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    Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo

    by UK Maths Trust

    A focused UKMT follow-on maths challenge designed to stretch mathematical reasoning through increasingly difficult problems.

    Last verified: 18 Aug 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
    Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo

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    Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Open now

    Eligibility

    SMC qualifier or discretionary entry

    Age range / Year group

    Year 13 or equivalent below

    Location / Region

    UK schools

    Cost

    Free qualifiers; £4 discretionary

    Prize highlight

    Gold, Silver and Bronze certificates

    Entry format

    Paper integer-answer challenge

    Deadline

    19 November 2026

    Save deadline

    Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo summary

    This UKMT follow-on round tests mathematical problem-solving through 20 integer-answer questions arranged in approximate order of difficulty.

    It rewards accurate reasoning and strategic question selection: students are not expected to finish every problem, and guessing is discouraged.

    It suits confident young mathematicians who enjoy unfamiliar problems and want a tougher progression from the Senior Mathematical Challenge.

    What is Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo?

    The Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo is UKMT’s follow-on round to the Senior Mathematical Challenge. It focuses on mathematical reasoning through 20 integer-answer problems that become progressively harder.

    Students complete the paper under exam conditions and record each response as a three-digit number. The experience rewards careful problem selection and accurate working rather than attempting every question or relying on guesses.

    Why Succeed highlights Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo

    • The progression from the Senior Mathematical Challenge gives strong students a clear next level of difficulty.

    • Integer-answer questions require students to produce solutions rather than recognise an option from a multiple-choice list.

    • No negative marking lets students engage with ambitious problems without losing marks for an incorrect attempt.

    • Free official past papers, solutions and investigations provide relevant preparation material.

    • The certificate bands recognise a broad range of strong performances, not only the highest scorer.

    Who is Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo for?

    Best for

    Strong school mathematicians who enjoy unfamiliar problems, careful reasoning and working accurately under time pressure.

    Not ideal if

    You want an open individual-entry contest, a take-home paper or a calculator-based assessment.

    Is Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo worth it?

    For students ready for a harder extension beyond standard school maths, this is a worthwhile test of reasoning, accuracy and resilience. Past papers also make the preparation useful beyond the competition itself.

    The main limitation is access: participation must be arranged through a registered school or UKMT centre and completed under exam conditions. The paper is also deliberately difficult, so the value lies in tackling problems thoughtfully rather than expecting to finish everything.

    How much preparation does Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo need?

    Effort level

    High

    Best started

    Four to six weeks before the competition.

    Main challenge

    Choosing which problems to attempt within the time limit.

    Typical preparation

    • Complete a recent past paper without timing it to learn the question style.

    • Repeat under timed conditions and review every incomplete or incorrect solution.

    • Practise coding answers accurately as three-digit numbers.

    • Build a strategy for skipping a difficult problem and returning later.

    Useful if

    You already enjoy demanding non-routine maths problems.

    What do students do on Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo?

    Your school manages the entry and printed materials, while you complete the challenge as an invigilated paper. Answers are then scanned for UKMT marking.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Your school confirms an automatic invitation or purchases a discretionary entry.

    2. 2

      The coordinator downloads and prints the question paper and answer sheet.

    3. 3

      You solve 20 integer-answer problems during the supervised sitting.

    4. 4

      You code each selected answer as a number from 000 to 999.

    5. 5

      Your school scans and uploads the completed answer sheet.

    6. 6

      Results and certificates are downloaded through the school’s Competition Profile.

    Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo dates and deadlines

    Accessible paper order

    21 October 2026

    Braille or large-print paper requests

    Upcoming

    Competition date

    18 November 2026

    Official supervised sitting

    Upcoming

    Answer sheet deadline

    19 November 2026

    Upload by 11:59pm

    Upcoming
    Save deadline

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Open to UK schools only

    • Qualifying Senior Mathematical Challenge score or discretionary entry

    • England and Wales: Year 13 or below

    • Scotland: S6 or below

    • Northern Ireland: Year 14 or below

    • Entry through a registered UKMT centre

    How much does Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo cost?

