Accessibility paper order
25 August 2026
Deadline stated for Braille or large-print paper orders.
Competition
Mathematical Competition for Girls
A UKMT mathematics challenge that develops careful problem solving through demanding, linked numerical questions.
Last verified: 18 Aug 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
Competition
Mathematical Competition for Girls
A UKMT mathematics challenge that develops careful problem solving through demanding, linked numerical questions.
Last verified: 18 Aug 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
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Girls Mathematics Competition at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Open now
Eligibility
Girls entered through eligible schools
Age range / Year group
15-18; Year 11+
Location / Region
Participating schools
Cost
First 4 free; then £4 each
Prize highlight
Distinction, Merit or Participation certificate
Entry format
Five answer-only questions
Girls Mathematics Competition summary
UKMT created this challenge as an accessible route into advanced mathematical problem solving, alongside its longer Mathematical Olympiad for Girls.
Students work through five linked numerical problems. Earlier parts can guide them towards the main answer, while the approximate rise in difficulty rewards strategic question choice.
It suits confident young mathematicians who enjoy unfamiliar problems and precise numerical answers but are not yet seeking a full proof-writing paper.
What is Mathematical Competition for Girls?
The Mathematical Competition for Girls is a UKMT challenge introduced in 2025 to encourage more young female mathematicians to engage with advanced problem solving. It runs alongside the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls and uses questions at a similar level to that Olympiad’s answer-only section.
Students tackle five questions whose connected parts lead towards a final numerical answer. The problems become harder across the paper, so success depends on accurate working, persistence and sensible decisions about where to spend time.
Why Succeed highlights Girls Mathematics Competition
The five-question structure creates a focused introduction to advanced competition mathematics.
Linked question parts reward reasoning through intermediate cases instead of relying on a single insight.
Partial credit and no negative marking give students reasons to attempt challenging problems.
Published past papers and transparent certificate bands support purposeful preparation.
The answer-only format offers a more approachable alternative to a full written Olympiad paper.
Who is Girls Mathematics Competition for?
Best for
Confident school mathematicians who enjoy unfamiliar numerical problems, can work accurately under time pressure and want a stepping stone towards Olympiad-style challenges.
Not ideal if
You want to enter independently, prefer collaborative work or specifically want extensive experience writing complete mathematical proofs.
Is Girls Mathematics Competition worth it?
Yes, if you want a concentrated test of mathematical reasoning with clear scoring and a recognised UKMT certificate structure. The linked problems can also expose weaknesses in accuracy, persistence and question selection that ordinary classroom exercises may not reveal.
The main limitation is its answer-only design: it provides less practice in communicating full proofs than a traditional Olympiad. Entry is also controlled by schools, so an interested student depends on a coordinator being willing and able to organise participation.
How much preparation does Girls Mathematics Competition need?
Effort level
Moderate to high.
Best started
Four to six weeks before competition day.
Main challenge
Converting multi-part reasoning into an accurate three-digit answer.
Typical preparation
Complete an official past paper under timed conditions to learn the pace.
Review every error, including correct methods spoiled by arithmetic or answer coding.
Practise deciding when to continue, skip or return to a harder question.
Check final answers carefully because each must be coded from 000 to 999.
Useful if
You already enjoy non-routine school mathematics and timed problem solving.
What do students do on Girls Mathematics Competition?
Your school organises the sitting, after which you solve a five-question paper and record each final response as a three-digit number. The school then uploads the completed answer sheets for marking.
Step-by-step process
- 1
A school coordinator orders the required entries through the UKMT Competition Profile.
- 2
The school downloads and prints the competition paper and answer sheets.
- 3
Students sit the paper at school under exam conditions.
- 4
Each student records five final answers using the required three-digit format.
- 5
The school scans and uploads the completed answer sheets.
- 6
UKMT marks the entries and returns results and certificate outcomes.
Girls Mathematics Competition dates and deadlines
Upcoming
Competition date
22 September 2026
The paper is sat on this date.
