UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge 2026 Introduces New Answer Format for Final Three Questions
Mathematics / UK
The UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge 2026 will introduce a significant trial change to its question format when the competition takes place on 7 October 2026.
In previous years, the Senior Mathematical Challenge consisted of 25 multiple-choice questions. For 2026, the first 22 questions will remain multiple choice, but Questions 23–25 will require students to enter a three-digit answer from 000 to 999 instead of selecting from A–E options.
UKMT has explicitly described this as a new trial for 2026 and has also provided a sample answer sheet for the revised format.
What Is Changing?
Under the 2025 format, all 25 questions were multiple choice, including Questions 23–25.
For 2026:
- Questions 1–22: multiple choice
- Questions 23–25: three-digit numerical answers from 000–999
- Competition length: 90 minutes
- Maximum score: 125
- Starting score: 25
- Correct answer: +4
- Incorrect answer: −1
The scoring system therefore remains unchanged, but the final three questions will no longer allow students to use answer choices for elimination or guessing. Students will need to calculate the answer independently and enter the three-digit response correctly.
Important Registration and Submission Dates
The deadline to purchase printed paper packs was 16 September 2026.
Schools can still purchase the download-and-print version until 7 October 2026.
Completed paper answer sheets must be uploaded by 23:59 on 8 October 2026. UKMT has not specified a time zone for this deadline.
The change affects both students preparing for the 2026 Senior Mathematical Challenge and teachers responsible for explaining the new answer-sheet format and submitting results.
Official competition page: UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge
Official awards and scoring information: UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge Awards
2025 paper: UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge 2025 Paper
CompeteMap — UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge 2026: View competition details