practice with their own Gamer Tag — encouraged!
• ⚠️ Avoid opening the same Gamer Tag in multiple browsers — it causes scoring errors.
Step 2 — Register Your Team
Register by September 20, 2026 at the registration form. Only one registration per team is needed.
Team Name Rules
• 6 or more characters
• Letters, numbers, and special characters only — no spaces
• Must be respectful and appropriate for school
• Offensive or inappropriate names = disqualification
✅ Use your registered team name throughout the competition — scores under unregistered names won't count.
Championship Stage — Sep 26, 2–3 PM EST
You'll receive a unique link and QR code by email at 2:00 PM EST on September 26. Use it to enter the BikeSmart Championship game. You have one hour to play and submit your best score.
How It Works
• One team member logs in via the link/QR code sent to your registration email.
• You can restart as many times as you like within the hour — but restarting erases your progress.
• If you don't submit a score before 3:00 PM EST, your team receives a zero.
• Score is based on Cumulative Profit + Cumulative CO₂ saved.
Setup Recommendations
• Use one device (computer preferred). The game is designed for a single access point, not multiplayer.
• Team together in person if possible — a large screen helps visibility and communication.
• If meeting remotely, use Google Meet, Zoom, or Teams to share your screen with teammates.
• Test your full setup before competition day!
⚠️ About Multiplayer
Multiple devices can technically access the same game, but it is NOT recommended. The game may freeze or behave unpredictably when multiple users control it simultaneously. This setup is unsupported — proceed at your own risk.
📧 Didn't get the email?
Check your spam folder for subject line: "Take AIM 2026 Championship Stage info."
📋 Note on Final Details
The organizing committee is considering extending the Championship to 90 minutes (2:00–3:30 PM EST) and requiring two full game submissions. Final details will be shared in the coming weeks.