UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge (IMC) 2025

Hi everyone! I'm a year 10 and i am set to do the UKMT IMC tomorrow. I was selected to enter last year with a one day notice but I only managed to get a bronze.
However, I did the past paper again a year after and I managed to get a 106, which would've earnt me a gold and qualify for the Hamilton Olympiad. I did not have my basics learnt very well in year 9, hence the low score.
I have been doing practice papers from 2020-2024, and I was wondering what else I can do to ensure I will be getting a silver or higher. I am solely aiming for gold, which is unlikely going to happen but it is still an aim. I can't seem to tackle questions beyond question 18 (in the 2024 paper) except for 1 or 2 of them. Are there any tips?

Doing past papers is good, but if you were stuck on the harder section, then doing them untimed/open book and thinking about how you get started/whats an efficient way to solve them/... is probably more useful than looking too quickly at the mark scheme as often the inspiration to do the first step isnt obvious. Even bodging them using problem solving can work, though it takes a bit of practice.
Youre not going to get that much done tonight, so maybe just look over the harder questions for the papers youve done and see if you can do them now / review their solution if necessary. But think carefully about how you get started.

I've already started revising 2 weeks ago so i think I'm a good 70% prepared. Thanks for the suggestions

Sounds good then. I put some fairly random observations about last years paper on another thread in f38 earlier today and a bit of problem solving stuff, but youll probably know most of them. So dont panic tomorrow and use the usual problem solving stuff to try and bodge an answer if necessary, and move on if the question doesnt give.

Sounds good then. I put some fairly random observations about last years paper on another thread in f38 earlier today and a bit of problem solving stuff, but youll probably know most of them. So dont panic tomorrow and use the usual problem solving stuff to try and bodge an answer if necessary, and move on if the question doesnt give.

I had a look at the thread. It was quite helpful, I'd say I struggle the most with approaching the questions as UKMT questions were designed to make you think, but usually once you have the first step it is easier to solve it. Also, if I were to get somewhere between 11-13 questions right for the first 15, and I can do a few of the 6 markers, do you think it is a fair chance to guess if I eliminate down to 2 answers? Hypothetically if I'm aiming for gold

For getting started, the old tricks of subbing numbers, sketching, simplifying the problem, taking extreme values, working backwards usually get you started for the easy/medium questions. And theyll work for the odd harder question as well, though you really need some practice to get confident with using them. And sure, if you can work it down to a couple of options (which you usually can) for the medium/harder ones, its worth a guess.
Id really not play the numbers game too much. If you think youre capable of getting silver/gold then youre doing ok. Its a test that has little/no importance, but its meant to try and get you interested in doing a bit harder stuff. So maybe do some practice (imc, amc, nrich, ....) regularly with a bit of reflection, if youre interested.

Sounds good then. I put some fairly random observations about last years paper on another thread in f38 earlier today and a bit of problem solving stuff, but youll probably know most of them. So dont panic tomorrow and use the usual problem solving stuff to try and bodge an answer if necessary, and move on if the question doesnt give.

Hi, I'm not quite sure how to use this website lol. How do I access f38?

Omg can I just say this year’s paper was way harder than the previous 2 years. I honestly think i got participation if i’m being honest 😭

Fr, im js hoping to get a bronze award and ill be fine

anyone found this paper particularly difficult compared to other years?

anyone found this paper particularly difficult compared to other years?

I’ve done many of the past papers and I’ve found this one easier than most, although I had an issue with an earlier question (3) 😅
If you are a very high aimer like myself (110+) then the final questions from around 20 were easier than most other years but I felt some of the easier questions weren’t so straightforward

I’ve done many of the past papers and I’ve found this one easier than most, although I had an issue with an earlier question (3) 😅
If you are a very high aimer like myself (110+) then the final questions from around 20 were easier than most other years but I felt some of the easier questions weren’t so straightforward

Yeah it was quite easier than previous years I managed to solve all

what did u get for q23 and the question with 2 circles inscribed in a rectangle?