The Team Maths Challenge (TMC) is a competition which gives pupils the opportunity to tackle a variety of engaging mathematical activities while developing teamwork and communication skills.

Our team and accompanying teacher spent a day out of school at the 2019 Falkirk Regional Final, competing against other schools in our area. The competition started at approximately 10am and finished at around 3pm.

There were 4 rounds in the competition:

Group Round

Teams work to solve ten questions of varying type and difficulty in the time allowed. Each team must decide their own strategy: whether to work in pairs, individually or as a team.

Crossnumber

Similar to a crossword but with numerical answers. Teams work in pairs; one pair has the across clues and the other pair has the down clues. The pairs work independently to complete the grid using logic and deduction.

Shuttle

Teams compete against the clock to correctly answer a series of four questions. Each team is divided into Pair A (given Questions 1 and 3) and Pair B (given Questions 2 and 4). Question 1 can be solved independently of the others, but the answer to each subsequent question is dependent on the previous answer, referred to as T in Questions 2, 3 and 4 (e.g. “T is the number that you will receive.“).

Relay

Teams split off into pairs, with pairs taking it in turns to solve problems. This round involves lots of movement as well as mathematics: a race against the clock with lots of lively activity and excitement.