Team Maths Challenge

The Team Maths Challenge (TMC) is a competition giving students the opportunity to tackle a variety of engaging mathematical activities while developing teamwork and communication skills.

Teams of four students from schools around the UK take part in dozens of Regional Finals and high-scoring teams are invited to compete in the National Final.

The Team Maths Challenges last ran in 2019, and since the COVID lockdown they unfortunately had to be paused by UKMT. However UKMT is currently reviewing how these events can be delivered in the future and is planning to provide updates on these event’s status in early 2024.

60 minutes

£1.30 per entry,
sold as single entries

England, Wales and Overseas: Year 8 and below
Scotland: S2 or below
Northern Ireland: Year 9 or below

Thursday 25th April 2024

How do I take part?

The competition is aimed students from schools and colleges based in the UK. All entries must be made by registered UKMT centres, not individual students or their parents. A document listing all venues and dates will be shared later this year.

Only one team from each centre may be entered into the competition.

A team consists of four students and must have no more than two students from the oldest eligible year group.

How does the competition work?

The competition happens in two stages.

Stage 1: Regional Finals

The first stage of the competition consists of Regional Finals in dozens of venues across the UK.

Teams compete against each other in four rounds.

Group Round

Teams work to solve ten questions of varying type and difficulty in the time allowed. Each team must decide their own strategy: whether to work in pairs, individually or as a team.

Crossnumber

Similar to a crossword but with numerical answers. Teams work in pairs; one pair has the across clues and the other pair has the down clues. The pairs work independently to complete the grid using logic and deduction.

Shuttle

Teams compete against the clock to correctly answer a series of four questions. Each team is divided into Pair A (given Questions 1 and 3) and Pair B (given Questions 2 and 4). Question 1 can be solved independently of the others, but the answer to each subsequent question is dependent on the answer to the previous one.

Relay

Teams split off into pairs, with pairs taking it in turns to solve problems. This round involves lots of movement as well as mathematics: a race against the clock with lots of lively activity and excitement.

Stage 2: National Finals

High-scoring teams from the Regional Finals are invited to compete against each other at the National Final.

The National Final has the same rounds as the Regional Finals with the addition of the Poster Competition. Teams are sent information in advance of the event about a topic for research and investigation. At the National Final, teams make a poster incorporating materials that they have prepared while also addressing related questions given out on the day.

All participants receive a certificate and goody bag, and the winners are presented with prizes and the Team Maths Challenge trophy.

For more detail on the scoring and timing of each of the rounds, please see the General Information for Teachers document.

Download Past Resources

At present, as we’re reviewing the state of TMC resources for a relaunch, we are only sharing the materials from the Regional and National Finals in 2019, which can be found below. In the future we hope to make more materials available to the public