UNSW Maths Competition

Every year, some students would be selected to take part in the UNSW Maths Competition. Here are some FAQs about the competition:

What does UNSW stand for?

It stands for the University of New South Wales, located in Australia. 

Who is the organiser for the competition?

Educational Assessment Australia (EAA), which is an education group of UNSW Global Pty Limited, a not-for-profit provider of education, training and advisory services and a wholly owned enterprise of the University of New South Wales (UNSW), is the organiser of the competition. It produces the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) as a means of administering the competition.

What is the ICAS?

The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) are independent skills-based assessments with a competition element. Commonly referred to as the UNSW tests, ICAS is unique, being the most comprehensive generally available suite of academic assessments and school tests for primary and secondary school students. The assessments comprise eight Computer Skills tests, eleven English tests, eleven Maths tests, ten Science tests, five Spelling tests and ten Writing tests.

What do the UNSW Maths tests assess?

The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) Mathematics assesses students’ skills and knowledge across five strands:

• Algebra and Patterns - Involves patterns of numbers, relationships between numbers and the use of symbols to stand for unknown or variable numbers.
• Chance and Data - Involves mathematical treatment of data and statistics.
• Measures and Units - Involves properties of the physical world that can be measured, the units used to measure them and the process of measurement.
• Number and Arithmetic - Involves types of numbers, their properties and number operations. The strand has strong links with Measures and Units, Algebra and Patterns and Chance and Data. It also has some links with Space and Geometry.
• Space and Geometry - Involves the properties of two-dimensional and three-dimensional space.

What is the format of the test?

Papers F, G, H and I

• Calculators are required.
• Formal algebra is tested. Students are expected to be familiar with some conventions of algebra.
• Formal geometry is tested. Students are expected to be familiar with some conventions of geometry.

To find out more about the mathematics skills assessed, download a PDF copy of the ICAS Mathematics assessment framework.

Test Structure

PAPER	BREAKDOWN OF QUESTIONS	TEST DURATION
F (Sec 1)	35 multiple choice / 5 free response	1 hour
G (Sec 2)	35 multiple choice / 5 free response	1 hour
H (Sec 3)	35 multiple choice / 5 free response	1 hour
I (Sec 4)	35 multiple choice / 5 free response	1 hour

What are the benefits of the test?

• High quality test materials underpinned by methodologies in psychometric measurement and Item Response Theory.
• ICAS papers are skills-based.
• Comparison of student or school's current performance to previous years.
• Results show the student's relative position in the test population.

How are the participants selected for the competition?

One criterion is the score the students obtain for a past year paper that they had to sit for. Other criterion include teachers' feedback, attitude and performance for Maths tests and exams.

Why does the school not allow everyone to enter the competition?

The competition is a form of enrichment for the students. Students who are already not excelling in the school curriculum would not be loaded with more work and preparation for the competition. Moreover, the tests are skills-based and students who have not displayed the prerequisite skills should first focus on their Maths syllabus. 

When is the competition?

It will take place on the 29th of July in school and training sessions are held for Sec 1 - 3 participants on 17th and 24th of July. 

If you have any further queries, please feel free to approach the following teachers-in-charge:

Mr Eric Yong

Mr Lim Kwang Liang

Ms Yvonne Lee