MAT Problem Solving Competition 2025

The Mathematical Association of Tasmania's Problem Solving Competition is a mathematics competition focusing on problem solving, as well as mathematical reasoning and logical thinking. There are four divisions: Primary (Years 5/6), Junior (Years 7/8), Intermediate (Years 9/10) and Senior (Years 11/12). Each division sits a 2 hour paper (1.5 hours for Primary), consisting of 8 - 12 questions of increasing difficulty. The competition papers are emailed electronically and it is the responsibility of each school to run the competition under the given conditions, in school. In 2025, the competition will take place on Thursday 27th March(or Friday 28th March if that better suits your school's schedule).

The questions are designed to elicit mathematical thinking and may require students to apply their mathematical skills to topics outside of the standard curriculum or to link different topics of mathematics together which are traditionally taught separately. Each question may require some experimentation and different approaches before a student makes significant headway.

For each question, students need to explain their reasoning and show their working to gain full marks. A correct answer with little or no working will receive few marks. Students may not be able to complete all questions fully in the time frame but they will receive a better mark if they answer some questions very well rather than many questions poorly.

Participation Certificates can be awarded to all participants. These will be included in the electronic distribution of the Competition Papers to schools on Thursday 20th March 2025. Schools may present these to participants as they leave the Competition Room or at a later date, for example to coincide with the release of the results.

Cost

In 2025, the cost is $10 per student ($5 per student for MAT members, who will receive a Promo Code).

For MAT membership go to the link below and you will receive the code (if you do not receive a code, email MAT Membership Secretary Vanessa Wright at vwright@mrc.tas.edu.au):

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/mathematical-association-of-tasmania-membership-2025-tickets-674536435637

Competition Schedule

• 1st February 2025: Registration opens.
• Thursday 20th March 2025: Competition papers will be emailed to all entering schools by this date. PLEASE CONTACT THE COMPETITION MANAGER VIA EMAIL BY 3PM IF THEY HAVE NOT ARRIVED. Each school will need to print/photocopy and securely store the appropriate number of papers for their students. The paper is designed to be a single double-sided piece of paper.
• Thursday 27th March 2025: Competition Day (preferably morning). Each school will allocate member(s) of staff to supervise the competition for 2 hours (1.5 hours for primary school students). Students will require scrap paper for working out and lined paper for their final solutions. (Note that Friday 28th March is a back-up competition date if that better suits your school's schedule).
• Monday 31st March 2025: Solutions to Competition papers will arrive via email at approximately 3pm. Each school must examine their students’ final solutions and forward their best few to the competition marker (via email to kathybunton@bigpond.com and carbon copied to bstephenson@gyc.tas.edu.au).
• Monday 7th April 2025: Closing date for "best few" scripts to be sent to the marker (kathybunton@bigpond.com and carbon copied to bstephenson@gyc.tas.edu.au). Final marking cannot begin until all scripts are in so PLEASE KEEP STRICTLY TO THIS DATE. Please email the competition manager ASAP if you are not able to send the best few scripts in on time.

Results, certificates and prizes will be announced later in the year.

Schools are asked to assist MAT in the following ways:

(a) Print/photocopy suitable numbers of the papers and store them securely.

(b) Provide scrap paper for rough working and lined paper (A4) for final solutions.

(c) Supervise the Competition (2 hours for Years 7 - 12 and 1.5 hours for Years 5 - 6).

(d) Vet scripts after the Competition and forward the best entries; in most cases this will mean between 1 and 3 scripts in each division.

I trust that teachers will continue to give their students every encouragement to enter this worthwhile Competition which aims to seek out mathematically talented young people, attract interest to Mathematics and stimulate more enthusiasm in its study. Please note that again this year the question papers have been set in such a way that all students should get satisfaction in solving some problems. Questions do not directly test traditional class work but seek to challenge and stimulate students with interesting problem-solving situations where they can apply mathematical skills or methods.

Brett Stephenson, MAT President

Ph. 0407935964

Email: bstephenson@gyc.tas.edu.au

FAQs

What's the refund policy?

As per our Eventbrite Refund Policy, you may request a refund (via Eventbrite, NOT via email) up to 1 day before the event starts.

How do I access MAT member pricing?

To receive MAT member pricing, you must have a current membership with MAT. To sign up, go to

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/mathematical-association-of-tasmania-membership-2025-tickets-674536435637

You will then be emailed a Promo Code. If the code doesn't reach you, email MAT Membership Secretary Vanessa Wright vwright@mrc.tas.edu.au.