United Kingdom Mathematics Trust

The Junior Mathematical Challenge (JMC) is an introductory challenge for pupils in Years 8 (aged 13) or below. This takes the form of a twenty-five multiple choice questions to be sat in exam conditions. This is to be completed within one hour. The paper is divided into two sections. The first fifteen questions are supposed to be easier, and a pupil will gain 5 marks for getting a question in this section correct. The last ten questions are more difficult, and are worth 6 marks, but a penalty of 1 or 2 points for a wrong answer tries to prevent pupils guessing.

Junior Mathematical Olympiad

The top 40% of students get a certificate of varying levels (Gold, Silver or Bronze) based on their score. The highest scorers also get to go on to partake in the Junior Mathematical Olympiad (JMO). This is also divided into two sections. The first follows the same multiple choice formula of the JMC, the second encouraging students to write out full answers. Everyone who participates in this challenge will gain a certificate; with the top fifty winning a book prize.

Intermediate Mathematical Challenge

The Intermediate Mathematical Challenge (IMC) is a trickier level for those who have completed the JMC. Any student in Years 11 (aged 16) or below is entitled to take this challenge. This marks a significantly greater age range than is entered into either of the other Mathematical Challenges. Following the same structure as the JMC, this paper presents the student with twenty-five multiple choice questions, divided into two sections; the first carrying 5 marks for a correct solution, and the second carrying 6 marks, but a penalty for incorrect answers.

Again, the top 40% of students taking this challenge get a certificate. There are two follow-on rounds to this competition: The European Kangaroo and the Intermediate Mathematical Olympiad.

European Kangaroo

For the main article, see European Kangaroo.

The European Kangaroo is a competition which follows the same structure as the IMC. There are twenty-five multiple questions. This paper is taken throughout Europe by over 3 million pupils from more than 37 countries.

Intermediate Mathematical Olympiad

To prevent this getting confused with International Mathematical Olympiad, this is often abbreviated to the IMOK (Intermediate Mathematical Olympiad and Kangaroo).

The IMOK consists of eighteen questions for which the student must answer six in full written solutions. The paper is divided into 'Cayley', 'Maclaurin' and 'Hamilton'. The paper the student will undertake depends on the year group that student is in. Each solution is marked out of 10 on a 0+ and 10- scale, often making marks such as 4-6 inaccessible. This makes the maximum mark out of 60. Students getting one question fully correct is considered "very good". All people partaking in this challenge will get a certificate. Those scoring highly will gain a book prize.

In addition to the book prize, each year approximately forty students are chosen to go to The Queen's College, Edgbaston on a Summer Mathematics Camp in July. The criteria for this selection is based not only upon the final mark a student gets, but also their understanding of mathematics, logical thinking and sometimes teachers' recommendations.

Senior Mathematical Challenge

The Senior Mathematical Challenge (SMC) is open to students who are in Year 13 (aged 18) or below. This is supposed to build upon the ideas in the JMC and IMC. The paper has twenty-five multiple choice questions. A correct answer is worth 4 marks, while 1 mark is decucted from a starting total of 25 for an inncorrect answer. This gives a score between 0 and 125 marks.

The top 40% get a certificate; and the approximately 800 students who obtain the best marks will go on to compete in the British Mathematical Olympiad. Mathematics teachers may also enter students who did slightly poorer, but are thought to cope well in the next round.

British Mathematical Olympiad

For the main article, see British Mathematical Olympiad.

The very top candidates in the SMC gain entrance to the British Mathematical Olympiad (BMO). The Olympiad is a two hour examination including six more difficult, long answer questions, which serve to test entrants' puzzle-solving skills. The twenty top scoring students from the second round of the Olympiad are subsequently invited to the National Mathematics Summer School at Trinity College, Cambridge for the first stage of the International Mathematical Olympiad UK team selection.

Team Challenge

A team mathematical challenge is also held for schools who submit teams comprising 4 of their most able pupils from years 8 and 9 (ages 14 and below). These students compete in regional heats before progressing to a national final. No more than 2 pupils on a team may be from year 9.

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United Kingdom Mathematics Trust

Mathematical Challenges

Certificates

Junior Mathematical Challenge