Overview
The Summer Competition is a special competitive mode where students represent their schools in a time-limited mathematical challenge series. Unlike regular challenges, summer competition features school-based leaderboards, time-constrained problems, and a unique point structure.The Summer Competition runs as a separate mode from regular challenges. Summer competition participants have dedicated accounts and only access competition content during the event period.
Competition Structure
School-Based Teams
The summer competition is built around schools:- Students register with their school affiliation
- Individual scores contribute to school rankings
- Schools compete within key stage categories
Key Stage Divisions
Just like regular challenges, competition is fair across academic levels:KS3 Division
Years 7-8 students
KS4 Division
Years 9-11 students
KS5 Division
Years 12-13 students
- Dedicated summer challenges
- Separate individual leaderboards
- Separate school rankings
Summer Challenges
Time-Limited Availability
Summer challenges have strict time constraints:- Release Time: Challenges unlock at specific times
- Duration: Typically 24 hours from release
- Automatic Locking: Challenges lock when time expires
Challenge Features
Multi-Part Problems
Multi-Part Problems
Each challenge contains multiple answer boxes representing different steps or parts of the problem.
File Attachments
File Attachments
Challenges may include PDF files with diagrams, graphs, or additional problem context.
Key Stage Filtering
Key Stage Filtering
You only see challenges for your registered key stage, ensuring appropriate difficulty.
Submission Tracking
Submission Tracking
Track your 3 attempts per answer box with immediate feedback on correctness.
Scoring System
Individual Points
Summer competition uses a different point structure than regular challenges:First Completion Bonus
+3 points if you’re the first student (across all key stages) to complete the entire challenge
No points are awarded for partial completion. You must answer all parts correctly to earn points.
School Rankings
Schools are ranked by:- Total Points: Sum of all student points from that school
- Participant Count: Number of active students
- Average Score: Mean points per participant
Leaderboards
Individual Summer Leaderboard
The summer competition individual leaderboard displays:Top 15 Per Key Stage
Leading students in KS3, KS4, and KS5 divisions
Student Details
Name, school affiliation, and total score
Recent Activity
Latest 15 successful submissions with points awarded
Live Updates
Real-time ranking changes as challenges are completed
School Leaderboard
Schools compete within their key stage division: Top 8 Schools displayed per key stage showing:- School name
- Total points (sum of all student scores)
- Participant count
- Average score per student
Competition Statistics
The summer leaderboard provides comprehensive metrics:Participation Stats
Participation Stats
- Total participants across all key stages
- Breakdown by KS3, KS4, KS5
- Number of participating schools
Activity Metrics
Activity Metrics
- Total submissions attempted
- Correct submissions count
- Total points awarded
- Active challenges currently open
Account Types
Summer Competition Participants
Students registered for summer competition:- Only see summer competition challenges
- Cannot access regular platform challenges during competition
- Must be affiliated with a school
- Contribute to both individual and school rankings
Account Requirements
To participate, students need:- School Affiliation: Valid school_id in their account
- Key Stage: Registered KS3, KS4, or KS5 level
- Competition Flag:
is_competition_participantset to true
Administrators can view and manage all content across both regular and summer competition modes.
Time Management
Challenge Duration
Most summer challenges are available for 24 hours after release:Lock States
Challenges can be locked in two ways:- Manual Lock: Administrator closes the challenge early
- Time Expiration: Duration_hours passes from release_at timestamp
Submission Workflow
Points Flow
Individual Scoring
School Scoring
When you earn points:- Points added to your individual summer leaderboard entry
- School’s total score increases by the same amount
- School ranking recalculates across all schools in your key stage
- Your activity appears in the recent activity feed
Tips for Success
Act Fast on Releases
Act Fast on Releases
Check for new challenges frequently. Being first to complete earns 3x the points.
Complete Before Lock Time
Complete Before Lock Time
Don’t wait until the last minute - challenges lock exactly when the duration expires.
Represent Your School Well
Represent Your School Well
Your points contribute to school rankings, so every completion helps your team.
Use Attempts Wisely
Use Attempts Wisely
With only 3 attempts per part and time pressure, work carefully and double-check calculations.
Watch for Key Stage Match
Watch for Key Stage Match
You can only attempt challenges for your registered key stage - make sure you’re in the right division.
Differences from Regular Mode
| Feature | Regular Challenges | Summer Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Account Type | Standard users | Competition participants |
| Time Limit | Optional/varied | Strict (typically 24h) |
| School Affiliation | Optional | Required |
| Leaderboard | Individual only | Individual + School |
| Points (First) | +3 | +3 |
| Points (Other) | +1 | +1 |
| Challenge Access | By key stage | By key stage (competition set) |
| Lock Behavior | Manual or time-based | Automatic after duration |
Next Steps
View Leaderboards
Compare summer competition rankings with regular leaderboards
User Management
Learn how to manage your account and switch between competition modes