There are four main maths competitions for primary children in the UK: the First Maths Challenge for Years 3 and 4, the Primary Maths Challenge and the Primary Kangaroo for Years 5 and 6, and the Junior Mathematical Challenge for keen Year 6s. All of them are entered through school, and all reward clear thinking over hard sums.
They’re a lovely way for a child who likes maths to meet puzzles that school doesn’t set, and there are certificates to aim for.
The First Maths Challenge (Years 3 and 4)
Run by the Mathematical Association for children aged 7 to 9. It usually takes place over two weeks in June, at a time the school chooses.
The paper is 45 minutes of multiple-choice questions, with a few practice questions first. Schools can run it on screen or print it. The questions are short and friendly, on numbers, shapes and patterns, and some come with pictures.
Certificates come with the papers, and the school decides who gets which. Only schools can order it, so ask yours if it doesn’t take part. Check this year’s dates on the Mathematical Association’s challenges site.
The Primary Maths Challenge (Years 5 and 6)
The First Maths Challenge’s older sister, for ages 9 to 11. It usually runs over two weeks in November.
There are 25 questions in 45 minutes. The first 20 are multiple choice and the last five need a written answer. They start easy and get harder, so every child can get going, and the last few stretch the strongest.
Each pack of ten papers comes with gold, silver and bronze certificates for the school to award. High scorers are invited to a Bonus Round in February, which is free.
Entry is through school, and this year’s dates are on the same site.
The Primary Kangaroo (Years 5 and 6)
Run by the UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) for Year 6 and below, and part of an international family of Kangaroo competitions. It usually runs in March, over about a week.
It’s 20 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, on paper, with no calculator. The questions get harder towards the end, and children aren’t expected to finish.
Every child gets a certificate, with extra awards for the best in each class and year. It’s open to UK schools only.
The Junior Mathematical Challenge (Year 6 and below)
UKMT’s main junior paper. It’s for Year 8 and below, so many of the children sitting it are older, but a confident Year 6 can have a go. It usually runs in late April or early May.
It’s 25 multiple-choice questions in an hour, with no calculator. Questions 16 to 25 are worth more, wrong answers lose nothing, and nobody is expected to finish.
The top half of all entrants get bronze, silver or gold certificates, and the very top scorers are invited to the Junior Kangaroo or the Junior Mathematical Olympiad. A Year 6 who gets a certificate here has done something special.
Any school registered with UKMT can enter pupils, so ask yours. Check this year’s dates on the UKMT site.
Why bother?
Competition questions ask children to reason. Most use maths they already know in a new way, which is the same problem-solving that 11+ maths and SATs reasoning papers reward.
They’re fun, too, and a certificate from a national competition is a real confidence boost.
How can my child practise?
Past papers. Both organisers put recent past papers on their sites for free. Do the first one together, untimed, talking through each question. Mark it, then the next day try the missed ones again before looking at the answers.
A worked example. Here’s the kind of thinking these papers love. I think of a number, double it and add 5. The answer is 29. What was my number?
- Work backwards. The last thing that happened was “add 5”, so take it away: 29 − 5 = 24.
- Undo the next step. Before that it was doubled, so halve it: 24 ÷ 2 = 12.
- Check. 12 doubled is 24, and 24 add 5 is 29. It works.
Working backwards, drawing a picture, trying a smaller case and checking each answer option are four tricks that crack a lot of competition questions. Teach one a week.
Puzzle books. The UKMT sells books of past problems, and NRICH, from the University of Cambridge, has free puzzles sorted by age group.
Quick number facts. Competition questions are timed, and a child who knows their times tables and number bonds instantly has more time to think. Our free times tables test sheets are a good two-minute check tonight, and Rush’s maths games practise the same facts 100 seconds at a time.
Questions parents also ask
Can I enter my child myself?
No. All four are entered through schools. Home-educated children can take part through the Mathematical Association’s home-education coordinator, or for UKMT papers through a registered school that agrees to host them.
Is my child good enough to enter?
If they enjoy maths, yes. The papers start easy, nobody is expected to finish the harder ones, and taking part is the point.
Do calculators help?
They aren’t allowed in the UKMT papers, and the questions are written to be solved with thinking and rough paper. Practising without one is the best preparation.
