300 schools from across New South Wales will take part in the 46th Newcastle Permanent Primary School Mathematics Competition next week, putting their mathematical and problem-solving skills to the test.
Starting on Monday 3 August, Year 5 and 6 students will step outside their normal classroom routine and take on a series of mathematical challenges.
As one of Australia's largest and longest-running primary school mathematics contests, the competition gives students free access to an opportunity to showcase their skills while the online-only format significantly uplifts student accessibility through its text-to-speech function.
Our spokesperson Paul Juergens said he was proud to see the competition continue to challenge and inspire students for more than four decades.
"It’s really exciting to reach the 46th year of the Newcastle Permanent Primary School Maths Competition," Paul said.
"Maths plays such a crucial role in everyday life, from budgeting, cooking, time management and problem solving, and this competition is a great way to help students see how their skills can be used in real-world situations.
"For generations, this competition has given students the chance to test themselves, think creatively and build confidence in their maths skills. We look forward to seeing the continued impact this initiative has on our communities into the future."
The competition structure will see students tasked with 35 challenging questions and 45 minutes on the clock. The questions include practical math skills and problems, and in keeping with tradition, the competition remains consistent in its rules – no calculators and no rulers.
Competition Director Dr Peter Howley said the competition provided an opportunity for students to engage with mathematics in a positive and practical way.
"With career interests and trajectories forming in the primary school years, it is important to provide young students opportunities to engage with mathematics, and the associated critical thinking, problem-solving and quantitative skills, in practical and appealing ways," Dr Howley said.
“The Newcastle Permanent Primary School Maths Competition plays a valuable role in expanding students’ experiences and learning; uniquely supporting and complementing traditional educational activities. The competition connects students with practical applications and skills development, enabling students to give maths a go in new contexts.
"I’m delighted to lead this historic competition and it's wonderful to have so many schools, teachers and students engaging with this year's competition."
Since the competition began in 1981, it has seen over half a million participants and has become a beloved tradition across NSW primary schools.
For the first time, the 2026 competition will be rolled out in an online-only format for schools to complete.
Question examples
- Petrol at a particular petrol station costs 171.7 cents per Litre. What would be the cost in dollars ($) for 30 Litres?
A: The cost in dollars would be 51.51.
- Over the past four 200m races, Sawyer’s average time has been 29.5 seconds. If three of his four times were 30 seconds, 29.4 seconds, and 29.6 seconds. What would his fourth time, in seconds have been?
A: His fourth time would be 29 seconds.
- Jack gets a 25% rise in his hourly pay rate. After working for 4 hours at his new (after the 25% rise) hourly pay rate he receives $250. What was his hourly pay rate, in $ per hour (rounded to the nearest cent), before the 25% rise?
A: His hourly rate would be 50.00.