Senior Maths Challenge (UKMT)

[SSOYS]

Just wondered if anyone had much experience of this and, in particular, the year groups who usually sit it. DS is in Y11 and is doing Kangaroo- is this normal from SMC or would Y11 usually do IMC?

Year 11s (England/Scotland) are the oldest year group allowed to do the IMC, but I don't think it's too unusual for them to have a go at the SMC as well. It doesn't use any A-level maths. Most of DD's year 11 maths group did the SMC, and three are through to the Kangaroo. A few of them did it last year, too.
(Back when I was at school, there was only one challenge for the whole secondary age group, so I did the "NMC" every year from second year.)

Why do the rounds have such weird names? Kangaroo?

Well done to your DS, he has done well to get to the kangaroo (top 10%). My DS had to ask last year (yr10) to be entered for the SMC (and initially they said no but then told him on the day he could do it - he got gold and kangaroo!) This year there were I think 3 year 11s who did it at his school and two are through to the kangaroo. He will be hoping to get through to the Maclaurin (year 11) Olympiad next year from the IMC (which is early Feb I think).

Thank you, everyone!

Congrats to your DS SSOYS Its largely sat by A level students but my DD and DS have sat it since y9, my DD sat it this year in y11 but its only a handful of students there who sit it pre y12. She also got gold and kangaroo (105) which was top in the school but she was miffed not to be through to Olympiad (108) and she got this result in y9 too.

Not totally sure why its called Kangaroo, I think it has connections to Australia and its used in maths competitions around the world.