University of Southampton Mathematics Challenge

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The Maths Challenge 2024 is now closed. The next Maths Challenge will launch in Jan 2025. Keep an eye out for this page!

If you would like to be notified of announcements about the Maths Challenge or other outreach events at the University of Southampton, please provide your email here .

Who is this for?

The Junior and Senior Challenges consist of a selection of interesting mathematical questions for pupils to attempt at home. The Junior Challenge is aimed at students up to Year 8 and the Senior Challenge is aimed at students up to Year 10. In previous years we have even had some entries from year 5 and 6 pupils - very impressive!

Benefits of joining

• Opportunity for students to think outside the box and explore mathematics beyond the constraints of the standard curriculum.
• Opportunity for teachers to stimulate discussions in class and outside of classes about mathematics.
• Opportunity for schools and teachers to connect with the School of Mathematical Sciences and our range of outreach programmes.
• The most successful students will be recognised and invited to an award ceremony at the end of the year.

How do I join?

It is completely free to join. We accept entries from schools anywhere in the UK and from British Schools Overseas. We encourage teachers to organize their students’ entries. Simply download the materials below for your appropriate year groups and distribute them to your students.

How do I submit?

The deadline for submissions has now passed.

Challenge materials downloads

The Junior Challenge is aimed at students up to Year 8.
The Senior Challenge is aimed at students up to Year 10.
There are no lower limits to joining either of the challenges.

Prizes and award ceremony

The most successful students will be invited, with their parents and teachers, to attend an evening of mathematical recreation at the University of Southampton on 5 June 2024, at which prizes and certificates will be awarded.

Past years' materials and winners

2024
Junior Challenge 2024 with solutions
Senior Challenge 2024 with solutions

2023
Junior Challenge 2023 with solutions
Senior Challenge 2023 with solutions
Winners of Challenge 2023
Award Ceremony 2023

2022
Junior Challenge 2022 with solutions
Senior Challenge 2022 with solutions
Winners of Challenge 2022
Award Ceremony 2022

2021
Junior Challenge 2021 with solutions
Senior Challenge 2021 with solutions
Winners of Junior Challenge 2021
Winners of Senior Challenge 2021

2020
Junior Challenge 2020 with solutions
Senior Challenge 2020 with solutions
Winners of Junior Challenge 2020
Winners of Senior Challenge 2020

Contact us

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our email:

Mathematics Outreach Team
math4all@soton.ac.uk

Itamar Yaakov
Director of Outreach

Arman Darbinyan
Outreach and Schools Liaison

Sunny Yu
Outreach and Schools Liaison