What is UKIMO?
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The UKMT (the host) runs a series of mathematics challenges to encourage child's interest in mathematics and develop their skills in schools. The three main challenges are:
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🔗 Junior Mathematical Challenge (NZ year 8 and below)
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🔗 Intermediate Mathematical Challenge (NZ year 11 and below)
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Senior Mathematical Challenge
The top-scoring 50% of participants will get Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates in the ratio of 3:2:1, and UKIMO is the follow-on round to UKIMC.
How does the competition work?
UKIMO is sat by the top 500 scorers from each school year (year 9, year 10 and year 11) in the Intermediate Maths Challenge and consists of three papers. 'Cayley', 'Hamilton' and 'Maclaurin' are named after famous mathematicians.
The paper the student will undertake depends on the year group that the student is in NZ Year 9-11.
- Cayley: NZ Year 9 and below
- Hamilton: NZ Year 10
- Maclaurin: NZ Year 11
Eligible year groups: Year 9-11
Exam Format: Remote Paper-based (needs scanning)
Exam duration: 2 hours
Calculators are NOT permitted.
PGA reserves the right to interpret all competition and course arrangements.
Competition format
Each paper contains six questions. Each question is worth 10 marks, and the total mark is 60.
Each solution is marked out of 10 on a 0+ and 10- scale; that is to say, if an answer is judged incomplete or unfinished, it is awarded a few marks for progress and relevant observations, whereas if it is presented as complete and correct, marks are deducted for faults, poor reasoning, or unproven assumptions.
Scoring and Awards
Scoring rules for the Cayley, Hamilton & Maclaurin Maths Olympiads are as follows:
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6 questions in total, each question is worth 10 points, full marks 60 points.
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Answers can be awarded partial marks depending on the clarity of the participants Mathematical presentation
Each qualifying student receives a Certificate of Qualification or Participation depending on their entry route.
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Certificates of Distinction and Merit: the highest-scoring participants
Gold Medal: Top 20 scorers,
Silver Medal: The next 30 scorers,
Bronze Medal: The next 50 scorers.
All medalists will also be awarded a book prize; the title varies from year to year.​
The Previous Cayley (Year 9 and below) Thresholds:
The Previous Hamilton (Year 10) Thresholds:
The Previous Maclaurin (Year 11) Thresholds:
