Intermediate Maths Challenge
Read on to find out what the Intermediate Maths Challenge is and how you can support pupils who want to enter it.
What is the Intermediate Maths Challenge?
The Intermediate Maths Challenge (IMC) is a competition, which is aimed at pupils across the UK. The aim of the competition is to promote maths learning and develop children’s problem-solving skills.
It consists of a multiple-choice paper and students are given 60 minutes to answer the questions.
Who can take part in the competition?
Pupils studying in England and Wales and currently in school year 11 or below can take part in the Intermediate Maths Challenge. The competition is also open to students in S4 or below in Scotland and pupils in year 12 or below in Northern Ireland.
When is the Intermediate Maths Challenge?
The competition is held on a yearly basis and it’s usually at the start of the year.
In 2021, it will take place over the course of four days: from the 1st February until the 4th February 2021. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the challenge will be online that year.
How can my students enter the challenge?
To take part in the competition, the entries should be made by a registered UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) centre. So, pupils can’t enter by themselves.
If you’re a parent, speak to your child’s teacher who will be able to register them. Teachers, you’ll be given children’s logins along with the results once they’re released.
There’s an entry fee, which goes towards advancing the mathematics education of young people.
What happens after the Intermediate Maths Challenge is over?
After the competition, children have to wait a short period of time for the results. The top-performing 40% of the participating students will be awarded Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates for their efforts. This is a great way of recognising the hard work children have put in.
Also, there are Olympiads and Kangaroo competitions, which are follow-on rounds. A number of top-scoring participants will be invited to attend these rounds.
Intermediate Maths Challenge: The Olympiads
Over a thousand students are invited to participate in the Cayley, Hamilton and Maclaurin Olympiad as a result of their excellent performance in the challenge.
The Olympiad lasts for 2 hours and usually features trickier questions, which young learners solve by providing their written solutions as well. It’s held around a month after the challenge.
Depending on the school year they’re currently in, the top-performing students will attend one of the three:
- Cayley Olympiad: students in year 9 or below (England and Wales), S2 or below (Scotland), year 10 or below (Northern Ireland)
- Hamilton Olympiad: students in year 10 (England and Wales), S3 (Scotland), year 11 (Northern Ireland)
- Maclaurin Olympiad: students in year 11 (England and Wales), S4 (Scotland), year 12 (Northern Ireland)
Intermediate Maths Challenge: The Kangaroos
Several thousand pupils are invited to the Grey and Pink Kangaroos, which are also a follow-on rounds to the Intermediate Mathematical Challenge.
As opposed to the Olympiads, the Kangaroo paper lasts for 60 minutes and includes multiple-choice questions. Students will attend one of the two depending on their year group:
- Grey Kangaroo: pupils in year 9 or below (England and Wales), S2 or below (Scotland), year 10 or below (Northern Ireland)
- Pink Kangaroo: years 10-11 (England and Wales), S3-S4 (Scotland), years 11-12 (Northern Ireland)
All participants receive a certificate, which recognises their achievements. After all, it’s not easy to reach this round!
How can I prepare my pupils/children for the challenge?
The best way to prepare children for the IMC is practice, practice and practice! The questions which are given at the competition are accessible, but consistent practice is needed to develop children’s confidence with maths.
You can use some of the past challenge papers to help pupils get used to the format of the competition. This is also a great way for them to check their current level of knowledge and see where they need to improve.
Using mastery resources is also a good idea, as they develop children’s fluency, reasoning and problem-solving. And pupils will be tested on these skills at the challenge.
The more practice students get, the more they’ll develop their maths skills and analytical thinking which will lead to advancing in education.