Mathématiques sans Frontières
Mathématiques sans Frontières is an annual international mathematics competition for schoolchildren, centrally run by the Académie de Strasbourg, where the UK branch of the competition is administered and funded by the Scottish Mathematical Council and volunteers.
The competition involves several mathematical puzzles where one is posed, and must be answered, in a foreign language. The light-hearted competition is designed to promote mathematics, the practice of a foreign language, and teamwork.
There are two divisions to the competition: the Junior section (S4 level) has 10 questions, and the Senior section (S5 level) has 13 questions. Both sections have a 90 minute time limit. It is a team event, with teams normally consisting of an entire class. However, pupils should split the questions up between themselves for full effectiveness.
Timeline
Register for 2025 Competition
Complete your details below before 31st January 2025 to register for the 2025 competition.
This Year's Competition (2024) and Last Year's Competition
In 2024, 30 schools provided 45 entries with the furthest entry reaching us from Al Yasmina British Academy in Abu Dhabi!
In the Junior Competition, the Top 10 Teams were:
- Albyn School - The Pioneers
- St Mary's Music School
- Peebles High School
- High School of Dundee - MA4B1
- Robert Gordon's College - RGC Ellis Kids joint with The Glasgow Academy - The Geometric Gigglers
- Strathallan School - Paul's Baddies joint with The Glasgow Academy - The Mathemachickens
- Al Yasmina British Academy joint with Bell Baxter High School
In the Senior Competition, the Top 10 Teams were:
- Strathallan School - No Inglis
- The Glasgow Academy - Pi Hard with a Vengeance
- Robert Gordon's College - Fogiel's Funktion Fanatics
- High Storr's School
- Robert Gordon's College - Ananth's Boyz
- Charterhouse - Team 2
- Myddleton College - Myddleton Mathletes
- St Thomas of Aquin's RC High School - The Number sin2x+cos2x Team
- High School of Dundee - MA5A1
- The Glasgow Academy - Charlies Angles
In 2023, we welcomed 40 entries from 18 different schools across Scotland, England, and Germany.
The top teams in the Junior Section were Neeks (from Robert Gordon’s College, Aberdeen) in 1st place, Pi Me To The Moon (The Glasgow Academy) in 2nd place, and, in joint 3rd place, 2M1 (Grange Academy, Kilmarnock) and ENB (European School Frankfurt, Germany).
In the Senior Section, we congratulate the winning entry from Charterhouse School in England, the Calcaholics (The Glasgow Academy) in 2nd place, and MA5B1 (High School of Dundee) in 3rd place.
Charterhouse School forgo a prize and instead opted to have a donation made to mental health charity Papyrus.
Practice Papers
Previous Winners
| 2024 | To be Announced 6/6/2024 | To be Announced 6/6/2024 | To be Announced 18/6/2024 |
| 2023 | Robert Gordon’s College, Aberdeen | Charterhouse School, England | Charterhouse School, England |
| 2022 | Glasgow Academy | Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen | Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen |
| 2021 | No Competition due to Covid-19 | ||
| 2020 | High School of Dundee | Lochaber High School | Lochaber High School |
| 2019 | Wellington School, Ayr | Grange Academy, Kilmarnock | Grange Academy, Kilmarnock |
Entries from previous participants
Contact us
If you are interested in learning more about Mathématiques sans Frontières, please contact us here, contact organiser Dr Alan Walker (alan.walker@uws.ac.uk), or see us on Twitter (@MSF_Scotland).