Junior Maths Olympiad

[PenguinsRabbits]

DD just sat this and has asked me to ask if anyone else's child sat it and how they found it or anyone know how they mark.

DD thinks she got 10/10 on A and on B thinks she had 2/6 correct answers with full method on all. One of others she said method was all correct then she wrote down wrong answer. She's not had any help with method though so not sure how good will be compared to their marking system.

Thanks!

Eton is 12 and 3 not 11 and 1

www.etoncollege.com/newsarticle/round-two-of-british-mathematical-olympiad-proves-biggest-challenge-yet

DS2 did quite well in the Senior Maths Challenge last year (Y12) but missed qualifying for the BMO1 by 2 points. His state school offered to enter him for the BMO1 anyway (and fund it) but he was happy to just do the kangaroo instead.

He tends to do quite well in the initial round; he qualified for the IMO in Y11 but then in the Olympiad only managed to fully solve one question. I think he has found his natural limit.

the nice thing with the Olympiad is it looks for a feel for maths rather than just learnt technique, which is why some parents/pupils are cheerily surprised by how well they do

Given the small numbers that get through does the Olympiad assist with Oxbridge applications? Would it be similar to MAT?

The JMO shows your DC is in the top c.0.33% of those who entered and Oxbridge take about the top 1% so I think it would assist. You would obviously need the GCSE and A level grades and enthusiasm too but think it would help. I went to Cambridge and interview included things like that though main focus was ability to think in your subject. DD wants to go to Cambridge but obviously need to get grades first.

The admissions departments have to be careful not to favour those who have done UKMT challenges, because there will be applicants who were not able to access this opportunity.

Having said that, applicants do need to show evidence in their personal statement of demonstrating an interest in the subject beyond their A-level classes, and having done well in the BMO1 in Y12 would be a good example. Hopefully the applicant would have enough recent and relevant things to include that they wouldn't need to resort to writing about an IMO back in Y11.

I'm not sure how relevant UKMT experience is for MAT (Oxford) and STEP (Cambridge), but problem-solving practice is never wasted, especially as interviews often centre around working through a challenging problem.

I think BMO1 is slightly harder than STEP and BMO2 is significantly harder. However, they test completely different things and require different skill sets. The kids who do well in BMO tend to apply to Oxbridge and likely to do well in MAT and/or STEP but it is not always the other way round. The ability to solve complex problems will be useful no matter what they do though.