Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah received a gold award, the highest award level, together with 18 Jerudong International School (JIS) students in the United Kingdom’s (UK) Intermediate Maths Challenge (IMC), run by the UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) recently.
Meanwhile, Gideon Chan was awarded ‘Best in Year 11’, Amelia Ege received ‘Best in Year 9’ and Lemuel Dhanushan Chinniah from Year 10 was awarded ‘Best in School’. Twenty-eight students received the silver award and 40 received the bronze.
Principal Nicholas Sheehan congratulating the students said, “Developing resilient problem solvers is at the heart of what we try to achieve as a Maths Faculty at JIS – this is what the IMC is all about. The challenge encourages mathematical reasoning, the precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems.”
IMC coordinator Adrian Thacker was pleased with the results this year, “Particularly with more students taking part in the challenge and 69 per cent achieved at least a bronze award”.
One hundred and twenty-six students from Years 9 to 11 took part in the challenge, which involved answering 25 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes without a calculator.
It was designed to stimulate students’ interest in maths. The questions aimed at testing students’ mathematical dexterity – the ability to apply the mathematics they have learnt in class in unusual and creative ways.
The top 50 per cent of students internationally receive a gold, silver or bronze award in a ratio of 1:2:3. Maths at JIS is a core subject until the end of Year 11 (IGCSE programme).
The most talented mathematicians can also study for the Further Pure Mathematics IGCSE.
Sixth form students pursuing Mathematics studies can study Maths and Further Maths ‘A’ Level.
The International Baccalaureate (IB_ Diploma students will all study Maths at either the Standard Level (the Analysis and approaches course or the Applications and Interpretations course) or the Higher Level Mathematics Analysis and Approaches course.
