Junior Maths challenge

[Ohyoubadbadkitten]

Just wondering if anyone else's dc is doing it tomorrow? Dd is looking forward to it. She's a bit nervous though as people expect her to do well, so I've told her its no one else's business how she does.
Any tips from anyone who has done it before? How long do the results take?

Wow, it's still going! I did that at secondary school. It was hard.

Thanks gelatinous. I wonder if Y7 and Y8 at DC'a school do it then - must pay more attention to newsletters. I know DS is keen to try for a gold in the primary one next year.

That's not much time gelatinous, thanks for the heads up.

Results out today. Ds2 has got through to the JMO, so is extremely pleased with himself.

How did everyone else get on?

That's brilliant rosin :) well done to him. no results for dd yet sadly.

Excellent news, well done to him . Is he year 7 or 8? Have you had a chance to look at any of the questions yet?

My DD has done this every year since Y7 (now in Y10 ) and has got a Bronze Award every year we have never seen a paper yet - can't understand what on earth all the fuss is about ? Surely Maths GCSE is more important

GCSE maths is a little dull for very able mathematicians busymummy. For a lot of the dc that do very well at this it's pretty much the only time they don't get 100% (or very close) in maths tests/exams and they love the more challenging nature of the problems. The challenges are good at identifying and developing (through the follow on rounds, mentoring schemes and summer schools) the countries best mathematicians in a way that GCSEs don't even begin to.

Thanks gelatinous: he's in yr8 - his school only enter them in yr8, so it's the first time he's done it.

He wants to look at a JMO paper later today, but we have a very busy day, so not sure if we can fit it in!

as gelatinous says busymummy. gcse maths is not going to be a challenge or interesting for the kids who do well on this. They need chance to stretch their brains. Good athletes or sporty kids often have a lot of opportunities to be challenged and compete against other kids. Those who are gifted in writing can enter poetry and writing comps. Good mathematicians also need similar opportunities.

roisin, I could find one paper online, but if you order past papers, they email them to you within two working days. (or so it says on the webpage)

My DS (year 8) got 99. Have no idea what this means! It was the best in his year [proud]

Well done to him that sounds like a gold certificate which is a fabulous achievement, especially being best in his year.

Still no idea how dd did. She hasnt got maths til the end of the week now.

Well done bonkers's ds - gold certificate is a great achievement.
This year's thresholds are on the website now, as Ohyoubadbadkitten says, 99 is a gold certificate.
UKMT website

How is the JMO practice going roisin? Ds was lucky enough to have a go in both yr 7 and 8, but the first time he didn't do very well, he didn't get much notice either time as I recall, but knowing what you are in for helps a bit.

99 sounds a very respectable score bonkers well done to him.

We both (eek!) had a go at the 2011 paper at the weekend gelatinous, and it was easier than we expected. But I think he needs some advice and guidance on writing "full mathematical solutions"; so I've dropped an email off to his Maths Dept to see if they're planning to offer him a bit of support.

That sounds promising roisin, I hope they can do something. Writing out full solutions is exactly what they don't usually have to do at school imo.

Thanks for the link. Have had a good read about it.
Well done to your son roisin!

Another proud parent alert!

DS received his results yesterday, I don't know his mark but he achieved gold standard and was 4th highest in the school, he's Year 7. Really pleased for him as I know quite a lot did the paper, he's a quiet boy so a good confidence boost for him.

No mention of a further round though so not sure about that!

Roisin What about the nrich website? They do articles about mathematical thinking etc. I don't know if they'll have something along the lines you're looking for, but perhaps worth a look.

That's ace doublemocha :)

Dont know dds score as her teacher wouldnt tell them their results as they had their maths assessments results today but another teacher told their class that dd (year 7) got best in school. Funny way to learn about it. dd is desperate for her result!

:-o Oh no! I can't believe your dd still doesn't know how she's done! Berlimey.

How could he know and not tell them? I reckon that is cruel!

It's not fair at all that other people are told news that she's not.
ds2 was in class with the teacher last Friday when the email came through, so they were told immediately.

But the teacher wouldn't tell them other students' results. ds2 just knew there was one other through to the JMO and 3 gold certificates.

So since then he's been trying to find out who the others are!

He still hasn't found out whether he's got the highest mark in the school or not.

Still no results!!! Head of g&t bumped into dd, asked her if she'd had her results. She said no and he refused to tell her! Aaa argh, I have no idea why it's is such a bloody secret!