Mr Jeffryes (Mathematics Teacher)

On Monday 1st February, 44 Year 9 and 48 Year 10 participated in the UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Challenge (IMC). The 25-question multiple-choice Mathematical Challenge aims to stimulate mathematical problem solving.  It encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems and this year, it was online, of course! The questions on the paper are designed to challenge students to think, not to guess and no calculators are allowed.

BGS once again produced fantastic results in the recent online IMC, which is run by the UK Mathematics Trust and supported by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. Over 200,000 pupils across the UK sat the Intermediate Challenge with the top 7% receiving a gold, 13% receiving a silver and 20% bronze. In Year 9, two pupils received silver and nine bronze. In Year 10, Gaby Woodroffe-Gomez received a silver certificate, with a further eleven students receiving bronze.

Approximately, 8500 of the top students (less than 5%) are invited to a follow-on competition, the Intermediate Olympiad or Kangaroo.  Eva Ng and Sarah Pepper (both Year 9) qualified for the Kangaroo, a fine achievement), and they will take on this challenge on Friday 19th March.

We leave you with a sample of a question on this year’s paper is:

The day before the day before yesterday was two days after the day before my birthday. Today is Thursday. On what day was my birthday?

 A Sunday   B Monday  C Tuesday  D Wednesday  E Thursday