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Anxious wait for mathematicians

About 60 young mathematicians are waiting to hear how they did in a national competition.

About 60 young mathematicians are waiting to hear how they did in a national competition.

The students from Years 7 and 8 sat a one-hour paper in the first round of the UK Junior Mathematical Challenge earlier this month.

They hope to hear within the next few days if they have made it through to the Junior Mathematical Olympiad where they would face the best mathematics students from across England and Wales.

Our Assistant Director of Mathematics, Maxwell Sam, said: “All the students put in a lot of hard work before the test.

“There has been a lot of positive competition between the two year groups with the Year 7 students saying they want to beat their Year 8 counterparts.”

The questions on the test involved numberwork, breaking codes, critical thinking and analysing things from different perspectives.

There were 25 questions on the test and students were deducted marks if they answered any of the last nine questions incorrectly.

Mr Sam added: “Our Academy is making a name for itself in mathematics circles.

“When you meet students from other schools they know what is going on here and they are nervous about taking on our students.

“Our students are working very hard and we have dedicated teachers.”

The Junior Mathematical Olympiad will be held on Thursday 12th June.

The challenge is organized by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust from the School of Mathematics at the University of Leeds.

(Picture by Robert Smith)