My younger son is something of a whizz at maths. He was selected, along with three other gifted and talented (G&T) mathematicians in year 5, to represent the school in a maths competition at a private school on the other side of the county. The four kids were split into pairs and there were 36 teams/ pairs in total, from state and private schools around the county.
I didn’t go to watch – it was too far away and there were ballet logistics to consider, so I only have my son’s account of what happened. When my son tells a long story it’s often a long and elaborate excuse as to why he has failed (in his mind, not winning is failure – except in football where failure is quite usual).
Apparently the 36 teams were split into two competitions, with 18 teams in each. The split was random, there was no ability ranking. The competition took the form of six rounds, each lasting eight minutes and consisting of five questions.
The first round consisted of arranging dominos in a certain way so that they all fitted together and the numbers all matched. My son and his partner got full marks. Each time the points were squared – so if you got five out of five you got 25 points, four out of five was 16, three out of five was nine etc.
They got full marks on the second round too – something involving complex shapes. On the third round they got three out of five, so only nine points. They only dropped points in one other round – where they got four out of five, or 16 points. Apart from that, it was full marks all the way.
And still he strung his story out…
The runners up were announced for both competitions. It wasn’t them. Then the winner was announced for the other competition. And FINALLY they announced the winner for their competition.
It was them.
And their score was considerably higher than the winning team in the other competition.
Overall winners. Out of some seriously clever kids.
AND they beat the posh kids. I did a special air punch just for that. I don’t know why, I just like to beat the private school kids.
Once again, I was very proud of my maths wizard. And he was particularly pleased because he won a scientific calculator for his efforts.
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May 8, 2014
Wow Sarah, are there no ends to the talents of your offspring? Well done to your son, amazing that they won 🙂
May 8, 2014
Thanks very much 🙂 He is a VERY clever boy, but to beat the private school kids was particularly satisfying! 😉
May 8, 2014
Well done to him!! It can’t have been easy under pressure but he seems like a real natural!
May 9, 2014
He certainly is! Thanks very much 🙂
May 8, 2014
Wow! Well done to him and his team, sounds like they are all a very clever bunch! I know exactly what you mean about wanting to beat the private school kids, we’ve been there ourselves 😉 x #LoudnProud
May 9, 2014
Thanks very much. There’s something extra special about beating the private schools! I know it’s wrong, but it just makes me feel extra smug! 😉
May 8, 2014
Fantastic! I know the competition very well and it really rewards children who are able to think for themselves AS WELL AS being very good at maths!
If he enjoyed it, make sure whichever school he ends up at next year enters him into the UKMT Maths Challenge. It’s a great way for the brightest kids to get a level of competition which they may not get at school, and the questions are a lot of fun.
May 9, 2014
Thanks very much, Clare, I’ll bear that in mind!
May 8, 2014
I’d be punching the air too. Well done that boy! Certainly an achievement worthy of #loundproud today 🙂
May 9, 2014
Thanks very much! I thought it was definitely worth it too 🙂
May 8, 2014
That’s brilliant, you must be so proud! That must have given him a massive boost of confidence too. Well done to him!x
May 9, 2014
Thank you, I am so proud and he was really proud of himself too 🙂
May 8, 2014
Fabulous! I think your son has inherited your wonderful story telling technique 🙂 You must just be so incredibly proud of him xx
May 9, 2014
Thanks you! He really can string his stories out for a long time and build up the tension! x
May 9, 2014
Woop woop! That’s brilliant, you should be very proud. Hope your son was also really pleased with his own achievements. And winning a calculator too – great prize! x
May 9, 2014
Thank you! He was very proud – and very pleased with his calculator too! x
May 9, 2014
Well done him. It’s lovely when they make you proud isn’t it?
May 9, 2014
It certainly is! Thanks very much 🙂
May 9, 2014
That is such a great achievement- especially with the private schools around here! I tried linking up with Loud and Proud but the linky seems to have expired.
May 9, 2014
Thanks very much, Emma. There’s something especially satisfying in my book about beating the private schools!
May 9, 2014
I love how he tells the story and totally yay to the win, brilliant 🙂
May 9, 2014
Thanks very much 🙂 He loves to build up the tension in his stories!
May 9, 2014
Brilliant! Well done to him.
May 9, 2014
Thanks very much 🙂
May 9, 2014
Welldone to your son Sarah… and yay to kicking the Private school kids BUTTS! haha :p #PoCoLo
May 9, 2014
Thank you, Leanne! I love kicking the private school butts! 😉
May 9, 2014
I’d be totally punching the air too. How cool to have a Maths whizz in the family – he can work out all the bills at family meals out (like my brother in law ha) #loudnproud
May 9, 2014
Thanks very much! He really is amazing at maths 🙂
May 9, 2014
Wow well done to your son! What a fantastic achievement 🙂 xx
May 9, 2014
Thanks very much, I’m so proud of him 🙂
May 10, 2014
What an absolutely outstanding achievement! No wonder you are shouting loud and proud. Well done to your boy and team. Thank you for linking to PoCoLo 🙂 x
May 11, 2014
Thanks very much, Vic, I’m very proud of him! Always a pleasure to join PoCoLo 🙂
May 11, 2014
Well Done – super job and great post x #pocolo
May 11, 2014
Lucas says – Awesome job dude – high-5!!!!
May 13, 2014
WOW your children really are amazing! It must have been quite nerve racking to be up against of all the other children. A well deserved congratulations is in order for winning the whole competition.
Thanks for linking up with Small Steps Amazing Achievements :0)
x
May 14, 2014
Haha, I love that you victory punched the air for beating the snooty kids! haha. Just right! Congrats to your little brain boxes!! #PoCoLo x