Alex Triumphs Again in Maths Olympiad

Huge congratulations to Alex (J5) who performed incredibly well on the Year 9 Cayley Olympiad competition earlier this term. This competition is the follow-on round for the UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Challenge. These competitions are based around enjoyment and enrichment activities aimed to open young people's minds to the breadth and depth of mathematics. Around 1,800 students from across the country and globe compete in these challenges having qualified from the IMC.

Olympiads are two-hour long papers consisting of six challenging problems. Full written solutions, including mathematical reasons as to why a method is correct, are expected and simply stating a correct answer will earn very few marks. Each question is worth 10 points and partial marks can be awarded depending on the clarity of the answer presented.

Alex received not only a Distinction certificate (awarded for a score over 25) but was also awarded a gold medal, book prize and a special certificate for ranking 1^st in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region. Gold medals are only awarded to the top 20 entrants, so this is a huge achievement. Alex achieved all of this with an outstanding total of 54 points out of a maximum of 60!

A massive well done to Alex, and we look forward to seeing how he performs in this year's Junior Mathematical Challenge which takes place this term.  

Head of Mathematics at St Peter’s 13-18, David Spencer says “this Olympiad paper is normally taken by the best year 9 mathematicians around the country, this is quite exceptional.”

Quote from UKMT letter to Alex 'This is an exceptional achievement for both you and your school and we are pleased that your problem-solving ability, hard work and dedication have been recognised in this way. We hope that your impressive personal performance will encourage you and your classmates to continue to participate in UKMT competitions, and we hope that this will help you all to become stronger young mathematicians.'