UKMT Primary Kangaroo
UKMT's newest challenge for primary school students aged 9-11, extending the UK's premier mathematical challenge framework to Years 5-6 for the first time.
Grade Levels
Grades 4-6 (Ages 9-11)
Format
Multiple Choice · 20 questions · 60 minutes
Scoring
Multiple-choice format with progressive difficulty tiers. Part of UKMT's established challenge framework.
Participants
Part of 700,000+ total UKMT participation
Established
2025
February
Registration deadline (late February)
March
Competition week (March 19-26)
Registration
Through schools
Prizes & Recognition
Gold, Silver, and Bronze certificates awarded to top performers. All participants receive a certificate of participation.
About This Competition
The UKMT Primary Kangaroo, launched in 2025, is the UK Mathematics Trust's first dedicated challenge for primary school students. Aimed at pupils aged 9-11 (Years 5 and 6), it brings UKMT's proven approach to mathematical enrichment to a younger audience.
The challenge consists of 20 multiple-choice questions designed to be accessible yet stimulating, encouraging mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills. Questions progress in difficulty, allowing students of all abilities to engage with the early questions while challenging the most able with later ones.
As the newest addition to the UKMT family of challenges, Primary Kangaroo creates a natural pathway into the Junior Mathematical Challenge for students entering secondary school. UKMT's challenges collectively reach over 700,000 students across the UK, making them the country's most widely participated mathematical enrichment activities.
How to Prepare
Practice with UKMT Junior Challenge Problems
Primary Kangaroo problems are similar in style to UKMT Junior Challenge but targeted at younger students. Use easier Junior Challenge questions as preparation.
No Negative Marking — Answer Everything
The Primary Kangaroo has no penalty for wrong answers. Make sure you attempt every question, even if you need to make your best guess.
Access Free UKMT Resources Online
UKMT provides past Primary Kangaroo papers and solutions at ukmt.org.uk. Practice with these to understand the question style and difficulty level.
A Reward for Strong PMC Performance
Primary Kangaroo is an invitation-only follow-on round for top PMC performers. Being invited is already an achievement — enjoy this bonus challenge!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UKMT Primary Kangaroo?
The UKMT Primary Kangaroo is a new mathematical challenge launched in 2025 by the UK Mathematics Trust, aimed at primary school students aged 9-11 (Years 5-6). It extends UKMT's established challenge framework down to the primary level for the first time.
How does Primary Kangaroo relate to other UKMT challenges?
Primary Kangaroo serves as an entry point into the UKMT challenge pathway. Strong performers can progress to the Junior Mathematical Challenge when they enter secondary school, and from there to Intermediate and Senior challenges.
Who can enter the Primary Kangaroo?
The competition is open to students in Year 5 and Year 6 (ages 9-11) in schools throughout the UK. Schools register their students through the UKMT website. Individual entries are not accepted.
Is the Primary Kangaroo connected to Math Kangaroo?
While inspired by the international Kangaroo movement, the UKMT Primary Kangaroo is organized independently by the UK Mathematics Trust, which has its own established tradition of mathematical challenges reaching over 700,000 students annually.
Related Competitions
UKMT Junior Mathematical Challenge
The UK's largest math competition for students aged 11-13. Over 270,000 participants with Gold, Silver, and Bronze certificates.
UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Challenge
The UK's intermediate-level math challenge for students aged 13-16, with 200,000+ participants annually.
UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge
The UK's senior-level math challenge for students aged 16-18. The starting point of the UK's IMO team selection pipeline.