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
Deadline for applications to the event
Competition day!
Marking day
Results released and certificates issued
Register for 2027 Competition
Complete your details below before 29th January 2027 to register for the 2027 competition.
This Year's Competition (2026) and Last Year's Competition
In 2026, 32 schools provided 63 entries.
In the Junior Competition, the Top 10 Teams were:
- Mackie Academy - 4M5
- High School of Dundee - Fergy's Followers
- The Glasgow Academy - Swandawgs
- European School FFM - EN A
- Robert Gordon's College - Sine-Clair Maths Moggers
- Mackie Academy - 4M1 joint with Grange Academy - Mr Smith's S3 Class joint with The Glasgow Academy - Acute Wee Team
- Hutchesons' Grammar School - Ayyan's Disciples
- Strathallan School - The Square Based Pyramids
In the Senior Competition, the Top 10 Teams were:
- High Storrs School - Steel City Thugs
- St Thomas of Aquin's RC High School - The Power of Zero Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
- Robert Gordon's College - Algebro's
- Lochaber High School - LHS MAHIAI
- St Mary's Music School - Higher Class joint with The Glasgow Academy - The Limit Doesn't Exist
- Aston University Mathematics School - Year 12 Team
- Madras College - MC's of St Andrews joint with Robert Gordon's College - Mac West Side
- Hutchesons' Grammar School - Calc-aholics
The overall winners of this year's competition were the Junior team 4M5 from Mackie Academy!
In 2025, we welcomed 69 entries from 37 different schools across Scotland, England, Wales, Tanzania, Italy, and Germany!
In the Junior Competition, the Top 10 Teams were:
- Robert Gordon’s College - Maths Apprentices
- Albyn School - No Hay Problema
- Europaische Schule Frankfurt Am Main - S4 En B
- Hutchesons' Grammar School - Line joint with Robert Gordon’s College - The AQA Aces
- Albyn School - No Team Name joint with Grange Academy - Mrs Wilson's 4M1 Class
- Europaische Schule Frankfurt Am Main - S4 En A
- Wellington School - Mainly Smidge
- The Glasgow Academy - Well Obtuse You
In the Senior Competition, the Top 10 Teams were:
- Robert Gordon's College - 5AP
- The Glasgow Academy - The AbSURD Apes
- High School of Dundee - 5B1
- Robert Gordon's College - MacGibb-onacci Sequence joint with Charterhouse School
- The Glasgow Academy - The Mathmichickens
- Europaische Schule Frankfurt Am Main - S5 En B
- The Mary Erskine School - Pythagorosas
- Bishopbriggs Academy - No Team Name
- Leith Academy - No Team Name joint with Marling School - No Team Name
The overall winners of this year's competition were the Junior team Maths Apprentices from Robert Gordon's College.
Practice Papers
Previous Winners
| 2026 | Mackie Academy | High Storrs School | Mackie Academy |
| 2025 | Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen | Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen | Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen |
| 2024 | Albyn School, Aberdeen | Strathallan School | Albyn School, Aberdeen |
| 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 ([email protected]), or see us on Twitter (@MSF_Scotland).