Competition Roundups
A curated overview of leading maths, science, coding, and writing competitions for students aged 11–18 in the UK
Academic competitions are an increasingly popular way for UK secondary school students to challenge themselves beyond the classroom. Whether a student is interested in maths, science, coding, writing, or broader academic enrichment, there are high-quality national and international competitions available at every stage from Year 7 to Year 13.
This guide highlights some of the top competitions for UK secondary students, grouped by subject area, and explains who they are best suited for.
The UKMT (United Kingdom Mathematics Trust) runs three major competitions:
Junior Maths Challenge (Year 8 and below) https://competemap.com/competitions/cmlpcyb6t0000j7hkc57f5y2d
Intermediate Maths Challenge (Years 9–11) https://competemap.com/competitions/cmlqtn0aj0000vnqz80vh3uxu
Senior Maths Challenge (Years 12–13) https://competemap.com/competitions/cmlqu4k3z0000vnijs278prqq
These are among the most widely recognised maths competitions in the UK and form the entry point to the British Mathematical Olympiad pathway.
Best for: Students who enjoy logical problem solving and want structured progression.
The American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) are open internationally and offer a clear pathway to Olympiad-level maths.
Best for: Students seeking international benchmarking and advanced problem-solving exposure.
AMC 8 https://competemap.com/competitions/cmly6r7aj0000j7b1ay54rebz
AMC 10 https://competemap.com/competitions/cmly6r7jy0001j7b11u70u1ci
AMC 12 https://competemap.com/competitions/cmly6r7sw0002j7b1g6kaq2ld
Invitation-based via UKMT Senior Maths Challenge performance.
Best for: Highly advanced Sixth Form students aiming for elite mathematical competition.
https://competemap.com/competitions/cmlquktcv0000vnkpuesl8qxn
A widely recognised UK STEM award programme where students complete investigative projects.
Best for: Students interested in science, engineering, or research-based learning.
https://competemap.com/competitions/cmm3j7c570005j7j6l1n5ar0n
For students interested in advanced physics problem solving.
Best for: Sixth Form students aiming for physics-related university pathways.
https://competemap.com/competitions/cmlr3l8xh0000vn2lp1fba22m
A UK-wide computational thinking competition suitable for a broad age range.
Best for: Students interested in logical thinking and computing fundamentals.
https://competemap.com/competitions/cmlpemtre0000j71v5ypxkn1d
Advanced programming competition pathway.
Best for: Strong coders interested in algorithmic problem solving.
https://competemap.com/competitions/cmlqvgb8w0000vn8dsioka5l2
An internationally recognised essay competition open to secondary students.
Best for: Students interested in humanities, politics, philosophy, or economics.
https://competemap.com/competitions/cmluw9phy0000vn5xdzmhp5zk
Encourages engagement with scientific literature and critical reading.
Best for: Students who enjoy reading and analytical thinking.
Top UK secondary school competitions offer several benefits:
Competitions are not only for top academic performers. Many offer tiered recognition (Gold, Silver, Bronze, or participation awards), making them accessible to a wide range of students.
When selecting competitions, consider:
A balanced approach is often best — combining one or two core subject competitions with broader enrichment activities.
If you are looking for a full list of maths, science, coding, writing, and other academic competitions for UK and Ireland secondary students, you can browse verified details — including deadlines and eligibility — here:
CompeteMap helps students and parents discover suitable competitions and plan participation throughout the academic year.
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