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The UKMT Junior Maths Olympiad is one of the most demanding (yet fun) maths competitions open to younger secondary school pupils in the UK. It comes after the Junior Mathematical Challenge and is aimed at students who enjoy solving unfamiliar problems and explaining their thinking clearly.
For the 2025–26 academic year, the structure of the paper, the way pupils can enter, and the preparation materials all follow current guidance from the UK Mathematics Trust. This guide brings together the key information and points you toward recent Junior Maths Olympiad past papers and useful UKMT Maths Olympiad practice questions.
What exactly is UKMT?
The United Kingdom Mathmatics trust (also known as the UKMT) runs a national programme of maths challenges, olympiads, and other related enrichment activities for pupils from the age of 11 all the way to 181.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of pupils take part in these competitions, which have been created from the ground up to help develop problem-solving skills, logical thinking and mathematical confidence in youngsters.
Students cannot enter UKMT competitions, including the Junior Maths Olympiad, independently. Entries must be made through a registered school.
From the Junior Mathematical Challenge to the Olympiad
To reach the Olympiad, students first need to take the Junior Mathematical Challenge (JMC). This is a one-hour multiple-choice paper taken in school and aimed at pupils in Year 8 or below in England and Wales, along with the equivalent year groups in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The JMC does not simply test topics from the curriculum. Instead, it asks students to think carefully, notice patterns, and apply logic with precision. Accuracy matters, but so does the ability to interpret unfamiliar questions calmly.
Qualification pathway
Format of the UKMT Junior Maths Olympiad (2026)
The 2026 Junior Mathematical Olympiad comes in the form of a two-hour written paper made up of six problems, each requiring a full and clearly explained solution2. Unlike earlier stages of the competition, there aren't actually any multiple-choice questions. Every mark depends on the reasoning shown.
Each question is marked out of 10, giving a total of 60 marks.
Complete and well-presented solutions can earn close to full marks, while partial progress that is explained clearly can still receive credit.
Recent Changes To The Paper Format
The way the Junior Maths Olympiad is structured officially changed back in 2025. Before the change, the paper used to contain 16 questions, which were split across two sections:
- Section A: ten short questions requiring answers only
- Section B: six longer questions needing full written solutions
However, as of the recent 2025 update, the whole of section A has now been entirely removed - making things a little simpler for students.
In the 2025–26 academic year, the Olympiad will take place on Tuesday, 9 June 2026.
Junior Maths Olympiad Past Papers
Generally, the best way to prepare for the UKMT Junior Maths Olympiad is to work through official past papers and their full written solutions. Fortunately, these past papers are pretty easy to find as they're available on the UK Mathematics Trust website.
Just remember to start with the newest papers since they follow the current six-question format. However, bear in mind that older papers are still useful for practising the longer written answers - so don't discount them entirely!
Steps to Prepare for the 2026 UKMT Junior Maths Olympiad
Preparing for the Junior Maths Olympiad can be nerve-racking, especially if you're expected to do well by your school or parents. Fortunately, we've put a little guide together to help you get the most out of studying the past papers available online.
| Stage | What to do | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Start with recent papers | Attempt the newest past papers under timed conditions | Matches the current six-question exam format |
| Review full solutions | Compare your reasoning with official worked answers | Shows how marks are awarded for clear explanation |
| Practise older questions | Work through earlier Olympiad problems with longer solutions | Builds confidence with written reasoning |
| Prepare regularly | Study little and often rather than revising at the last minute | Develops steady problem-solving skills |
Available past papers and solutions (2015 -2025)
In order to save you lots of time trawling websites, we've also linked the available past papers and their solutions below. Take your time reading them and apply the study tips listed above to get ahead of your peers.
- 2025 Junior Mathematical Olympiad - questions and solutions
- 2024 Junior Mathematical Olympiad - questions and solutions
- 2023 Junior Mathematical Olympiad - questions and solutions
- 2022 Junior Mathematical Olympiad - questions and solutions
- 2021 Junior Mathematical Olympiad - questions and solutions
- 2019 Junior Mathematical Olympiad - questions and solutions
- 2018 Junior Mathematical Olympiad - questions and solutions
- 2017 Junior Mathematical Olympiad - questions and solutions
- 2016 Junior Mathematical Olympiad - questions and solutions
- 2015 Junior Mathematical Olympiad - questions and solutions
Potential Results and What Scores Mean
Once the Junior Maths Olympiad has been completed, results are normally returned to schools later in the same term. Schools then share the outcomes with pupils and distribute any certificates or awards. Want to know what types of awards are up for grabs? Check out the table below for further info:
| Outcome | Who receives it | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Merit or Distinction certificates | Students with strong scores compared with other entrants | Clear reasoning and consistent success across several questions |
| Bronze Silver or Gold medals | The highest-scoring students nationally | Outstanding mathematical thinking and performance |
| Participation or qualification recognition | Students who reached or attempted the Olympiad | Engagement with a challenging national maths competition |
References
- UKMT. (2024, September 23). About UKMT - UKMT. https://ukmt.org.uk/what-we-do/about-ukmt
- UKMT Junior Olympiad past papers and grade boundaries. (2025, June 30). Mathsaurus. https://mathsaurus.com/ukmt-junior-olympiad-past-papers-and-grade-boundaries/
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