PSL Mathematics Contest 2026: A Strong Start for a New Generation of Problem Solvers

A contest that rewarded real problem-solving

The contest was designed to go beyond routine classroom recall. It challenged learners to reason, calculate, model real-life situations, interpret problems and apply mathematical concepts across number work, algebra, geometry, measurement, probability, ratio, proportion and commercial arithmetic. Learners had to show working, interpret multi-step word problems, apply formulas correctly and make decisions based on context.

Performance by grade

Grade 9 recorded the highest average (40.3%), while Grade 7 produced the top overall learner with a remarkable 88%.

Leading schools by average score

Cornerstone School emerged top by school average, while Chuna Junior School demonstrated exceptional depth by producing both the top team and the top overall learner.

Top teams

The highest-performing team was Chuna Junior School – Team 2 (average 67.2%, top learner Judy Seleina, 88%). Other leading teams:

Top learners of the contest

Special congratulations to Judy Seleina of Chuna Junior School, top overall learner with 88%, and to Randall Henry of Acacia Crest Academy, the leading Grade 9 learner with 86%.

What the results tell us about learner strengths

The strongest strand overall was Number & Numeration (47.6%), with learners performing relatively better in place value, fractions, integer operations, ratio-style questions and basic computation. Strand-level achievement:

Key learning gaps identified

1. Algebraic reasoning — the weakest broad strand (25.1%). Learners struggled with forming equations from word problems, simultaneous equations, age problems, inequalities and graph interpretation.
2. Geometry & measurement in applied contexts — recalling formulas was easier than applying them in multi-step situations (painted wall area, composite surface area, cylinder capacity, slabs, solid geometry).
3. Commercial arithmetic — salary, commission, exchange rates, duty and percentage contexts exposed gaps in financial reasoning.
4. Work-rate & proportional reasoning — questions involving people, time, work done, pipes and changing rates were especially demanding.

Why this contest matters

The PSL Mathematics Contest is not just a competition — it is a diagnostic learning event. It helps schools identify learners showing exceptional promise, teams performing consistently, grades that need stronger support, strands requiring remediation, and the question types blocking higher achievement, all while benchmarking against other participating schools.

A successful beginning

The Acacia Crest Edition combined individual learner ranking, team-based competition, school-level comparison, grade-level analysis, strand-based diagnosis, question-level review and actionable feedback for teachers and school leaders. We sincerely thank all participating schools, teachers, parents, learners and the Acacia Crest community. The journey continues — PSL remains committed to building a generation of confident, disciplined and capable problem solvers.