    Entry cost

    Free qualifiers; £4 discretionary — Discretionary entries are sold individually.

    How to enter Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo

    1. 1

      Ask your school’s UKMT coordinator whether you qualified through the Senior Mathematical Challenge.

    2. 2

      If you did not qualify automatically, ask whether the school will purchase a discretionary entry.

    3. 3

      The coordinator signs into the school’s Competition Profile and creates a new order.

    4. 4

      The school confirms participant numbers, accepts the terms and places the order.

    5. 5

      The coordinator downloads the required papers and answer sheets before the sitting.

    Save this competition in Succeed, keep the deadline visible, and track your progress before you submit.

    Start your entry checklist

    Submission requirements

    Students complete an official paper answer sheet, which the school scans and uploads after the supervised sitting.

    • B or HB non-propelling pencil

    • Three-digit answers from 000 to 999

    • Blank rough paper only

    • No squared paper

    • No calculators or measuring instruments

    • Scanned paper answer-sheet upload

    • All QR codes and corner markers visible

    Prizes and recognition

    Gold Kangaroo

    A certificate for the top-scoring 10% of participants.

    Silver Kangaroo

    A certificate for the next 20% of participants.

    Bronze Kangaroo

    A certificate for the next 30% of participants.

    Other participants

    A Participation or Qualification Certificate, depending on entry route.

    What this may help with

    Demonstrating sustained interest in advanced mathematical problem-solving.

    What it does not guarantee

    University admission or progression to another competition round.

    Judging criteria

    • 100 marks available
    • Five marks for each correct answer
    • No marks deducted for incorrect answers
    • Certificate bands determined by total score

    How to stand out

    1. Use past papers to recognise recurring styles of non-routine reasoning.
    2. Prioritise secure solutions instead of rushing through every question.
    3. Check arithmetic and answer coding before moving to the next problem.
    4. Skip a blocked question early enough to protect time for accessible marks.
    5. Practise without a calculator so written methods become reliable.
    6. Review full solutions after practice and identify the decisive idea in each problem.

    Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo FAQs

    It is a UKMT follow-on round to the Senior Mathematical Challenge. Students solve 20 integer-answer mathematics problems under supervised exam conditions.

    Students may be invited after achieving a qualifying Senior Mathematical Challenge score. A school can also purchase a discretionary entry for a non-qualifier.

    No. A registered UKMT centre must manage the entry, materials and supervised sitting.

    No. Calculators and measuring instruments are forbidden, but students may use blank paper for rough working.

    Each answer is coded on the answer sheet as a three-digit number from 000 to 999 using a B or HB non-propelling pencil.

    No. A correct answer earns five marks, while an incorrect answer does not lose marks.

    No. UKMT says students are not expected to complete the whole paper, and the questions become harder towards the end.

    School-approved arrangements such as extra time are generally honoured. Braille and large-print papers can also be requested in advance.

    Alternatives to Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo

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    Sean Stevens

    Content reviewed by

    Sean Stevens

    Co-founder, Succeed | Founder, Immerse Education (2012–2026)

    Sean works at the intersection of academic enrichment, programme quality and university preparation, with expertise in evaluating pre-university experiences for ambitious secondary school students.

    View author page

    Sources and verification

    Source types reviewed

    • Competition Handbook - Access Arrangements
    • Competition Handbook - Order T&Cs
    • Login - Cuttle
    • Competition Handbook - Orders & Payments
    • Competition Handbook - Quick-Step Guide
    • Competition Handbook - UKMT Competitions
    • Competitions - UKMT
    • Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo Awards - UKMT
    • Competition Calendar 2026-27 - UKMT
    • Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo - UKMT

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 18 Aug 2026)

    • Official page checked

    • Calendar date verified

    • Eligibility reviewed

    • Entry route confirmed

    • Cost checked

    • Scoring reviewed

    • Access arrangements checked

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current submission instructions before entering.