1. The South African (SA) Mathematics Challenge for Grade 4 to 7 learners is organised by the South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) in collaboration with the Association for Mathematics Education of South Africa (AMESA) and is sponsored by the SASOL Foundation.

2. The aim of the Challenge is to popularise Mathematics and to enhance the quality of teaching and learning of the subject. The Challenge is not a scholastic test, but tests conceptual knowledge, the application of knowledge in new situations, problem solving and general mathematical thinking. As Mathematics is a subject that must be accessible to all learners in the GET Band, it is envisaged that all learners from Grades 4 to 7 in the Western Cape will have the opportunity to take part in the SA Mathematics Challenge and other Mathematics activities, to make the subject more appealing to learners as a choice later in the FET Band.

3. In 2014 the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) contributed to the highest number of learners participating in the First Round of the SA Mathematics Challenge in the country and schools are once again encouraged to enter all their Grade 4 to 7 learners for the First Round in 2015.

4. The SA Mathematics Challenge

  • There are two categories for participation - confident learners may prefer to participate as individuals (singles), whilst others may prefer to work in pairs (doubles).
4.1 First Round: Thursday, 21 May 2015

  • Participation in the First Round is free and all learners may enter.
  • The First Round is written at schools on 21 May 2015. The recommended duration is one hour, but a little more time may be allowed.
  • All schools will receive the question paper, memorandum and forms to record statistical information. It is required of the school to make copies of the question papers for learners - learners competing as a pair (doubles) will receive one question paper and answer sheet to facilitate co-operative problem solving.
  • Because the emphasis is not merely on calculation skills, calculators are allowed and learners should therefore be encouraged to bring their own calculators.
  • Teachers will mark the question papers from the enclosed memorandum (or learners can mark and discuss it in class).
  • Teachers will finally complete the First Round Statistics form and Final Round Registration form and send it to their cluster/circuit/district organiser who will liaise with SAMF. Subject advisers must be copied in all communication to SAMF. Entry forms together with the statistical data of the First Round should reach SAMF by no later than 25 May 2015 to enable them to organise the Final Round.
4.2 Final Round: Wednesday, 29 July 2015

  • Learners scoring at least 50% (10 or more out of 20) in the First Round qualify to participate in the Final Round.
  • The Final Round is written on 29 July 2015 at a central venue in each region. The cluster/circuit/district organiser will arrange the venue, invigilation and will inform participating schools of arrangements for the Final Round by 24 June 2015 - provided the First Round Statistics form and Final Round Registration form were submitted timeously.
  • The Final Round question papers and specially designed answer sheets will be printed by SAMF and distributed by courier to all those schools that registered for the Final Round. No marking is required.
  • The completed answer sheets will be collected by the courier company and electronically marked by SAMF.
  • Only schools that have registered for the Final Round (i.e. submitted their forms and paid the entry fee of R25 per learner) on time will be allowed to participate.
5. Costs „h

  • An entrance fee of R25 per learner is charged for the Final Round (not for SASOL schools). We encourage schools to pay the entrance fee on behalf of their learners. Payment of the school's correct entrance fee should reach SAMF by 22 May 2015, either by electronic transfer (using the school's name as payment reference) or by cheque made payable to SAMF.
  • If a learner or a school cannot afford the entry fee for the Final Round, a written request for sponsorship must be sent together with the Final Round Registration form to SAMF.
  • The entry fees must be paid into the following bank account of SAMF:
    ABSA Bank
    Hatfield, Branch code: 632005
    Account no: 4061037913
6. The WCED appreciates the effort of schools to offer learners the opportunity to take part in the SA Mathematics Challenge every year and believes that with more practise, learners will do Mathematics with greater confidence.

7. More information about the SA Mathematics Challenge, including free past question papers, can be accessed via the SA Mathematics Challenge website at www.samf.ac.za and www.amesa.org.za/Challenge/Index.htm

8. Principals are kindly requested to bring this minute to the attention of all Grades 4 to 7 Mathematics teachers.


SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT
DATE: 2015:05:13