Lots of pupils across the UK take part in UKMT competitions every year. These tests can be fun, exciting, and a bit nerve-wracking all at once. Even if you usually like maths, it’s normal to feel some pressure when the questions look unusual or tougher than school ones.
But getting ready doesn’t have to feel stressful. In fact, there are ways to practise and prepare that help you feel more relaxed and even enjoy the challenge. We’ve put together some ideas that can make the build-up feel more fun and help you walk into the competition feeling calm and ready.
Turn Practice Into a Game
Practising for a maths competition doesn’t have to mean sitting quietly with a workbook for hours. It can actually feel like play if you keep things light and mix up the way you practise.
• Try out riddles or short logic puzzles that stretch your thinking in a fun way. You can find printable puzzles or apps that have daily challenges.
• Set little timed races where you solve three questions in ten minutes. This adds just enough pressure to feel real without stressing you out.
• Work on problems with one or two friends if you can. Talking it through together can make tricky puzzles feel way less frustrating.
• Keep track of your small wins. Solved a type of problem you couldn’t before? That’s worth celebrating. You don’t need to wait for perfect scores to feel proud of your effort.
When maths practice feels more like a brain game than a test run, it’s easier to keep going. Even if you get some wrong, you’re still getting better every time.
Learn the Puzzle Patterns
At first glance, UKMT questions can look completely different from what you see in school. But if you practise often, you’ll start to notice they follow a few common patterns. Recognising these can help you feel more confident, even with brand-new questions.
• Look out for your favourite question types. Maybe you like questions with number patterns, or puzzles with properties of shapes. Once you know what suits you, those parts won’t feel so tricky.
• Keep a notebook of the question “shapes” you see often. Maybe one type always asks you to test a few values, or another always hides a simple trick. Learning how the problems are built means you’re spending less energy guessing where to start.
• Don’t worry too much about remembering exact answers from old tests. Focus more on how the solutions work. If you can understand the steps, you’ll be better prepared when the numbers change.
UKMT competitions reward problem-solving skills more than memory. So spotting the patterns behind the questions can help you feel more in control and less surprised.
Stay Calm When You Get Stuck
It’s completely normal to hit a question that feels impossible. That doesn’t mean you’re bad at maths. In fact, the UKMT is made to include tough problems that few people get all the way through. The key is knowing how to stay steady when that happens.
• When you hit a puzzle that doesn’t make sense, stop and take a few slow breaths. That helps your brain shift out of panic mode.
• Read the question again, slowly. Sometimes, all it takes is a second look to spot a clue you missed.
• Try small steps at first instead of jumping to the whole solution. Even writing down the facts or drawing a picture can give you a starting point.
• If it still feels messy, move on. It’s okay to skip a question and come back later with fresh eyes. Getting stuck is part of the test, but staying stuck isn’t.
Learning how to calm your mind in the middle of a hard thinking task is one of the best skills you can build, and it helps far beyond the maths paper.
Build Smart Test-Day Habits
The day of the competition can feel full of nerves, especially if you’ve been thinking about it for weeks. Thankfully, a calm morning starts the night before.
• Get plenty of rest so your brain feels sharp, not foggy. A tired mind can make easy questions seem harder.
• Eat something filling before the test. Not too heavy, but enough to keep your energy steady.
• Pack your pencil, eraser, and anything else you’ll need the night before so you’re not rushing in the morning.
• Practise a short routine you can take into the exam, like breathing for five seconds, reading every question twice, and jotting quick notes before you solve. Having a rhythm can help settle your nerves.
It’s also smart to practise working at a steady pace when you do trial papers. Racing through fast or spending too long on a single question can both lead to trouble. You want to feel like you’re in charge of your time, not the other way around.
Why Feeling Relaxed Can Lead to Better Thinking
When your body feels calm, your brain has more room to think clearly. Confidence in maths often grows not from knowing all the tricks, but from feeling steady enough to give each question your best try.
• If you’re enjoying the process, you’re more likely to spot patterns, try creative methods, and keep going when things get tough. That helps you stay focused for longer too.
• When you treat a test like a chance to play with ideas and see what you can figure out, not just a score to chase, it takes a lot of the pressure off. That’s where the real learning comes in.
We’ve found that over time, the pupils who do best aren’t always the ones who know the most facts. They’re the ones who are willing to be curious, thoughtful, and a bit bold when the question gets hard. Getting used to that mindset takes practice, but every small step counts.
February is a good time to start building those habits, especially for pupils entering spring competitions. Brighter mornings and a little headspace can make a big difference. And with the right mix of calm, curiosity, and steady practice, tackling a UKMT challenge can feel a lot more fun.
Are you ready to take your preparation for UKMT competitions to the next level? At Learnfluid, we provide tailored support with expert tutors and advanced AI tools to help you feel confident and relaxed on test day. Achieve your best performance yet by embracing the fun in preparation and developing strong problem-solving skills with our engaging and personalized tutoring sessions. Let’s help you build the skills you need to succeed.