Your next action
Ask your UKMT school or centre about the 2026 Senior Mathematical Challenge (SMC). Posted-paper orders have closed; the organiser still lists a download-and-print purchase route. Arrange your place with the centre before the competition day.
- Season / status
- 2026–27; SMC is on 7 October 2026.
- Who registers
- A school or registered UKMT centre purchases entries.
- Purchase deadline
- Download-and-print papers: 7 October 2026. Posted papers closed on 16 September; accessible-format orders closed on 9 September.
- Centre price
- £15 for ten download-and-print entries; posted packs were £16 for ten. Ask your centre about its charge to students.
- School years
- Year 13 or below in England, Wales and overseas; S6 or below in Scotland; Year 14 or below in Northern Ireland.
- Time basis
- The purchase deadline has no cutoff time on the page. Overseas centres must confirm the handbook’s local-date rules with UKMT.
Official SMC dates, entry and prices · Read our guide to the 2026 question-format change
Entry information checked 24 September 2026. Dates apply only to the named season. Your school or host may need an earlier decision.
Organisers
UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT), with BMOS/BMOC.
Route
Commonly Senior Mathematical Challenge (SMC) → British Mathematical Olympiad Round 1 (BMO1) → BMO2 → further tests, mentoring and residential training → IMO selection.
How to enter
Ask a registered UKMT examination centre. Both BMO rounds also permit paid open entry for full-time secondary students; reaching the relevant threshold is not the only way to sit them. Fee waivers and team selection have additional UK-eligibility requirements. BMOS normally accepts British citizenship or the specified three-year secondary-education connection. BMOS eligibility policy, current BMOS notices
For cross-border schooling, home education or national-team eligibility, read the shared eligibility guide and obtain the national organiser’s ruling.
Past papers and solutions
Choose BMO1 or BMO2 before choosing a year. The archive includes original papers, selected solutions and markers’ reports. Older papers can differ in length and structure, so follow the instructions printed on the paper.
Previous results
BMO results and reports covers the domestic programme. For international appearances, medals and contestant records, use United Kingdom in the official IMO archive. A national-round award and an IMO medal describe different achievements.
Find papers from other countries · Understand result tables and medal cut-offs
Suggest a correction or an updated official notice
If your school does not take part
Ask UKMT or BMOS about an approved centre and discretionary BMO1 entry if your school cannot help. Confirm fees and dates for that option rather than assuming a walk-in is possible.
Use the short organiser-enquiry checklist · Find practice for this country