Math CCA at AIS: Celebrating a Year of Competition Success

This year, the Australian International School’s Maths Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) program has had a fantastic season of achievements, with students showcasing their skills on the global stage in some of the world’s most respected maths competitions. Our students’ participation in the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC), HighFour Competitions, and the Noetic Learning Maths Contest (NLMC) highlighted not only their mathematical abilities but also their enthusiasm, perseverance, and collaborative spirit.

Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC)

Established in 1978, the AMC is one of Australia’s longest-running and best-known maths competitions. This 30-problem event challenges students to explore the real-world applications of maths, with divisions covering every level from Middle Primary to Senior. This year, AIS’s top maths students in Years 7-12 competed in the Junior, Intermediate, and Senior categories, achieving outstanding results. Their success has sparked discussions about expanding our AMC participation to include students from Years 2-12 next year.

HighFour Competitions

HighFour Competitions bring together students from around the world in team and individual contests. Founded in Shanghai, this international competition now includes schools from across Asia and Europe, with monthly contests from September to June. This year, our Year 8 boys’ team consistently achieved first place, making AIS proud on the international stage. Students in Years 9 and 11 joined in for the third round, demonstrating their eagerness to participate and compete. Next year, we’re looking forward to involving even more students, including those in Years 4 to 11.

Noetic Learning Maths Contest (NLMC)

The NLMC is a bi-annual competition that promotes problem-solving skills among primary and middle school students. This term, AIS registered two middle school teams, with 30 students from Year 7 and 30 from Year 8 participating in rounds held on November 20. We’re excited to share the results and celebrate our students’ accomplishments soon.

American Mathematics Competitions – AMC 10/12: A New Challenge for Senior Students

Another exciting addition to this year’s lineup was the AMC 10/12, a prestigious 25-question, 75-minute competition organised by the Mathematical Association of America. Students from our senior years embraced this high-level challenge, with nine participating in the 12A competition, seven in 12B, and one in the 10A/B division. AMC 10/12 is not only a valuable experience in advanced maths but also a beneficial addition to applications for top-tier universities. The results of the first competition 10A/12A, held on November 7, and the second 10B/12B on November 13 will be available in early 2025, and we’re eagerly awaiting the outcomes.

Celebrating Outstanding Achievements

We are thrilled to congratulate three of our Maths CCA students for their exceptional performance and achievements in recent competitions:

Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC)

• Narimune Nakata – Awarded High Distinction 
• Nghia Lam – Best in School and High Distinction (also best in HighFour individual)
• Ryan Lin – Awarded High Distinction

HighFour – team competition

Noetic – to be confirmed at the end of November 

These awards reflect their hard work, dedication, and talent, and we couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments. Well done to everyone!

Looking Ahead: Exciting Plans for Next Year

Building on this year’s success, we’re excited to broaden the horizons of our Maths CCA program in 2025. Plans are underway to enrol students in two new competitions: the Purple Math team challenge and the Mathematics Without Borders individual competition. We are also considering introducing the AMC8 and the UKMT (the British Mathematical Olympiad) to challenge our secondary students further.

These initiatives aim to provide students of all mathematical backgrounds with opportunities to discover the beauty of applying maths and to experience the joy of success. In our CCA, the focus isn’t solely on competition results but on the invaluable skills students develop along the way. Whether working independently or collaboratively in a team, students build resilience, cultivate a positive mindset, and learn that improvement stems from practice, effort, and learning from mistakes. These lessons extend far beyond maths, equipping our students with a growth mindset that supports their personal and academic development across all areas of life.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our AIS Community

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the AIS community for its incredible support. With the encouragement of our teachers, administrators, and parents, students have had the opportunity to unlock their potential, build confidence, and make remarkable progress in their maths journeys. We’re excited to continue building on this success and look forward to many more inspiring achievements from our Maths CCA students next year!