UKMT was established in 1996 with the sole intention of allowing children from all across the nation to demonstrate their remarkable brainpower. It is separated into three categories: junior, intermediate, and senior, each of which is equally difficult for the corresponding age group.

 

My school created a club just for these challenges, where kids can face these difficult questions firsthand while also learning from one another. Students in the club range in age from year 7 students to even year 11 students. Before the students are given the major question, the class begins with a few warm-up questions that gradually get harder. The pupils are allowed to investigate the solutions on their own whether there are several or even just one answer. This makes it the ideal practice for problems that call for you to constantly consider a different possibility.

 

The students are required to explain how they arrived at their solution as well as why they believe it is the correct one after an extensive thinking and brain storming has been completed. This helps them both with actual inquiry practise and with explaining your responses to questions with specific wording. It is obvious that after this is completed, the teacher personally collects these sheets of paper and gives feedback based on the level of the explanation, which is typically more important than the actual solution.

 

Although these clubs aren't for everyone, they do force you to think outside the box, and after being able to attend the most of these sessions this academic year, I can say that the lessons are both interesting and sometimes challenging.