Senior Mathematical Challenge Awards
Scoring
Scoring rules for the Senior Mathematical Challenge are as follows:
- A total of 125 marks can be achieved in the SMC
- All participants start with 25 points
- 4 marks are awarded for each correct answer
- 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer
- Answers left blank will be marked as 0
New for 2026!
This year we are trialling a change for the last three questions of the SMC. Instead of the last three questions being multiple choice, they will be in 000-999 format, where students will have to choose three digit answers.
Example answer sheets will be available soon so you can help your students prepare.
Awards and Thresholds
To recognize the highest performers in the Challenge, we award the top-scoring 66% of participants Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates in the ratio 3:2:1. Students that are ‘Best in Year’ or ‘Best in School’ will also receive a badge to denote this on their certificates. Students not amongst the high scorers will receive a Certificate of Participation.
The top 1,000 (approx.) eligible students will qualify to sit the British Mathematical Olympiad Round 1.
The next 8,000 students (approx.) will qualify to sit the Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo (UK Schools only).
2025 Certificate Thresholds
Gold: 72+
Silver: 57+
Bronze: 46+
2025 Qualification Thresholds
Senior Kangaroo: 72+ (UK only)
British Mathematical Olympiad Round 1: 104+
Previous Thresholds
Year | Certificates | Senior Kangaroo Qualification | BMO1 Qualification | ||
| Bronze | Silver | Gold | |||
| 2024 | 49 | 66 | 83 | 83 | 110 |
| 2023 | 49 | 64 | 80 | 80 | 106 |
| 2022 | 48 | 62 | 76 | 76 | 100 |
| 2021 | 49 | 66 | 85 | 85 | 108 |
| 2020 | 59 | 73 | 91 | 91 | 108 |
| 2019 | 49 | 61 | 76 | 76 | 100 |
| 2018 | 53 | 67 | 83 | 83 | 102 |
| 2017 | 57 | 71 | 86 | 85 | 104 |
| 2016 | 55 | 71 | 88 | 90 | 106 |
| 2015 | 50 | 65 | 82 | 86 | 104 |
| 2014 | 57 | 71 | 84 | 89 | 101 |
| 2013 | 53 | 67 | 82 | 86 | 100 |
| 2012 | 49 | 62 | 77 | 82 | 93 |
| 2011 | 52 | 63 | 79 | 84 | 90 |
| 2010 | 58 | 70 | 85 | N/A | 96 |
| 2009 | 54 | 64 | 79 | N/A | 91 |
| 2008 | 51 | 61 | 74 | N/A | 87 |
| 2007 | 52 | 61 | 75 | N/A | 88 |
| 2006 | 57 | 66 | 80 | N/A | 91 |
| 2005 | 60 | 71 | 84 | N/A | 92 |
| 2004 | 55 | 66 | 79 | N/A | 92 |
| 2003 | 61 | 72 | 87 | N/A | 98 |
| 2002 | 47 | 57 | 70 | N/A | 82 |
| 2001 | 56 | 67 | 81 | N/A | 91 |
Past Papers
Download UKMT’s free past papers to help students achieve better results.
Maths Books
Browse UKMT’s range of maths books and older past papers at our online shop to help you and your students prepare for maths challenges.
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JK
Junior Kangaroo: 88+ (UK only)
JK
Junior Kangaroo: 88+ (UK only)
JK
Junior Kangaroo: 92+ (UK only)
JMO