Junior Maths Challenge

Seven Year 8 pupils recently proved themselves to be among the best young mathematicians in the United Kingdom.

After achieving Gold certificates on the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge at the end of April and being placed in the top 3% of the 300,000 pupils who sat that challenge nationwide, Afraz, Benji, Dylan, Finlay, Gabriel, Holly and Muddasser were invited to the follow-on round, called the Junior Kangaroo.

Benji and Holly produced excellent performances on that paper and were awarded Certificates of Merit, while the other five pupils were awarded Certificates of Qualification.

The Kangaroo is a multiple-choice paper of 25 questions testing various aspects of mathematics for pupils in Year 8 and below.

The UKMT award certificates to the top 25% of all entrants, meaning Benji and Holly were in an exclusive number of pupils who achieved both Gold and Merit certificates, so very well done to them.

One of their questions was:

There are 30 pupils in my class. 20 pupils like Maths and 18 pupils like English. Twice as many pupils like both subjects as like neither of them. How many pupils like only Maths?

A.   20             B.  16              C.  12              D.  8                E.  4

The initial Junior Challenge was taken by 90 Year 8 pupils and they achieved excellent results overall.

Over 270,000 pupils in Year 8 or below from across the UK sat the Challenge, with roughly the top 7% receiving a Gold certificate, 13% Silver and 21% Bronze.

The percentages for BRGS were 14% Gold, 42% Silver and 22% Bronze

Maths teacher Mr Wilbraham, who organises the Challenge, said: “This is only the fourth time we have entered Year 8 for the UKMT Junior Challenge and seven pupils qualifying for the Kangaroo is our best level of performance.

“All 90 pupils who sat the original Challenge should be congratulated for their results, as the questions do test some rather abstract concepts and require thinking beyond what they would normally do in the classroom.

“As time goes on, the pupils will be expected to answer more problem-solving questions in their school Maths lessons and the UKMT Junior Challenge is an excellent precursor to what they will meet at GCSE level.”

A further question from the Junior Challenge was:

What is 50% of 18.3 plus 18.3% of 50?

A.   9.15          B.  18.3           C.  27.15         D.  59.15         E.  68.3

Pictured with their certificates are Dylan, Gabriel, Holly, Afraz and Finlay.