Senior Maths Challenge 2017

Year 12 & 13 pupils achieved 3 Golds, 7 Silvers and 8 Bronzes in this year’s UKMT Senior Maths Challenge.

Approximately 100,000 students from across the UK sat the Challenge, with roughly the top 10% receiving a Gold certificate, the next 20% Silver and the next 30% Bronze.

The percentages for BRGS were 12% Gold, 27% Silver and 31% Bronze.

Around 1,000 top scorers in the Senior Challenge are invited to take part in the British Mathematical Olympiad Round 1 and around 2,000 are invited to take part in the Senior Kangaroo.

We are delighted that Louis and Jack (both Year 13) and Mark (Year 12) will take the Senior Kangaroo. Louis also qualified for this paper last year when he was in Year 12.

Particular congratulations go to Jack, who has made the biggest improvement compared to the results from 12 months ago when he received a Silver certificate.

Maths teacher Mr Wilbraham, who organises the Challenge, said: “The students have achieved some really good results this year and we are pleased with the level of performance.

“The Challenge tests mathematical thinking and application, rather recalling methods and processes, so the questions can be more abstract and difficult than those on A Level examinations. The level of thinking required is also suitable for many degree subjects and the students should include their success on this Challenge when they are applying for Higher Education.  The students are required to think about their answers rather than just guess, as they lose marks for incorrect answers to discourage guessing.  Our results show how mathematically able BRGS students are, as almost 70% received a certificate compared to 60% nationally.”

Two sample questions from this year’s Senior Maths Challenge are:

One of the following numbers is prime. Which is it?

A: 2017 – 2      B: 2017 - 1       C: 2017            D: 2017 + 1      E: 2017 + 2

 

The teenagers Sam and Jo noticed the following facts about their ages:

The difference between the squares of their ages is four times the sum of their ages.

The sum of their ages is eight times the difference between their ages.

What is the age of the older of the two?

A: 15                B: 16                C: 17                D: 18                E: 19