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Current course

IMC, small group

A small live class online with Gordon for the UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Challenge in January. The same skills prepare students for the AMC 10 and the Senior Challenge in later years.

For students aiming for a Silver or Gold certificate in the IMC

For: Years 9 to 11 in the UK (ages 13 to 16) · Preparing for: UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Challenge (IMC) in January

Start the free placement test

Is this course right for your child?

A good fit if your child is

  • In Years 9 to 11 in the UK, or aged 13 to 16 in another school system
  • Reasonably confident at maths and keen to try competition maths
  • Enjoys a challenge and can spend extra time on maths each week ([hours])
  • In Year 8 (aged 12 to 13): welcome if doing very well in maths at school, or has done well in the JMC

Probably not the right course yet if your child is

  • Below Year 8 (under 12), or in Year 8 and new to competitions: our AMC 8 and JMC course is a better match
  • Already has a Gold certificate and wants to aim for the later rounds: message us and Gordon will suggest a plan

Key facts

Starts
[Start date]
When
[Day and time], UK time
Sessions
[Number] sessions of [length] minutes
Price
[Price] for the first group
Class size
3 to 8 students
Taught in
English, or English and Chinese

What the classes cover

Draft outline: Gordon will confirm it

  • Number theory

    Primes, factors, remainders and the puzzles built on them.

  • Counting and probability

    Cases, arrangements and probability without double counting.

  • Algebra in disguise

    Turning a word problem into an equation, and spotting when you don't need one.

  • Geometry

    Angles, areas, circles and Pythagoras, and the extra line that unlocks a diagram.

  • IMC strategy

    Questions 16 to 25 lose marks for wrong answers: when to answer and when to leave it blank.

  • Two mock papers

    Timed IMC papers, then a topic-by-topic report.

What's included

  • Live classes online in a small group
  • A recording of every class to watch again
  • Weekly homework with feedback
  • A short note to parents after every class
  • Two mock papers in IMC style, each with a topic-by-topic report
  • An end-of-course report

The competitions

Intermediate Mathematical Challenge (IMC)

Date: 27 January 2027

The UK's main maths competition for students up to Year 11, run by the UK Mathematics Trust and taken in schools across the country. 25 multiple-choice questions in an hour that reward careful reasoning, with marks lost for wrong guesses on the harder questions. Gold, Silver and Bronze certificates are a recognised achievement for school and university applications. Top scorers are invited to the Kangaroo and Olympiad rounds in March, and the same skills lead on to the Senior Challenge, the British Mathematical Olympiad and the AMC 10.

Learn more about the competitions →

How to enter

We prepare students; we can't enter them. Your child sits both competitions at school or at a test centre, so ask the maths department whether the school takes part. For the AMC 8, if the school doesn't take part, you can register as an individual with AMC Europe (amceurope.net) by 31 December, and they'll find a school to host your child. We're happy to help with either.

Your teacher

Gordon

Gordon teaches the thinking behind a solution, not just the answer: how to read a problem, see what it's really asking and reason it through, so students can handle questions they've never seen before.

More about Gordon →

How to join

  1. 1

    Take the free placement test

    10 to 12 questions online, [about X minutes]. No sign-up needed.

  2. 2

    Get Gordon's report

    Gordon looks at the answers and emails you a detailed report within 2 working days, with his recommendation for the best level of maths competition.

  3. 3

    Join the class

    Pay online by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay or WeChat Pay. Full refund before the second class, or if the class doesn't run.

Read the course terms →

Questions parents ask

My child is in Year 9. Can they take the AMC 8 as well?

Yes. The AMC 8 is open to Year 9 and below, and in the UK it falls in the same week as the IMC. Preparing for the IMC covers most of what the AMC 8 tests. If your child would like to sit the AMC 8 too, contact Gordon's teaching assistant: we can provide practice problems or extra sessions to help them get used to it. Students in Year 10 and above take the IMC only.

Does it help with the AMC 10 and the Senior Challenge?

Yes. They test the same kinds of reasoning at a harder level. The next AMC 10 is in November 2027, so this course is a good first step towards it. After the course, students who want to can join a short AMC 10 course to build on it, which we plan to run before the competition.

What if my child misses a class?

Every class is recorded, so they can catch up. Recordings stay available for 3 months after the course ends.

What if not enough students join?

A class runs from 3 students. If it doesn't reach 3, we tell you before the first session and refund you in full.

Which language is the class taught in?

English, or English and Chinese, depending on the students. We'll put your child in the appropriate group.

What does my child need?

A computer or tablet with a stable internet connection, paper and a pencil. Classes run on VooV Meeting, or Tencent Meeting in mainland China.

Not sure yet?

Start with the free placement test, and Gordon will send you a detailed report and his recommendation for the best level of maths competition for your child. Or contact Gordon's teaching assistant, who can tell you more.

Start the free placement test

Contact Gordon's teaching assistant

Free placement test