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Original poster

Year 7 / 8 maths challenge

64 replies

Tulipvase · 25/04/2024 20:32

Hi

My son year 8 has apparently been taking part in a maths challenge. He knows that last week all the top sets did a maths test and then this week, some of those ( including him) did another test today. They were then told not to discuss it online until Saturday morning……

Him being him has just gone along with this but doesn’t actually know what it is for… He was off earlier this week so it could have been discussed. This was done in a non maths lesson, about 30 children in the hall.

Can anyone shed any light on it?

OP posts:
NotQuiteHere · 29/04/2024 15:39

Rehab4rightmove · 25/04/2024 23:14

My ds said that a typical question was similar to 'if ab+10 = 90c, what colour socks does Dave wear on Tuesdays's?'

Really made me laugh. He said he had to guess a lo of it, but finished (probably because he guessed a lot of it).

Now the questions are available, you can see if he was right.
https://ukmt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/JMC-2024-Question-Paper-4.pdf

https://ukmt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/JMC-2024-Question-Paper-4.pdf

WarningOfGails · 29/04/2024 11:37

Tiredalwaystired · 25/04/2024 22:57

My daughter did it. Her main take was that the word ferret was overused in one question…

Hah my DD was telling me about the ferret question!

Summerma · 28/04/2024 14:25

Rehab4rightmove · 25/04/2024 23:14

My ds said that a typical question was similar to 'if ab+10 = 90c, what colour socks does Dave wear on Tuesdays's?'

Really made me laugh. He said he had to guess a lo of it, but finished (probably because he guessed a lot of it).

This post has had me in stitches! This is EXACTLY what I feel when I read any of the past Qs my son enjoys doing on Dr Frost (he doesn’t get it from me). He’s year 6 and used the solutions to mark his work (memorised his answers) and thinks he got 90. Does anyone know how long the boundaries take to come out? Assume a few weeks? He’s keen to know if he made it through to the Kangaroo.

BuddingPeonies · 27/04/2024 15:28

School will let you know - or if you have a child like mine, he brings home the paper, marked up with his answers, and asks Mum to spend Thursday night working out what he got correct 🫣
Thankfully, my maths agreed with the mark scheme (with a bit of help from my 15 year old on the geometry questions!). So we are pretty sure of his mark, and just need to await the boundaries - hopefully next month. But the official result will come from school with the certificates for those who get them.

Lisaquin01 · 27/04/2024 15:02

do the results get posted online or do we have to wait for the school to let us know....

RecruitmentGuru · 27/04/2024 14:08

We do have some incredibly talented Mathematicians so it’ll be interesting to see.

RecruitmentGuru · 27/04/2024 14:07

I’m really confused by this as our school really hasn’t made a big deal about it and Year 7 and 8 did it I believe. We had no notice.

Pinkback · 27/04/2024 13:03

BuddingPeonies · 27/04/2024 11:15

Interesting, @Pinkback feeling here is it started easier, but then got hard quite quickly.

That said, we think DS got 113. So awaiting boundaries for the next rounds. I don't think they usually come out til the results are released in a number of weeks.

Well done to your DS 113 might get a chance to Olympiad round

BuddingPeonies · 27/04/2024 11:15

Interesting, @Pinkback feeling here is it started easier, but then got hard quite quickly.

That said, we think DS got 113. So awaiting boundaries for the next rounds. I don't think they usually come out til the results are released in a number of weeks.

Pinkback · 27/04/2024 11:03

Does anyone know about this year JMO grade boundaries compared to previous year? DC mentioned that this year's question was simpler than the previous one.

BuddingPeonies · 27/04/2024 10:33

For those of you who haven't yet seen a paper brought homeby their child, the paper, plus solutions, are now online:
https://ukmt.org.uk/competition-papers/jsf/jet-engine:free-past-papers/tax/challenge-type:67/#free-past-paper-anchor

SamPoodle123 · 27/04/2024 08:15

Funny about the ferrets. My dd started talking about the ferret question last night 😂

lastfiresocks · 26/04/2024 23:50

Yep we heard about the ferrets too.

