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Primary Mathematics Challenge

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Primary Mathematics Challenge

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A mathematics challenge with certificates for everyone!
NEW!! Register online for the PMC here!!

Next PMC - November 2008

Celebrating 10 years of the PMC!

RESULTS OF THE NOVEMBER 2007 PMC

More than 108000 pupils took the Challenge

Teachers in more than 2880 schools entered pupils for the challenge. The MA posted nearly 76 000 certificates for presentation in assemblies!

PMC pupils from Burbage Primary School PMC pupils from North Kidlington School

PMC pupils from Burbage Primary School

PMC pupils from North Kidlington School

Here is some of the feedback from schools.

Pupil's comments:

I loved the football question
It stretched me - a long way!
Trust me - you don't want to do that with a headache! Was that maths?
I liked the funny names It made you think! That was hard but good fun
Cool but cruel
Probably the best test I've ever done
Evil but loads of fun
Nerve wracking at the time
I tried all the options!The octopus was cute!
We should do this more often
Titus the tortoise was cool
Crafty!
My brain ached but I loved it!
I thought I wasn't going to like it but I did.
I tried to work them out logically!
Sneaky
Fun but tricky
Did they ever meet in the pool?
It pushes you to your limit
Who comes up with this stuff?


Teacher's comments:

 

Fantastic as usual
Interesting and exciting topics
Raises the profile of maths
Harder than last year
Easier than last year
Harder than last year
Our first PMC and we enjoyed it
Good test of logic, knowledge and strategy
Smooth admin
As always it makes them think
Very useful activity
Great choice of questions
Good Our first time – we will do it again
Pupils were excited and enjoyed the challenge
Straight forward to mark
Q25 brilliant – Q16, 21 clever
Further possibilities (Answers and Notes) very useful
Excellent maths discussion afterwards
It made them think 'out of the box'!
Great questions - I will use them for developing problem-solving skills
Easy format
Good starting points for discussion Searching questions in the challenge
The angle question was brilliant
Great set of questions - we all enjoyed it
Definitely a yearly feature on our school calendar Teasingly good
They always look forward to the PMC.
Brilliant for thinking skills
75% voted to do it again next year
Clear instructions
Thought provoking
They loved the certificates
A different slant on maths - very refreshing


What is the PMC?

The PMC is a test with multiple-choice problems which interest pupils and are mathematical. It is aimed at the top 60% of pupils in Years 5 and 6 England and Wales, P6 and P7 in Scotland, and Years 6 and 7 in Northern Ireland.

What do your pupils get?

  • the chance to take part in a national challenge
  • 10 easy questions to start with
  • all pupils should achieve a reasonable score
  • certificates presented by the school
  • high-scoring pupils are invited to take the PMC Finals in February 2007

What do the teachers get?
Each pack of 10 PMC papers also contains:

  • 1 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze certificates
  • 1 photocopiable Took the Challenge certificate
  • mark scheme

Also provided are full instructions, solutions and follow-up ideas for the classroom, feedback sheet, and an opportunity to raise the profile of maths in your school.

 

Cost: only £8 per pack of 10 PMC papers.

 

Overseas Orders

To ensure orders reach schools abroad on time, it has been decided that they must be sent airmail.  

Please select one of the rates to add to your order to cover the airmail postage.

1 – 5 PMC packs           £2.50 per pack

6 & over PMC packs      £2.20 per pack.

For example on an order of 4 PMC packs, airmail postage will be £10

PMC Team Members

Download a PMC Flier for November 2008
Sample Problems

Sample papers - Nov 2003 and Feb 2004

Answers to Sample papers - Nov 2003 and Feb 2004

PMC Paper Live On-line
Live on-line version of the PMC
Registration Page
Registration Page (printable pdf format)

Results of the 2008/2007/2006/2005/2004/2003 PMC Finals

February 2008 - PMC Finals Results

February 2007 - PMC Finals Results

February 2006 - PMC Finals Results

February 2005 – PMC Finals Results

February 2004 - PMC Finals Results

February 2003 - PMC Finals Results

PRIMARY MATHEMATICS CHALLENGES - THE BOOK

The new PMC book has the title Challenge Your Pupils:

using problem solving questions taken from the

Primary Mathematics Challenge. This book contains

all the PMC problems from November 2002 to February

2006 arranged in four levels of difficulty. Full answers and

notes from further work are provided. Click here to see more details.

Pupils love their PMC medals

You can order PMC medals for your pupils who got high marks in the November PMC. This attractive medallion, cast especially for the PMC is provided with a yellow MA ribbon, looks good when presented in assembly! The medallion has no date, so can be kept for future years; the back has space for engraving if wanted.

Cost: order 1 - 5 medals ............. £3.50 each
order 6 - 10 medals .................... £3.25 each
order 11 and over medals ........... £3.00 each
Handling charge for all orders ..... £1.50

Please phone the MA office for further details or click here to print out the order form.