Photo – Year 9 – Lizzie and Mahdiyah. Year 10 - Moksha, Ruvarashe, Rosie and Danae

By Miss Lau (Mathematics Teacher)

On Wednesday 1st February, our budding Years 9 and Year 10 mathematicians participated in the UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Challenge in the Main Assembly Hall.

The Mathematical Challenge is a 1 hour, 25 question multiple choice paper and aims to stimulate mathematical problem solving. It encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems. The questions on the paper are designed to challenge students to think, not to guess. No calculators allowed!  

An example of a question on this year’s paper is: 

To draw a 3 by 3 square grid you need 8 straight lines, as shown.

How many straight lines do you need to draw a 𝑛 by 𝑛 square grid?

The students had a chance to get a bronze, silver or gold certificate (in the ratio 3:2:1) if they were in the top 50% of the UK from all those students taking the challenge. Twelve students in Year 9 achieved a bronze certificate and three achieved silver certificates - Elsie Butler, Mahdiyah Meghji, and Lizzie Small (also awarded Best in Year). 

In Year 10, twelve girls achieved bronze certificate, thirteen achieved silver certificate, and two achieved gold certificate - Mitali Misra and Moksha Lakshmi Sunkara (also awarded Best in Year and has qualified for the next round, Pink Kangaroo).

A huge congratulations to all those students that entered this challenge.