Maths Games Years 7-8
Senior Program
About The Program
The Senior Maths Games program provides an opportunity for mainstream students in Years 7 and 8 to learn valuable problem solving skills and exposes them to the application of mathematical problem solving strategies and techniques.
The Maths Games is aligned with the Australian curriculum and focuses on challenging students to think laterally and creatively when solving mathematically-based problems. It is grounded in the ‘real-world’ application of problem solving strategies and highlights the fact that there may be multiple ways to reach a solution.
Unlike the Maths Olympiads, students participating in the Maths Games do not compete against students from other schools. The primary focus of the program is to build students’ confidence and allow them to develop their skills in a non-competitive environment. Each paper focuses on the application of two distinct problem solving strategies, starting with the least challenging in the first paper and progressing to more challenging concepts through the year. Prior to each paper, APSMO provides teachers with access to a Resource Kit that contains a set of questions and solutions focussing on the relevant problem solving strategies for that particular paper. Teachers are encouraged to use the Resource Kits to teach problem solving lessons that build the skills students need for success and to maximise the benefits gained from the program.
The main aims of the program are to:
- Introduce mainstream students to important mathematical concepts.
- Teach major strategies and develop flexibility for problem solving.
- Foster creativity and ingenuity and strengthen intuition.
- Stimulate enthusiasm and enjoyment of mathematics.
- Provide for the satisfaction, joy and thrill of meeting challenges.
2022 Competition Dates
- Competition One - Wednesday 23rd March
- Competition Two - Wednesday 4th May
- Competition Three - Wednesday 15th June
- Competition Four - Wednesday 27th July
- Competition Five - Wednesday 7th September
Applications for date changes can be made in the Members’ area
Who Can Participate?
- The Senior Maths Games is aimed at mainstream students in Years 7 and 8.
- Teams of high-achieving Year 5 and 6 students may also be considered for entry to the Senior Maths Games program as a precursor to the Senior Division Maths Olympiad.
- Registration is only open to schools in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Australian International Schools.
- Individual registration is not possible.
- Schools can enter an unlimited number of teams with up to 30 students per team.
Program Format
- The APSMO Maths Games program consists of five separate papers held roughly six weeks apart, on the same dates as the Maths Olympiads (starting in late March).
- Students should complete all five papers, however the first Maths Games paper is considered a “preparation” paper to help teachers and students gauge the level of difficulty and the results of Paper 1 are not included in a student’s overall score.
- Each paper comprises five questions, worth 1 mark each, which must be completed in a specified time-frame of 30 minutes.
- Papers are completed individually by each student with no collaboration permitted.
- Students sit the papers under test conditions in the classroom.
- The papers are marked by the teacher in charge who then submits the results to APSMO.
- APSMO recommends that the solutions be reviewed as a group to enhance learning.
- Unlike the Maths Olympiads, students’ overall results are not compared to other schools.
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