For young maths enthusiasts to be encouraged and discover their potential
The School Mathematics Competition is arranged by the Swedish Mathematical Society in partnership with Brummer & Partners. The competition is the oldest and most respected mathematics competition at secondary school level in Sweden. With our collaboration the Swedish Mathematical Society will receive the resources it needs to arrange and develop the competition.
Since 2010 we have been funding the School Mathematics Competition, which is aimed at secondary school students with an interest in mathematics.
Sweden's oldest and most respected mathematics competition at upper secondary school level
The Schools' Mathematics Competition is a competition in mathematical problem solving for upper secondary school students that has been held every year since 1961. Over the years, the competition has been an occasion when young mathematics enthusiasts have discovered their potential for mathematics and have been encouraged to immerse themselves. For many, it has been an opportunity to build networks and make contacts around the world.
Each year, the competition attracts more than 1,000 students from 150 schools. Around 25 of the best students from the qualifying round go on to the final, and of these about ten will receive special training by university professors and go on a training camp with Brummer & Partners. The six best students will then represent Sweden at the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO). The winner is awarded the Brummer & Partners prize, which consists of a trip either to the Cambridge University and the annual Rouse Ball Lecture, or to the CERN laboratory, one of the world's largest and most respected centres for scientific research.
Launched in 1959, the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) is an annual mathematics championship for secondary school students. Over time the IMO has expanded to over 100 countries from five continents.
Brummer & Partners training camp
Each year, Brummer & Partners hosts a training camp for the International Mathematics Olympiad. At the camp we also arrange our own Brummer & Partners mathematics duel, where the young finalists put mathematicians from Brummer & Partners to a hard test.
The real value in the School Mathematics Competition is the opportunity that it gives young people to discover their potential and receive unique training from university mathematicians already at secondary school. Many past participants have chosen to continue with mathematics, initially by doing a mathematics degree and then by working as mathematics researchers or in mathematics-intensive roles in business. In recent years interest in the competition has been growing from year to year.
Quotes from previous finalists:
Many parents and people everywhere say, I’m not so good at maths. And that seems to be the norm in society, so you are influenced by that and think that maths is difficult, but it doesn’t have to be, and most of all: maths is fun!”
Since I started at my school, Malmö Borgarskola, interest in mathematics has grown and big improvements have taken place. We have a couple of hours of training each week with a really good teacher.”
Mathematics is challenging and it is also beautiful. There is a real beauty in proving something. That two times two is always four and never anything else, for example.”