RecruitmentGuru · 26/04/2024 19:35

My DS’s entire year group did it.

Didiplanthis · 26/04/2024 19:33

My twins did it. One was really cross he had to do more maths, the other was really pleased he got to do more maths. Both said it was weird. I must ask them about ferrets !

Nowfeeltheneedtopost · 26/04/2024 19:23

SamPoodle123 · 26/04/2024 07:28

My dd said the whole year did it. But she goes to private so perhaps that is why. I would rather the school tell us they are doing this stuff and explain what it is exactly. Especially if some people are preparing beforehand. Ah well, it is done with.

Show quote history

It’s not that your DD goes to private but rather that she goes to a London selective private school which effectively only takes students who would be in “top sets” in comprehensive schools. Her school excludes those students who would get 5s and 6s in maths from entering the school in the first place. Top sets in state schools (as my DD was) get 9s at maths GCSE and do extremely well at UKMT.

CouldNotStayAway · 26/04/2024 17:52

Tiredalwaystired · 25/04/2024 22:57

My daughter did it. Her main take was that the word ferret was overused in one question…

DS took part in the maths challenge, and said the same about the word ferrets 😂

takemeawayagain · 26/04/2024 08:16

Yes mine did this, every year I think. I think he got a certificate to say he got silver award most years. He stopped doing it once he got a choice though, despite doing A-level maths.

BuddingPeonies · 26/04/2024 08:10

KitKatKathy · 26/04/2024 07:31

My DD seemed to think results would be available online from midnight tonight (which seems to tally with not discussing it online until Saturday). Does anyone know if this is correct?

The answers are usually online fairly quickly after the deadline, and possibly the boundaries. But the results take a little longer, i think. It also depends on how quickly school print any certificates!

SamPoodle123 · 26/04/2024 07:34

Junior Mathematical Challenge - UKMT

SamPoodle123 · 26/04/2024 07:33

KitKatKathy · 26/04/2024 07:31

My DD seemed to think results would be available online from midnight tonight (which seems to tally with not discussing it online until Saturday). Does anyone know if this is correct?

Yes, someone posted a link on another thread that confirms this.

KitKatKathy · 26/04/2024 07:31

My DD seemed to think results would be available online from midnight tonight (which seems to tally with not discussing it online until Saturday). Does anyone know if this is correct?

SamPoodle123 · 26/04/2024 07:28

Tulipvase · 26/04/2024 06:54

My son was told it was just the top sets doing the test last week and then some were selected to do a test yesterday.

He did also do a maths test last week that he said was more like the usual termly tests they do to check knowledge/understanding.

If they have to pay for entries, a whole year group could be expensive I guess.

Show quote history

My dd said the whole year did it. But she goes to private so perhaps that is why. I would rather the school tell us they are doing this stuff and explain what it is exactly. Especially if some people are preparing beforehand. Ah well, it is done with.

Original poster
Tulipvase · 26/04/2024 06:54

SamPoodle123 · 25/04/2024 23:09

I thought this was something everyone did in the school year? My dd (year 7) mentioned she did the math challenge today. Is it only for some in the year? What is it for exactly? I thought perhaps they might use it for setting for math in year 8 since we are told they are not set in year 7 (not sure if this is true, as apparently different classes have different levels of work).

My son was told it was just the top sets doing the test last week and then some were selected to do a test yesterday.

He did also do a maths test last week that he said was more like the usual termly tests they do to check knowledge/understanding.

If they have to pay for entries, a whole year group could be expensive I guess.

OP posts:
TeenScreenQueen · 25/04/2024 23:30

Tiredalwaystired · 25/04/2024 22:57

My daughter did it. Her main take was that the word ferret was overused in one question…

I was told this same thing!

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