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Every year after the Christmas break, the UKMT competitions come around. The UKMT (UK Maths Trust) is a UK charity that - among other things - organises an annual competition, participated in by over 700,000 students annually split into Junior (Y8 and below), Intermediate (Y9, 10, and 11) and Senior (Y12 and 13). After the first round, competing students are awarded with Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Participation certificates, and some are given the opportunity to continue onto the Kangaroos or Olympiads for their given age group. The first challenge consists of 25 Multiple Choice Questions, with 5-6 points awarded for each correct answer, and up to 2 points are taken away for an incorrect answer.
This year, the Intermediate Competition was held in February and as always, was attended by loads of students from Westminster Academy from all across the years. In March, due to large successes in the results, we will be hosting the follow-on rounds - the Junior, Pink, Grey, and Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroos (split up by age groups). The boundary of entry for these follow-on rounds are 92 points (68%) for the junior, for the Grey Kangaroo (Y9), you need 72 (53%), and 82 (61%) for the Pink (Y10/11). Finally, for the senior kangaroo you need 83 (66%). Additionally, there are even harder Olympiads for those at the very top.
Questions in the UKMT range from logic and reasoning, such as:
"I can swim faster than you," said the dolphin to the shark. "That is not true," said the shark to the dolphin. "You are both wrong," said the octopus to the dolphin and the shark. "You are right," said the starfish to the octopus. How many of the dolphin, shark, octopus and starfish were telling the truth?
A 0 B 1 C 2 D 3 E 4
to arithmetic, geometry, and algebra. This gives the competitors a well rounded challenge that gives people opportunities to show their skills in all areas of maths. The challenge’s questions increase in difficulty from start to finish, which gives competitors opportunities to challenge themselves and learn to better manage their time.
As I come to the end of this article, I would like to thank the UKMT for all the great work they do, including organising the challenges every year, as well as all the teachers who help run it. I hope to see the challenge come around next year again, and good luck to those competing in it!
Jan Szewczyk - Year 9 Maths Prefect
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