BIS Hanoi students excel in prestigious UKMT senior maths challenge

At the start of October, our school entered some of our brightest mathematicians from Secondary into the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge. This prestigious problem-solving exam is designed to stretch and enrich the most capable sixth-form mathematics students across the globe. The challenge awards medals to the top two-thirds of participants, with gold, silver, and bronze medals distributed in a 1:2:3 ratio. Achieving a gold medal is a significant accomplishment, considering the calibre of competitors worldwide. 

Beyond the medals, a select few (the top 1-3% of participants) are invited to compete in the British Mathematical Olympiad (BMO), an exceptionally challenging 3.5-hour exam featuring six complex problems. This year, two BIS Hanoi students, Nhat Nam (Year 11) and Gia Khanh (Year 12), earned a place in the BMO Round 1 - a remarkable achievement. 

Nhat Nam, notably only in Year 11, qualified with a perfect score of 125/125, an extraordinary and rare feat. Meanwhile, Gia Khanh Pham also excelled, demonstrating outstanding mathematical ability to secure her spot in the competition. 

Both students tackled the daunting BMO Round 1 exam with determination and skill, wrestling with problems far beyond the standard school curriculum. Their efforts paid off: Gia Khanh scored in the top 18% of all participants, earning her an invitation to the BMO Round 2. This accomplishment places her among the top-performing young mathematicians in the world for her age group. 

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