UKMT y13

Hi, I'm currently in y12. I did the senior maths challenge a while ago and did absolutely horrendously for reasons there's no point going into right now. I know I get the results back after I send out my application to cambridge, but if I do end up doing really well in y13 (which i'm pretty sure i will, i'll be surprised if i don't at least reach bmo2), is there any chance it could help me? Like in interview at least?

I honestly wouldn’t stress about the Senior Maths Challenge too much. For Cambridge, things like your admissions test, interview, predicted grades, and overall mathematical thinking matter way more.
If you end up doing very well in Y13, that can definitely help in the sense that it’ll show through in interview/problem-solving, and something like BMO2 would obviously be a strong achievement. But it’d be more of a bonus than a deciding factor on its own.
So a bad SMC result probably won’t matter much, and doing really well later can still reflect positively on you.

Thanks for the response. Was just worried because most people applying will have done well, don't want to be the odd one out. I'm confident I can get at the very least S1 in step, and am completely sure my a-levels will be A*A*A*A at worst so this is the one thing I'm kinda hung up on. Also would taking TMUA at the end of year 12 help me at all if I do well (8+)? I'm confident I can do well (every 2 weeks we have an optional challenge maths class where we do entrance exam papers, we did MAT a few weeks ago and in 50 minutes I got 100% on section 1 with no help, and from the looks of it, tmua is quite similar to section 1 of mat), but tmua obviously isn't step so just curious if that'd help. Thanks again

Yes, a strong TMUA score is important as most people who apply to Cambridge would have similar predicted grades as you, so a strong TMUA score would allow you to stand out, which is the whole point of the entrance test: to differentiate strong applicants out from the other applicants. TMUA is easier than MAT so if you're already smashing MAT I'm sure you'll do well in TMUA, it's best to try your best in your upcoming mocks (most schools do them in April/May/June not sure about yours though) rather than worrying about TMUA right now because most successful applicants start TMUA Prep over summer and still do really well as long as they use an efficient approach

Mine are doing them once I come back from easter break, so I'm thinking as soon as those are out of the way I focus quite a bit on step (like 40% of revision spent on step, other 60 on my actual subjects), and start tmua prep in june. Does that sound like a good plan?

Hi, which course are you considering applying to? I'm assuming maths? Have you checked whether you need to sit both the TMUA and STEP for your uni choices?
Yes, starting TMUA prep in June seems like a good plan. I think this is when most people start.
Also I don't think senior maths challenge is that big a deal and I wouldn't worry about it too much. Far more important to have great grades, have given it a go at all, and have done subject exploration in your personal statement. If you were to do really well in Y13, yes it would be too late to mention to the uni and i don't think it's really the type of thing that would get brought up at a Cambridge interview. Still worth doing for yourself tho!

Yep that's a good idea, have you checked the module of the course you want to study in Cambridge by the way? There are always students every year who didn't and then when they start studying for the course they regret it.

I have. I'm currently 70/30 between maths and maths with physics

Fair

Hi, I'm currently in y12. I did the senior maths challenge a while ago and did absolutely horrendously for reasons there's no point going into right now. I know I get the results back after I send out my application to cambridge, but if I do end up doing really well in y13 (which i'm pretty sure i will, i'll be surprised if i don't at least reach bmo2), is there any chance it could help me? Like in interview at least?

If you're confident you're going to reach bmo2 that makes you one of the top 100 maths students in the country. Just make sure that comes through in the tmua and you'll be all good. Plus if you qualify for bmo2 before interview you can mention it.

If I qualify pre-interview i'll definitely mention it. It will come through in tmua tho. No disrespect to anyone who finds it hard but it is so easy

Either maths or maths with physics, and for both of those i only need step but i'm taking tmua anyway to boost application. Thanks for the help

Best of luck to you! Make sure you practice under time pressure - that's the thing which can throw people off! Very few candidates will have bmo2 so it's not something I'd worry about, just an added bonus if you can throw it in. In my Oxford interview, they asked if I had anything in my personal statement I wanted to comment on so Cambridge will probably give you a similar opportunity to talk about any additional maths achievements.

Just to say, if the university doesn't say they use the TMUA then they won't see your score so check whether it can actually boost your application