The high scores of a Loughborough College student in a UK-wide challenge have placed her amongst the country’s top 100 mathematicians.
It takes a lot to reach round one of the British Mathematical Olympiad, with only 1000 achieving the best results selected to take part. Of those only around 100 will be invited to go on to round two - and 17 year old Jennifer Hu was amongst them.
The Loughborough College A-level student has gone on to be awarded certificates of merit and distinction not only for her achievement in the 2019 national BMO tests but also for distinction in this year’s British Mathematical Olympiad for Girls.
“This was the first time I’d ever sat BMO1 and 2, so I never expected to achieve this score - I was really pleased,” said Jennifer, who admitted the tests were challenging but enabled her to really boost her skills.
“The questions were tough, but very interesting and satisfying to solve. I felt my problem solving skills had improved, and I learned that patience and determination were key to solving problems. Overall, it was a fantastic experience - I’m extremely grateful to the maths department and to the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust for organising this and for providing me with the opportunity to sit BMO2. Next year, I hope to enter again, and do even better.”
“Being good at maths and being fast at maths are by no means the same thing and for many of our keenest students, the added element of time-pressured competitions adds a certain spice to problem solving. Where both speed and accuracy are key, Jennifer thrives on bringing everything together to reach a correct solution in record time,” said Anthony Clohesy, Mathematics lecturer at Loughborough College.
“So far at the College, Jennifer has been involved in the Senior Maths Challenge, which is an individual timed exam, the Senior Team Challenge - competing in a team of four in a regional competition and a number of rounds of the notorious Mathematical Olympiads.
“She came top of the sixth form in the Senior Maths Challenge, securing a Gold certificate and automatic entry into the first round of the British Mathematical Olympiad, where she faced a three and a half hour paper containing six fiendish problems. Only around 1% of A-level Mathematicians qualify to enter BMO1, and of those less than a third achieve more than 20 marks. Jennifer scored 25, including two fully correct solutions, and earned herself a certificate of distinction.
“Not content with just the one Olympiad competition, Jennifer also took part in the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls earlier in the year, achieving an impressive 37 marks out of 60, again achieving a distinction. Finally she entered the BMO2, the last and most challenging of the British Olympiads, achieving a certificate of merit, missing the threshold for a distinction by only two marks.
“Loughborough College is justly proud of all our mathematicians, and we especially like to support those who are keen to go beyond their A-level studies and pursue their own mathematical interests outside the classroom. We continue to work hard to develop and enhance Science Technology Engineering and Maths and wider STEM opportunities at the College, and maths competitions have proven to be a popular and enjoyable way to do just that.
“In addition to the high-level national competitions, we also encourage year 12 and year 13 students to get involved in the ever-popular Ritangle competition, a collaborative team effort taking place every autumn term and designed to encourage innovative solution methods, use of technology and independent research.”