UKMT JMC Past Papers & Solutions
Junior Mathematical Challenge
Free JMC past papers from 2011 to 2026 with direct PDF links to every question paper, solutions and extended solutions, plus Junior Kangaroo and JMO follow-on routes.
- Eligibility
- Year 8 and below (England & Wales)
- Format
- 25 multiple-choice questions
- Duration
- 60 minutes
- Scoring
- 5 marks for Q1–15, 6 marks for Q16–25, penalties for wrong answers in the back section
The Junior Mathematical Challenge rewards clean arithmetic, spatial reasoning and a habit of spotting the shortcut. Past papers make the difference between a Bronze and a Gold certificate because the question styles — clock and calendar puzzles, area dissections, digit logic — recur every single year. Every sitting below links straight to the official UKMT PDF: the question paper to sit timed, the solutions sheet to mark against, and the extended solutions and investigations to read once you have written up your own attempt.
UKMT JMC past papers and solutions by year
Every link below opens the official UKMT PDF directly. Sit the paper timed, mark it against the solutions, then read the extended solutions once you have written up your own attempt.
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Other official UKMT JMC resources
What the paper tests
Number & arithmetic
Shape & space
Logic puzzles
Ratio & proportion
Exam technique
Where it leads: Top scorers progress to the Junior Kangaroo or the Junior Mathematical Olympiad (JMO). See our coaching programme.
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Frequently asked questions
- Where can I find UKMT JMC past papers and answers?
- UKMT publishes every Junior Mathematical Challenge paper and its solutions as a free PDF. Each year on this page links straight to the official UKMT file — question paper, solutions and extended solutions — so you can download and print them in one click.
- Are JMC past papers free to download?
- Yes. All the papers listed here are free official UKMT PDFs. We do not re-host them; we add topic tagging, a week-by-week revision plan and mentor-led walkthroughs of the harder Q16–25 questions.
- What score gets a Gold certificate in the JMC?
- Boundaries move each year, but Gold is typically awarded to the top 6% of entrants, roughly in the 90–105 mark range out of 135. Bronze usually starts in the mid-40s to mid-50s.
- Are marks deducted for wrong answers?
- Yes on the harder section. Questions 16–25 carry a penalty for an incorrect answer, so an unsupported guess has negative expected value unless you can eliminate at least two options.
- What is the difference between the solutions and the extended solutions?
- The solutions PDF gives the correct option letter and a short justification for all 25 questions, so it is what you mark against. The extended solutions and investigations PDF sets out the full reasoning, alternative methods and follow-up problems — read it after your own write-up.
- Which JMC years are available here?
- Direct PDF links run from 2011 to 2026. Full question papers and solutions are available from 2015 onwards; 2011–2014 are covered by the official extended solutions booklets.
Related paper libraries
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