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    Grey Kangaroo

    by UK Maths Trust

    The Grey Kangaroo is a UKMT follow-on mathematics challenge that rewards careful problem solving through progressively harder questions.

    Last verified: 18 Aug 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
    Grey Kangaroo

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    Grey Kangaroo Challenge at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Open now

    Eligibility

    Invitation or discretionary school entry

    Age range / Year group

    Up to 14

    Location / Region

    United Kingdom

    Cost

    Free for qualifiers; £4 discretionary

    Prize highlight

    Gold, Silver and Bronze certificates

    Entry format

    Paper; 25 multiple-choice questions

    Deadline

    19 March 2027

    Save deadline

    Grey Kangaroo Challenge summary

    The Grey Kangaroo is a UKMT follow-on mathematics challenge focused on unfamiliar problems and careful reasoning.

    Question difficulty rises through the paper, so success depends on choosing problems strategically rather than trying to complete everything.

    It suits confident young mathematicians who enjoy applying familiar ideas in less familiar ways.

    What is Grey Kangaroo?

    The Grey Kangaroo is a follow-on round to UKMT’s Intermediate Maths Challenge. It focuses on mathematical problem solving through 25 multiple-choice questions arranged in approximate order of difficulty.

    Students work independently under strict exam conditions and decide which problems deserve their limited time. The experience rewards accurate reasoning and sensible question selection because wrong answers gain nothing, even though they do not lose marks.

    Why Succeed highlights Grey Kangaroo Challenge

    • The progressively harder questions test mathematical judgement as well as technique.

    • No negative marking lets students attempt uncertain problems without sacrificing existing marks.

    • Official past papers provide a clear, relevant preparation route.

    • Score-based certificate tiers give participants a concrete measure of performance.

    Who is Grey Kangaroo Challenge for?

    Best for

    UK-school students who enjoy unfamiliar mathematics problems and can stay composed under timed exam conditions.

    Not ideal if

    You prefer collaborative work, calculator-based tasks or extended written proofs.

    Is Grey Kangaroo Challenge worth it?

    The Grey Kangaroo is worthwhile for students who want a demanding but accessible test of mathematical reasoning. Past papers also make preparation useful beyond the competition itself by exposing students to varied problems.

    The main limitation is that a single timed multiple-choice paper cannot show every kind of mathematical ability. Treat the certificate as recognition of one performance, not a complete measure of academic potential.

    How much preparation does Grey Kangaroo Challenge need?

    Effort level

    Moderate to high.

    Best started

    Four to six weeks before the competition date.

    Main challenge

    Balancing accuracy, speed and question selection.

    Typical preparation

    • Complete an official past paper under timed conditions to establish a baseline.

    • Review every mistake and identify the shortest valid route to each solution.

    • Practise skipping difficult questions and returning only when time remains.

    Useful if

    You already enjoy solving unfamiliar school-level mathematics problems.

    What do students do on Grey Kangaroo Challenge?

    Students complete a paper mathematics challenge at school, marking one answer from five options for each attempted question. The problems become approximately harder as the paper progresses.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Receive the printed question paper and personalised answer sheet at school.

    2. 2

      Work through the problems under strict exam conditions.

    3. 3

      Use blank paper for rough working when needed.

    4. 4

      Mark no more than one answer for each question.

    5. 5

      Return the answer sheet for the school to scan and upload.

    Grey Kangaroo Challenge dates and deadlines

    Accessible-paper order

    18 February 2027

    Braille or large-print paper orders.

    Upcoming

    Competition date

    18 March 2027

    The single official Grey Kangaroo sitting.

    Upcoming

    Answer-sheet upload

    19 March 2027

    Upload by 11:59pm.

    Upcoming
    Save deadline

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Students must attend a UK school.

    • England and Wales: Year 9 or below.

    • Scotland: S2 or below.

    • Northern Ireland: Year 10 or below.

    • Qualify through the IMC or use discretionary entry.

    How much does Grey Kangaroo Challenge cost?

    Entry cost

    Free qualifiers; £4 discretionary — Qualifying entries are processed automatically.

    How to enter Grey Kangaroo Challenge

    1. 1

      Ask the school’s UKMT coordinator to confirm the student’s entry route.

    2. 2

      The school registers through its authorised UKMT Competition Profile.

    3. 3

      Automatic qualifiers are processed without an order or payment.

    4. 4

      The school purchases a £4 entry for a discretionary participant.

    5. 5

      The school downloads and prints the required competition materials.

    6. 6

      After the sitting, the school scans and uploads the answer sheets.

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

    Start your entry checklist

    Submission requirements

    The school administers the paper and submits the completed answer sheets through its UKMT Competition Profile.

    • Paper format only

    • Strict exam conditions

    • B or HB non-propelling pencil

    • One option per question

    • No calculators or measuring instruments

    • Blank rough-working paper permitted

    • Clear scans with visible QR codes

    • Upload files under 14MB

    Prizes and recognition

    Gold certificate

    Awarded to the top-scoring 10% of participants.

    Silver certificate

    Awarded to the next 20% of participants.

    Bronze certificate

    Awarded to the next 30% of participants.

    Other participants

    Receive a Participation or Qualification certificate by entry route.

    What this may help with

    demonstrating mathematical problem-solving performance.

    What it does not guarantee

    university admission or future academic selection.

    Judging criteria

    • 5 marks — Each correct answer to questions 1–15.
    • 6 marks — Each correct answer to questions 16–25.
    • 0 marks — Each answer left blank.
    • No deduction — Incorrect answers do not lose marks.

    Awards are score-based; certificate thresholds can change between competition years.

    How to stand out

    1. Practise with official Grey Kangaroo papers under the full time limit.
    2. Secure accurate marks on earlier questions before tackling the hardest problems.
    3. Write organised rough working so promising approaches are easy to revisit.
    4. Avoid random guessing and eliminate options through mathematical reasoning.
    5. Review past-paper solutions to learn efficient methods, not just final answers.

    Grey Kangaroo Challenge FAQs

    It is a follow-on round to the Intermediate Maths Challenge. Students answer 25 multiple-choice mathematics questions in 60 minutes.

    It is for students at UK schools in Year 9 or below, Scotland S2 or below, or Northern Ireland Year 10 or below.

    No. Students may enter by invitation after a qualifying IMC score or through a discretionary entry purchased by their school.

    No. Calculators and measuring instruments are forbidden, but blank paper is allowed for rough working.

    No. Incorrect answers do not lose marks, and unanswered questions receive zero.

    No. UKMT explicitly says students are not expected to complete every question, and harder questions appear towards the end.

    Yes. UKMT honours school-approved arrangements such as extra time, and braille or large-print papers can be requested in advance.

    It must normally be taken at school under strict exam conditions. An alternative venue requires advance approval for exceptional circumstances.

    Alternatives to Grey Kangaroo Challenge

    Compare these options if you want another structured challenge in mathematics or problem solving.

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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 - FAQs
    • Competition Handbook - Orders & Payments
    • Competition Handbook - UKMT Competitions
    • Grey and Pink Kangaroo Awards - UKMT
    • Competition Calendar 2026-27 - UKMT
    • Grey and Pink Kangaroos - 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)

    • Competition date checked

    • Eligibility rules reviewed

    • Entry cost confirmed

    • Scoring system checked

    • Certificate awards 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.