The UKMT Maths Challenges are lively, intriguing papers designed to stimulate interest in maths in large numbers of pupils. They are tests of reasoning and mental agility which can be taken without any special preparation or revision. The three levels cover the secondary school range 11-18 and together they attract over 600,000 entries from over 4500 schools and colleges.

The Junior and Intermediate Challenges are aimed at the top 35% of pupils in each year group (see table below). The Senior Challenge is suitable for all students aged 16-19 studying maths below university level. Enthusiastic younger pupils are also encouraged to enter the Challenges.

The papers contain 25 multiple-choice questions. Of these, the first 15 are more accessible whilst the final 10 will provide more food for thought. Gold, silver and bronze certificates are awarded to 40% of participants nationally and the most successful participants at each level are invited to enter follow-on rounds. To see the most recent past papers, please follow the link to the 

Suffolk Maths Team Challenge

The Year 10 and Year 12 Team Challenge is a competition designed for teams of four pupils and is similar in structure to the UKMT Team Challenge below.

The winners and best runner up will be invited to take part in a final, involving teams from Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

For further details on the competition - Click here
For a parental permission letter - Click here
For the questions from 2008 - Click here              For the answers - Click here

These Final materials should have a health warning. They are challenging. Some activities would be good starters for year 12 students and could easily be opened out.

The Team Challenge is a competition designed for teams of four pupils in:

Y8 & Y9 with no more than two pupils from Y9

TMC material is available to download from the UKMT website (www.ukmt.org.uk) for use in school, and to help teachers to select a team to represent their school at the Regional Finals.  A previous set of materials can also be accessed below.

For any further information about the Team Maths Challenge please call 0113 343 2339, or email enquiry@ukmt.org.uk.   

1.      Group competition -  (45 minutes, 6 points per correct question)

• The contestants are given a set of 10 questions, which they should divide up among themselves so that they can answer, individually or in pairs, as many as possible in the allotted time (usually 45 minutes).  A team captain should be made responsible for the completion of the answer grid to be returned to the adjudicator at the end of the round.  
  
• Group A
• Group B

2.      Cross-number - Click here  (40 minutes, 1 point per correct answer)

• Teams are divided into pairs, with one pair given the across clues and one pair given the
  down clues.

• Each pair answers as many questions as possible on the grid, showing their answers to the supervising teacher who either confirms or corrects their answers.  The correct version is then shown to both pairs.  Pairs only communicate through the supervisor, but may make a request for particular clues to be solved.
  
• Cross Number A
• Cross Number B

3.      Head-to-Head contest - Click here (5 minutes per round, 1 point per correct answer)

• Teams of four compete against each other, standing in a semi-circle, with team members standing alternately next to each other, so that each team member stands next to a member of the opposing team.

• In the head-to-head competition teams will take turns to guess the numbers that fill the gaps in tables like these, by spotting the rule connecting the top and bottom rows

(Answer - Double top and add 1 to get bottom row, or y=2x+1)

Each competitor in turn gives an answer, and if it is correct, it is written into the grid.  If it is not correct, the next person gives an answer.  If all eight competitors give the wrong answer, the correct answer is written into the grid by the supervising teacher.

• Head to Head A
• Head to Head B

4.      Relay race - Click here  (45 minutes, 2 points per correct question)

• The aim here is to have a speed competition with teams working in pairs to answer alternate questions.

• Each team is divided into two pairs, seated at two desks with all contestants facing the same way. 

How it works:

• One member of Pair A from a team collects question A1 and returns to his partner to answer the question together.
• When they are certain that they have answered the question, the runner returns to the front and submits his answer to question one.  If it’s correct, he is given question B1 to give to the other pair (Pair B) from his team.  If it is incorrect then Pair A have another go at answering the question, then return to the front, when they receive question B1 to give to pair B.  (Pair A may only have one extra attempt.)
• He then returns, empty handed, to his partner. 
• Pair B answer question B1 and a runner from this pair brings the answer to the front, as above, then takes question A2 to Pair A. Pair A answer question A2, return it to the front, collect question B2 for the other pair and so on until all questions are answered.  Thus one set of pairs (the A pairs) answers only A questions and the other set (the B pairs) only B questions. Only one pair from a team should be working on a question at any time and each pair must work independently of the other.
  
  
• Relay A
• Relay B

Regional Finals

There were 43 regional finals held across the UK in March, April and May which had four rounds:

1.      Group competition - Click here  (45 minutes, 6 points per correct question)   

2.      Cross-number - Click here  (40 minutes, 1 point per correct answer)

3.      Head-to-Head contest - Click here (5 minutes per round, 1 point per correct answer

4.      Relay race - Click here  (45 minutes, 2 points per correct question)

Answer Booklet

This is held in June or July. There are four rounds: National final Programme

1.     Group ‘circus’ competition – similar to the group competition,  
        with some practical activities - Click here         
                                                               Lollysticks            
                                                               Score Sheet

2.      Cross-number - Click here

3.      Head-to-Head contest - Click here

In addition, all schools took part in the poster competition which was judged separately from the main competition.

All information is included – teams prepare information beforehand to bring with them to the final, and then on the day of the competition they built a poster and answer questions about the topic.