The Guts Round is one of the rounds for the February HMMT and the November HMMT competition.
Format and Changes[]
The Guts Round is an 80-minute team event with 36 short-answer questions on an assortment of subjects, of varying difficulty and point values. Each team is seated in a predetermined spot in a room, but gets to choose where they sit and what stack of problems they select (all of them are the same, however the color cover is different); and the questions are divided into groups of four. At the starting signal, each team sends a runner to an assigned problem station to pick up copies of the first set of four problems for each team member. As soon as a team has answers for one problem set, the runner may bring the answers to the problem station and pick up the next set. It is not expected that teams will finish all of the problems. Grading is immediate and scores are posted in real time, which results in an exciting atmosphere for the competitors. The Guts Round is worth a total of approximately 400 points.
For the February HMMT, the first Guts Round occurred during the 2000 February HMMT. This guts round consisted of 47 problems total. At the 2001 February HMMT, it consisted of 60 problems total, and there were 63 problems total on the guts round for the 2002 February HMMT. For 2000, 2001, and 2002, the weights of the problems varied, in no particular order, and it was also possible for teams to get a negative score on one of the problems. This changed at the beginning of the 2003 February HMMT. Now there were rounds, with 3 questions each, with each question per round the same point. Also, the number of points each question was worth one round was greater than or equal to the number of points each questions was worth the previous round. There were a total of 45 problems for this round. In addition, the last round also contained problems that involved partial credit, which included estimating and "using your guts." The rules of the last round varied between year to year, as it did with the 2004 February HMMT, 2005 February HMMT, and 2006 February HMMT. The exact number of points each round had varied from year to year as well. The number of questions for the guts round was reduced to 36 beginning with the 2007 February HMMT, however the rules of each round and the rest of the format stayed the same. Beginning with the 2011 February HMMT, however, the number of problems per round increased from 3 to 4, but the rest of the rules and format, including the number of problems, stayed the same. Since then, there have been no other changes to the rules or format of the competition.
The November HMMT Guts Round have all stayed consistent, with 12 rounds consisting of 3 questions each. The only thing that changed was the number of points each question was worth per round, which varied a little from year to year. The format is also the same.
Points by Year[]
February[]
2018[]
- Round 1: 4
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 7
- Round 4: 9
- Round 5: 10
- Round 6: 12
- Round 7: 15
- Round 8: 17
- Round 9: 20
2017[]
- Round 1: 4
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 7
- Round 4: 9
- Round 5: 10
- Round 6: 12
- Round 7: 15
- Round 8: 17
- Round 9: 20
2016[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 7
- Round 4: 9
- Round 5: 11
- Round 6: 12
- Round 7: 14
- Round 8: 16
- Round 9: 20
2015[]
- Round 1: 4
- Round 2: 5
- Round 3: 6
- Round 4: 8
- Round 5: 11
- Round 6: 14
- Round 7: 17
- Round 8: 20
- Round 9: 25
2014[]
- Round 1: 4
- Round 2: 5
- Round 3: 6
- Round 4: 8
- Round 5: 11
- Round 6: 14
- Round 7: 17
- Round 8: 20
- Round 9: 25
2013[]
- Round 1: 4
- Round 2: 5
- Round 3: 6
- Round 4: 8
- Round 5: 11
- Round 6: 14
- Round 7: 17
- Round 8: 20
- Round 9: 25
2012[]
- Round 1: 2
- Round 2: 3
- Round 3: 5
- Round 4: 7
- Round 5: 11
- Round 6: 13
- Round 7: 17
- Round 8: 19
- Round 9: 23
2011[]
- Round 1: 4
- Round 2: 5 (first two problems), 6 (last two problems)
- Round 3: 6 (first two problems), 8 (last two problems)
- Round 4: 8 (first two problems), 10 (last two problems)
- Round 5: 10 (first two problems), 12 (last two problems)
- Round 6: 12 (first two problems), 14 (last two problems)
- Round 7: 14 (first two problems), 16 (last two problems)
- Round 8: 16 (first two problems), 18 (last two problems)
- Round 9: 25
2010[]
- Round 1: 4
- Round 2: 5
- Round 3: 6
- Round 4: 7
- Round 5: 8
- Round 6: 9
- Round 7: 10
- Round 8: 12
- Round 9: 15
- Round 10: 18
- Round 11: 21
- Round 12: 25
2009[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 6
- Round 4: 7
- Round 5: 8
- Round 6: 9
- Round 7: 10
- Round 8: 10
- Round 9: 12
- Round 10: 15
- Round 11: 18
- Round 12: 25
2008[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 6
- Round 4: 7
- Round 5: 8
- Round 6: 9
- Round 7: 10
- Round 8: 10
- Round 9: 12
- Round 10: 15
- Round 11: 18
- Round 12: 20 (25 for last question, varies for second question)
2007[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 6
- Round 4: 7
- Round 5: 8
- Round 6: 9
- Round 7: 10
- Round 8: 10
- Round 9: 12
- Round 10: 15
- Round 11: 18
- Round 12: 25 (Unknown for first problem)
2006[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 6
- Round 4: 7
- Round 5: 7
- Round 6: 8
- Round 7: 8
- Round 8: 9
- Round 9: 9
