what is the national maths challenge?

[ClickNegg]

ds seems to be in a team

If he's in year 8 or 9 it could be the UKMT Team Challenge. Or if in sixth form their senior team challenge.

All of my daughter's year 7 are signed up for it through school, but she's very vague about what it is (and not keen either)

That sounds more like the individual junior maths challenge (also run by UKMT) londonartemis, which is on 29th April - everyone in years 7 & 8 can enter that, though some schools just enter the top maths set(s).

The team challenge only involves 4 students from each school - usually two year 9s and 2 year 8s, but younger children can be on the team if they're exceptionally good.

yes year 7

Junior maths challenge then by the sound of it.

It's multiple choice about 25 questions - more maths puzzles really. The last 10 are harder and you can lose marks for getting them wrong, so not advisable to guess. You can still usually get a gold award by doing well on the first 15. Fun if you like maths I guess!

You can see an example paper at UKMT website

DD did this last year and was really pleased to get a bronze certificate. I think she quite enjoyed it, it is a different style of maths from what they do in class.

God how I foam at the mouth at talk of 'challenges'.

Roll on a decent government who bins all this crap.

its a test though
so it is in this case relevant

Why foamest thou, Moondog?

DD also did this last year and got a bronze - loved doing the test, cos they did it like a GCSE all in rows. She was in Year 7

Redolent of crappy tv and magazines

'style challenge'
'makeover challenge'
'5 a day challenge'
'ridiculous youghurt challenge'

A year or two ago there was some ludicrous 'read a million words challenge'.
My kid came home with some ridiculous form on which to add up words read. I added 30 000 or so from MSc course books.
Like I had the time or inclination to count every word she had read.
Focus always on the trimmings and marketing, never the core process.

Heap o' shite.

not crap in this case. Lots of children enjoy doing them & anything that gets children enthused about maths is a good thing imo.

The maths challenge is no picnic though. It really does challenge even the brightest children, because it makes them think. So in this sense I think the word is being used appropriately. I agree that it is an overused and often inaccurate descriptor though.

An impressive piece of boasting by stealth OP.
Aren't you a teacher - couldn't you ask at school?

I don't agree Moondog. Your million words does sound stupid, this is not like that, this is just extending and challenging children who enjoy maths.

The core process of maths teaching is not affected, this is extra to that. Things like this can really motivate and enthuse children who enjoy maths. Heap o' shite it is not!

lol at boasting.
If i wanted to boast I would tell people who know me.
He is a clever boy. Loads of Mers have clever boys.

Some of us have clever girls too

definitely

ClickNegg - UKMT run a team competition too. There are more details here

CN if it's the team event he's doing, they are fun too, arguably more fun in fact. About 4 rounds with different styles of questions (some involve running about). Some rounds favour teams with one brilliant member & others favour teams with 4 good members iyswim. Goodies (T-shirts etc.) and a place at the national finals for the winners.

I did the maths challenge at school too. It was really good, and much more interesting than the usual maths lessons.

god i must have missed all this stuff
i have never heard of it. dont think they do it where i work.
dont think its a team thing yet - he just lumbered back from school saying it was good.

It's a team thing if you get to a high enough level, I think.

I did it and loved it - I got silver, but also a C in the actual AS exam . Ah well ...