17 January, 2025

BIS Hanoi students excel in the prestigious UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge

BIS Hanoi students excel in the prestigious UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge | British International School in Hanoi - BIS Hanoi students excel in prestigious UKMT senior maths challenge
At the beginning of October 2024, the British International School (BIS) Hanoi proudly supported some of our brightest mathematicians from the Secondary school as they participated in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge (UKMT SMC). 
This prestigious problem-solving exam is designed to challenge and enrich the most capable Sixth-form mathematics students from around the world. Medals are awarded to the top two-thirds of participants, with gold, silver, and bronze distributed in a 1:2:3 ratio. Achieving a gold medal is a significant accomplishment, given the high calibre of competitors globally.

Our students, Pham Bui Gia Khanh (Year 12) and Pham Le Nhat Nam (Year 11), successfully earned Gold Medals, with Nhat Nam achieving an impressive perfect score of 125 out of 125, a remarkable and rare feat.

In addition to the medals, only a select few — approximately 1-3% of participants worldwide — qualify and are invited to compete in the British Mathematical Olympiad (BMO) Round 1. Thanks to their outstanding results in the UKMT SMC, both Gia Khanh and Nhat Nam advanced to BMO Round 1 in November 2024. This particularly challenging 3.5-hour exam features six complex math problems that extend far beyond the standard school curriculum. They approached the daunting exam with great determination and logical thinking skills, and their efforts paid off.

BIS Hanoi students excel in the prestigious UKMT senior Maths challenge | British International School Hanoi - BIS Hanoi students excel in prestigious UKMT senior maths challenge

Gia Khanh scored in the top 18% of all participants worldwide, earning a Distinction Award and a direct invitation to BMO Round 2, which will take place in the last week of January 2025, right before the Tet break. This accomplishment positions her among the top-performing young mathematicians in her age group globally. With this remarkable achievement, she has become the very first Sixth-form student in the history of BIS Hanoi to advance to the prestigious BMO Round 2.

Congratulations to Nhat Nam and Gia Khanh for their exceptional achievements, which reflect not only their talent but also their dedication and passion for mathematics. We look forward to seeing Gia Khanh's performance in the next round and celebrating the future successes of our BIS Hanoi mathematicians!