Subscribe to the National Number Knockout Newsletter
The National Number Knockout Newsletter helps students prepare to compete at the national level. Sign up to get monthly emails with practice tips and reminders, plus an invitation to an information call for students working toward National Number Knockout.
This newsletter is for students preparing to submit a video in the 2027 National Number Knockout competition. Before signing up, please confirm your student meets the eligibility requirements in the official N2K Rule Book.
Cultivating the Next Generation of Problem Solvers
Mathematical Innovation
Racing against the clock to find creative solutions, N2K inspires students to embrace flexible mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Mental Agility
N2K develops lightning-fast mental math skills, improving calculating speed and accuracy in a fun, competitive environment.
Accessible Excellence
Easy to learn yet challenging to master, N2K accommodates students of all skill levels while pushing them to excel in mathematics.
To be eligible for the national competition, all entrants must be:
- eleven years old and no older than fourteen by September 30, 2027.
- currently enrolled in the Essentials, Challenge A, or Challenge B program, and enrolled in the subsequent program by March 6, 2027.
- able to travel and compete in the National Number Knockout Championship on a Royal Caribbean cruise departing from Galveston, Texas, in May 2027.
- proficient in the addition and multiplication tables from the ones through the fifteens, as well as squares and cubes.
- enthusiastic and confident about competing in front of an audience.
National Number Knockout: The Basics
The Game Number Knockout is a fast-paced mental math game played on a 6×6 grid containing 36 numbers. Players roll three dice and have 60 seconds to create as many mathematical equations as possible using all three numbers. The classic Number Knockout board contains the numerals 1–36, but the game can be played on a wide variety of boards. Players are encouraged to create their own boards using creative number selections and patterns for practice. Number Knockout also offers many variations to adjust the game’s difficulty.
The Mathematical Operations Students use addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, roots, and exponents to create solutions that match numbers on the board. Each number can only be “knocked off” once per round.
The Championship Sixteen national finalists win a Royal Caribbean cruise fare for themselves and one parent/chaperone in May 2027, where they compete for the ultimate title and other prizes.
The Path to the Championship: How to Enter
- Confirm eligibility. Read the 2027 N2K Rule Book, check the schedule, and make sure your student meets the requirements.
- Record the scouting video.Use the official 2027 N2K Scouting Board and dice numbers which will be released on January 14, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.
- Submit your student’s scouting video and entrance form during the upload window (January 21–28, 2027). The entrance form posts to the N2K web page when submissions open.
- Wait for notification. Judges score each video on clarity, creativity, accuracy, and adherence to guidelines. All competitors are notified by email by February 19, 2027; the sixteen finalists are contacted by phone and publicly announced March 8, 2027, at
classicalconversations.com/national-number-knockout. Only first names and states will be shared.
2027 Schedule
- January 14, 2027: Scouting Board Release
The official scouting board is released at 10:00 a.m. EST on the Classical Conversations website, N2K page. - January 21, 2027: Submission Open
Entry video upload period begins at 10:00 a.m. EST. - January 28, 2027: Submission Close
Entry video upload period ends at 10:00 p.m. EST.
- February 19, 2027:
Results Released
Finalists are notified by phone, and non-finalists are notified by email. - March 8, 2027: Finalists Announced
The sixteen finalists will be announced at 10:00 a.m. on the Classical Conversations website, N2K page.
- May 2-8, 2027: Cruise Days
The sixteen finalists and families will spend six nights at sea with other CC families celebrating their accomplishments! - May 5, 2027: Championship Day
Finalists will compete in the championship aboard the Royal Caribbean ship, Symphony of the Seas.
General Questions