- Round 10: 10
- Round 11: 10
- Round 12: 12
- Round 13: 15
- Round 14: 18
- Round 15: 20 (Unknown for last problem)
2005[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 6
- Round 4: 7
- Round 5: 7
- Round 6: 8
- Round 7: 8
- Round 8: 9
- Round 9: 9
- Round 10: 10
- Round 11: 10
- Round 12: 12
- Round 13: 15
- Round 14: 18
- Round 15: 20 (Unknown for the last two problems)
2004[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 6
- Round 4: 7
- Round 5: 7
- Round 6: 8
- Round 7: 8
- Round 8: 9
- Round 9: 9
- Round 10: 10
- Round 11: 10
- Round 12: 12
- Round 13: 15
- Round 14: 18
- Round 15: 20 (Unknown for the last two problems)
2003[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 6
- Round 4: 7
- Round 5: 7
- Round 6: 8
- Round 7: 8
- Round 8: 9
- Round 9: 9
- Round 10: 10
- Round 11: 10
- Round 12: 12
- Round 13: 15
- Round 14: 18
- Round 15: 10 for first problem, Unknown for second problem, 20 for last problem
November[]
2017[]
- Round 1: 2
- Round 2: 3
- Round 3: 3
- Round 4: 4
- Round 5: 5
- Round 6: 7
- Round 7: 9
- Round 8: 12
- Round 9: 15
- Round 10: 19
- Round 11: 24
- Round 12: 30
2016[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 7
- Round 4: 8
- Round 5: 9
- Round 6: 10
- Round 7: 11
- Round 8: 12
- Round 9: 13
- Round 10: 15
- Round 11: 17
- Round 12: 20
2015[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 7
- Round 4: 8
- Round 5: 9
- Round 6: 10
- Round 7: 11
- Round 8: 12
- Round 9: 13
- Round 10: 15
- Round 11: 17
- Round 12: 20
2014[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 7
- Round 4: 8
- Round 5: 9
- Round 6: 10
- Round 7: 11
- Round 8: 12
- Round 9: 13
- Round 10: 15
- Round 11: 17
- Round 12: 20
2013[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 7
- Round 4: 8
- Round 5: 9
- Round 6: 10
- Round 7: 11
- Round 8: 12
- Round 9: 13
- Round 10: 15
- Round 11: 17
- Round 12: 20
2012[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 7
- Round 4: 8
- Round 5: 9
- Round 6: 10
- Round 7: 11
- Round 8: 12
- Round 9: 13
- Round 10: 15
- Round 11: 17
- Round 12: 20
2011[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 7
- Round 4: 8
- Round 5: 8
- Round 6: 10
- Round 7: 10
- Round 8: 12
- Round 9: 12
- Round 10: 14
- Round 11: 17
- Round 12: 20
2010[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 7
- Round 4: 8
- Round 5: 9
- Round 6: 10
- Round 7: 11
- Round 8: 12
- Round 9: 14
- Round 10: 17
- Round 11: 20
- Round 12: 25
2009[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 7
- Round 4: 8
- Round 5: 8
- Round 6: 9
- Round 7: 11
- Round 8: 12
- Round 9: 14
- Round 10: 17
- Round 11: 20
- Round 12: 25
2008[]
- Round 1: 5
- Round 2: 6
- Round 3: 7
- Round 4: 8
- Round 5: 9
- Round 6: 10
- Round 7: 11
- Round 8: 12
- Round 9: 13
- Round 10: 14
- Round 11: 15
- Round 12: 20 for first problem, 25 for last two problems
Last Round Rules by Year[]
February[]
2018[]
In 2018 the last round consisted of four estimathon problems, with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 25.
2017[]
In 2017 the last round consisted of the USAYNO, where each question had a yes/no answer. Teams could choose any subset of the six questions to answer. for each question. If they attempted n of the 6 problems and get them all correct, they receive (n-1)(n-2) points. If they get any of the questions wrong, they will receive 0 points. The maximum number of points this year is 20 per question.
2016[]
In 2016 the last round consisted of four estimathon problems, with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 20.
2015[]
In 2015 the last round consisted of four estimathon problems, with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 25. There were restrictions on the format of the answers given. If the numbers did not follow that strict format, the team received a score of 0.
2014[]
In 2014 the last round consisted of four estimathon problems. For one of the problems, the answer had to be in a specific format or else the answer would be disqualified.
2013[]
In 2013 the last round consisted of three estimathon problems. The last of the problems consisted of a problem involving mathematicians and subsets.
Winners[]
February[]
| Year | Team Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | TJA | 235 |
| 2017 | PEA Red Lions | 273 |
| 2016 | Florida A | 163 |
| 2015 | PEA Red Lions | 283 |
| 2014 | Star League A-Star Air | 295 |
| 2013 | PEA Red Lions | 303 |
| 2012 | PEARL | 172 |
| 2011 | Grub | 133 |
| 2010 | AAST Mu A | 210 |
| 2009 | Lehigh Valley | 265 |
| 2008 | Quagga A | 269 |
| 2007 | Thomas Jefferson A | 195 |
| 2006 | AAST Mu A | 106 |
| 2005 | Florida Math Team | 150 |
| 2004 | Phillips Exeter Academy Red | 202 |
| 2003 | AAST Mu (1) | 211 |
| 2002 | Lexington Alpha+1 | 262 |
| 2001 | Newton South | 257 |
| 2000 | Newton South HS | 69 |
November[]
| Year | Team Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | NNHS & Friends | 151 |
| 2016 | Yu's Alligator | 268 |
| 2015 | SFLS1 | 270 |
| 2014 | ICAE | 218 |
| 2013 | Beijing | 279 |
| 2012 | Western Mass ARML All Stars | 231 |
| 2011 | Brookline Warriors | 145 |
| 2010 | Lexington Alpha | 152 |
| 2009 | ABRHS BETA | 266 |
| 2008 | Westford Academy Alpha | 270 |
Trivia[]
- It is one of the very few rounds to appear in both the November and February competitions.