The 2025-26 QUB Maths Competition for Schools was held on Thursday 4th December 2025 in the Great Hall, with a record 24 schools from across NI taking part. 

After the first two gruelling rounds (with 10 questions to complete and only 45 minutes in each) followed by 5 rounds of the maths quiz, the winners of the tight race for the top places were:

Friends' School Lisburn (1st place)

Royal School Armagh (2nd place)

Belfast Royal Academy (3rd place)

CONGRATULATIONS to all our prize winners and a BIG thank you to all the other participating schools and their teachers for supporting this event and making this not only our biggest competition to date but also such a fun and memorable event.

The 2026-27 Maths Competition is provisionally scheduled for Monday 30th November 2026.

We look forward to welcoming you all again in November 2026!

Please contact us here with any and all queries regarding the Maths Competition.

Photos from past competitions can be found on the QUB Maths Competition blog.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF MATHEMATICS!

The QUB Maths Competition for Schools has been held annually since 2009. The competition is usually held in early December. Teams of A-Level Maths students from about 20 schools from all over Northern Ireland come to Queen’s to compete in a two gruelling problem-solving rounds, followed by a maths quiz. Many of these students later come to Queen’s to study in the School of Mathematics and Physics.

Schedule

Tea/coffee upon arrival from 10:30 am.

Please arrive in time for the competition to start at 11:00 sharp.

11:00 – 11:45 Round 1

Each team will work on a set of mathematical problems.

11:45 – 12:00 Break

Snacks and drinks will be provided.

12:00 – 12:45 Round 2

Each team will work on a set of mathematical puzzles.

12:45 – 13:30 Lunch

Lunch is not provided. Pupils and teachers are welcome to bring packed lunches. Lunch can also be bought from a few cafés within a few-minute walk of the venue.

13:30 – 15:00 Quiz and Prize Ceremony

The last part of the competition will be a maths table quiz.

Note that calculators are permitted, but may not necessarily be useful!

FAQs

What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event?

We are sorry that we cannot offer parking at Queen's University Belfast due to the event being held during term time. However small school buses may enter for disembarking and collection though the entrance to the Main Campus on University Square (please indicate when booking if access is required).