ORANGE year 5 and 6 students tested their problem-solving skills without the aid of calculators, rulers or other maths equipment as part of a regional NSW mathematics competition yesterday.
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The 25 Orange Christian School students and 60 Orange Public School students were among 18,000 students from 308 schools to take part in the Newcastle Permanent Primary School Mathematics Competition.
This was the second year Orange Christian School had been involved and Micaela Visser and Lesieli Kaufusi were among the students to take part.
“It was easier at first but then [got] a bit hard but it was okay, I liked it,” Micaela said.
“There was a lot of problem solving,” Lesieli said.
The students said there was also algebra, symmetry and geometry questions and added it was similar to the ICAS maths test run by the University of NSW.
Orange Christian School executive assistant Catherine Lawrence said the maths competition gave students an opportunity to compete against a broader group, hone mathematical skills and assess their current progress.
“Mathematics is the language that describes the order and patterns of creation; and at [Orange Christian School] we teach maths in a way that enables students to better understand the world in which we live,” she said.
“This is why we encourage our students to engage in many mathematical forums such Maths Camp and external mathematical competitions.
“People engage with some form of maths on a daily basis in everyday life: from handling money through to estimating the time required to leave home to make it to a destination.”
Newcastle Permanent Orange Branch lending manager Erin McVicar said the competition makes maths fun, while teaching children fundamental life skills.
“Mathematics and problem solving are valuable life skills and the exam helps students develop these, providing more opportunities to them later in life,” she said.