Answer sheet upload
23 September 2026
Schools must upload paper answer sheets by 11:59pm.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Accessibility paper order | 25 August 2026 | Local | Upcoming | |
Competition date | 22 September 2026 | Local | Upcoming | |
Answer sheet upload | 23 September 2026 | Local | Upcoming | Save deadline |
Eligibility and requirements
Female students under UKMT’s current biological-sex policy
England and Wales: Year 11 and above
Scotland: S4 and above
Northern Ireland: Year 12 and above
Younger students at the school’s discretion
Normally entered through a UK school
Limited overseas-school exception for eligible British passport holders
Students cannot sit both MCG and MOG
How much does Girls Mathematics Competition cost?
School entries
4 free; then £4 each — Four free entries per school, with unlimited additional entries.
How to enter Girls Mathematics Competition
- 1
Ask a teacher or school competition coordinator whether the school will participate.
- 2
The coordinator registers or signs into the UKMT Competition Profile.
- 3
The coordinator starts a new order and enters the number of participating students.
- 4
The school reviews the order, accepts the terms and conditions, and places it.
- 5
The school prepares the paper and answer sheets for the official sitting.
- 6
After the competition, the school scans and uploads the completed answer sheets.
Save this competition in Succeed, keep the deadline visible, and track your progress before you submit.
Start your entry checklistSubmission requirements
Students complete a paper answer sheet, which the school scans and submits through its Competition Profile.
Five answer-only questions
Three-digit answers from 000 to 999
B or HB non-propelling pencil
Blank or lined rough paper permitted
No squared paper
No calculators or measuring instruments
Upload file under 14MB
Visible QR codes and four corner markers
Prizes and recognition
Distinction
The top 25% of students receive a Certificate of Distinction.
Merit
The next 40% receive a Certificate of Merit.
Participation
Students below the Merit threshold receive a Certificate of Participation.
What this may help with
demonstrating sustained interest in mathematical problem solving.
What it does not guarantee
university admission, Olympiad progression or selection elsewhere.
Judging criteria
- 50 marks available across the paper
- 10 marks allocated to each question
- Partial marks for specified incorrect answers
- No negative marks for incorrect answers
- Certificate bands determined by overall score
UKMT publishes numerical scoring rules rather than separate qualitative judging criteria.
How to stand out
- Practise answer-only Olympiad-style problems rather than relying only on routine exercises.
- Use each question’s early parts to identify patterns and useful intermediate results.
- Protect easy marks by checking arithmetic and the final three-digit coding.
- Plan question order strategically instead of becoming trapped on the hardest problem.
- Attempt plausible answers when time permits because incorrect answers carry no penalty.
- Review past-paper mistakes by reasoning error, calculation error and time-management error.
Girls Mathematics Competition FAQs
It is a UKMT mathematics competition introduced to help more young female mathematicians engage with advanced problem solving. Its questions resemble the answer-only section of the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls.
The questions are arranged in approximate order of difficulty, with harder problems later. Students are not expected to complete everything.
No. UKMT competition entries are made by registered institutions, not individual students, parents or private tutors.
No. UKMT explicitly states that a student cannot sit both the Mathematical Competition for Girls and the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls.
No. Calculators, measuring instruments and squared paper are forbidden. Blank or lined rough paper is allowed.
Each answer is recorded in pencil as a three-digit number from 000 to 999 on the official answer sheet.
The paper is worth 50 marks, with 10 marks per question. Specific incorrect answers may earn partial credit, and there is no negative marking.
The top 25% receive Distinction, the next 40% receive Merit, and students below the Merit threshold receive a Participation certificate.
Alternatives to Girls Mathematics Competition
Compare these mathematics and problem-solving competitions if you want a different format, audience or level of challenge.
Alternatives to Girls Mathematics Competition
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Save this competition in Succeed to compare it with other essay prizes, deadlines and entry formats in one place.
Compare with other competitionsContent 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.
Sources and verification
Source types reviewed
- Competition Handbook - Order T&Cs
- Competition Handbook - FAQs
- Competition Handbook - Access Arrangements
- Competition Handbook - Orders & Payments
- Competition Handbook - New Account Registration
- Competition Handbook - Logging In
- Competition Handbook - UKMT Competitions
- Mathematical Competition for Girls Awards - UKMT
- Competition Calendar 2026-27 - UKMT
- Mathematical Competition for Girls - 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
Submission deadline checked
Eligibility rules reviewed
Entry pricing verified
Format and duration checked
Scoring rules reviewed
Certificate bands verified
School process checked
How Succeed uses this information
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