Over 200 teachers will help run the event, assisted by about 30 UCT students, many of whom participated in the competition during their schooldays.
The UCT Mathematics Competition began in 1977 as a school-based event, and moved to the UCT campus in 1980. UCT has been hosting the event ever since.
Each school can enter five individuals and five pairs per grade. The contest papers are set by a team of teachers and moderated by members of the UCT Mathematics department. Separate question papers are set for each grade, from 8 to 12. Each paper consists of 30 questions: ten easy ones to start with, followed by ten more moderately difficult ones, and ending with ten really challenging questions. Pupils write as individuals or as pairs. Pairs and individuals write the same paper, but are graded separately.
The event is sponsored by Capitec Bank and Aurecon, with prizes donated by Casio and Oxford University Press.
"Full marks in the UCT Mathematics Competition is a rare event," says competition director, John Webb.
The top ten individuals and the top three pairs in each grade will win gold awards and prizes. Trophies will be presented to schools that excel in the competition. The prize-giving will take place at 7pm on Wednesday, 5 June in the Baxter Concert Hall.
