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.

---

Maths Competitions

UKMT Mathematical Challenges

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.

---

AMC 8 / AMC 10 / AMC 12

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

---

British Mathematical Olympiad (BMO)

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

---

Science Competitions

CREST Awards

A widely recognised UK STEM award programme where students complete investigative projects.

• Open to different age levels
• Encourages independent research
• Recognised by schools and universities

Best for: Students interested in science, engineering, or research-based learning.

https://competemap.com/competitions/cmm3j7c570005j7j6l1n5ar0n

---

British Physics Olympiad (BPhO)

For students interested in advanced physics problem solving.

Best for: Sixth Form students aiming for physics-related university pathways.

https://competemap.com/competitions/cmlr3l8xh0000vn2lp1fba22m

---

Coding & Computing Competitions

Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge

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

---

British Informatics Olympiad (BIO)

Advanced programming competition pathway.

Best for: Strong coders interested in algorithmic problem solving.

https://competemap.com/competitions/cmlqvgb8w0000vn8dsioka5l2

---

Writing & Essay Competitions

John Locke Institute Essay Competition

An internationally recognised essay competition open to secondary students.

Best for: Students interested in humanities, politics, philosophy, or economics.

https://competemap.com/competitions/cmluw9phy0000vn5xdzmhp5zk

---

Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize

Encourages engagement with scientific literature and critical reading.

Best for: Students who enjoy reading and analytical thinking.

---

Why Enter Competitions?

Top UK secondary school competitions offer several benefits:

• Develop independent thinking and resilience
• Provide nationally or internationally recognised awards
• Strengthen Sixth Form and university applications
• Expose students to academic interests beyond the curriculum
• Build confidence through structured challenge

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.

---

Choosing the Right Competition

When selecting competitions, consider:

• Year group eligibility
• Subject strengths and interests
• Time commitment
• Level of challenge
• School support

A balanced approach is often best — combining one or two core subject competitions with broader enrichment activities.

---

Explore More UK Student Competitions

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:

👉 https://competemap.com

CompeteMap helps students and parents discover suitable competitions and plan participation throughout the academic year.