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    Senior Team Maths Challenge

    by UK Maths Trust

    A collaborative mathematics competition where school teams tackle Group, Crossnumber and Shuttle rounds while developing reasoning, teamwork and communication.

    Last verified: 18 Aug 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
    Senior Team Maths Challenge

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    Senior Team Maths Challenge at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Upcoming

    Eligibility

    Registered UK schools and colleges

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 15-18

    Location / Region

    United Kingdom

    Cost

    £40 per team

    Prize highlight

    National Final invitation

    Entry format

    School team of four

    Next deadline

    Not announced · Next cycle not announced

    Get next-cycle reminder

    Senior Team Maths Challenge summary

    UKMT's collaborative maths challenge asks school teams to solve varied problems across three scored rounds: Group, Crossnumber and Shuttle.

    It rewards quick mathematical reasoning, clear communication and disciplined teamwork rather than individual performance alone.

    It suits confident young mathematicians who enjoy unfamiliar problems and can explain ideas constructively within a team.

    What is Senior Team Maths Challenge?

    The Senior Team Maths Challenge is a UKMT competition built around collaborative mathematical problem-solving. School teams work through starter questions before competing in the Group, Crossnumber and Shuttle rounds.

    Regional Finals bring teams together at host venues around the UK. Strong regional performances can lead to an invitation to the National Final, adding a progression route without changing the competition's core emphasis on reasoning and teamwork.

    Why Succeed highlights Senior Team Maths Challenge

    • The three distinct rounds test different forms of collaborative mathematical thinking.

    • Starter questions give teams a structured warm-up before scored competition begins.

    • Teamwork and communication are central to the challenge, not secondary benefits.

    • Regional events offer a shared competitive experience with progression for high-scoring teams.

    • Past papers and answers provide a concrete route for focused preparation.

    Who is Senior Team Maths Challenge for?

    Best for

    Students who enjoy unfamiliar maths problems, communicate their reasoning clearly and want to compete as part of a coordinated school team.

    Not ideal if

    You prefer individual competition, cannot enter through an eligible school or college, or find time-pressured group decisions frustrating.

    Is Senior Team Maths Challenge worth it?

    Yes, for students who value team problem-solving as much as the final result. The varied rounds create a useful test of mathematical flexibility, communication and composure under competitive pressure.

    The main limitation is that entry depends on school coordination and each institution can enter only one team. Students may therefore need an internal selection process, and even strong participation does not ensure progression beyond the Regional Final.

    How much preparation does Senior Team Maths Challenge need?

    Effort level

    High

    Best started

    Begin team practice several weeks before the November Regional Finals.

    Main challenge

    Sharing methods quickly while maintaining accuracy under pressure.

    Typical preparation

    • Download past papers and answers to understand each round's structure.

    • Assign and rotate team roles so every student practises calculating, checking and communicating.

    • Run timed Group, Crossnumber and Shuttle practice under competition-style conditions.

    • Review errors together and agree how the team will verify answers before submission.

    Useful if

    You already enjoy non-routine maths and explaining solutions aloud.

    What do students do on Senior Team Maths Challenge?

    Teams warm up with unscored starter questions and then compete through three collaborative mathematics rounds. High-scoring regional teams may progress to the National Final.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Use the starter questions to settle into collaborative problem-solving before scoring begins.

    2. 2

      Work together through the Group round.

    3. 3

      Coordinate linked calculations during the Crossnumber round.

    4. 4

      Solve and pass answers efficiently during the Shuttle round.

    5. 5

      Await regional scoring to determine which teams receive National Final invitations.

    Senior Team Maths Challenge dates and deadlines

    Registration opens

    7 September 2026

    Regional places are allocated first come, first served.

    Reference date

    Venue list

    September 2026

    Full venue dates are expected on the UKMT website.

    Reference date

    Regional Finals

    November 2026

    Events take place at venues around the UK.

    Reference date

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Years 12-13 in England and Wales

    • Years 13-14 in Northern Ireland

    • S5-S6 in Scotland

    • Four students per team

    • Maximum two students from the older year group

    • One team per school or college

    • Institution must be in the UK

    • School or college must be a registered UKMT centre

    How much does Senior Team Maths Challenge cost?

    Team registration

    £40 — One ticket covers one team.

    What's included

    One ticket covers four students and one teacher.

    How to enter Senior Team Maths Challenge

    1. 1

      Ask a teacher or coordinator to confirm that your institution is a registered UKMT centre.

    2. 2

      If necessary, register the school or college through the UKMT competition portal.

    3. 3

      Complete centre verification before attempting to buy an entry.

    4. 4

      Purchase one STMC ticket through the institution's Competition Profile.

    5. 5

      Select an available Regional Final through the portal after registration begins.

    Submission requirements

    Entry is coordinated by the participating school or college rather than submitted independently by students.

    • One team of four students

    • Maximum two students from the older year group

    • One team per school or college

    • Registered UKMT centre required

    • Teacher or coordinator purchases the team ticket

    Prizes and recognition

    National Final qualification

    High-scoring Regional Final teams receive an invitation to compete nationally.

    What this may help with

    Demonstrating collaborative mathematical problem-solving and sustained subject interest.

    What it does not guarantee

    A National Final place without a sufficiently high regional score.

    How to stand out

    1. Practise all three scored rounds so the team is not dependent on one familiar format.
    2. Explain reasoning aloud during practice instead of silently passing answers.
    3. Use deliberate checking roles to catch arithmetic and interpretation errors early.
    4. Agree concise signals for handing over information during linked team tasks.
    5. Review past-paper mistakes by cause, including misunderstandings, calculation slips and communication failures.
    6. Stay composed after a difficult question so one setback does not disrupt later rounds.

    Senior Team Maths Challenge FAQs

    No. Entry is coordinated through a registered UKMT school or college centre, with a teacher or coordinator purchasing the team ticket.

    Each team has four students. No more than two may come from the older eligible year group.

    No. Each school or college may enter one team in the Regional Finals.

    Teams begin with unscored starter questions, then compete in the Group, Crossnumber and Shuttle rounds.

    UKMT invites high-scoring teams from the Regional Finals to compete in the National Final.

    Yes. UKMT provides past STMC papers and answers, which teams can use to learn the round formats and practise together.

    The activities are designed to develop mathematical problem-solving alongside teamwork and communication.

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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

    • Login - Cuttle
    • Register your school - UKMT
    • Senior Team Mathematical Challenge - 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 competition page checked

    • Eligibility rules reviewed

    • Entry process verified

    • Team fee confirmed

    • Round format checked

    • Published dates reviewed

    • Official images assessed

    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.