A schoolboy has been ranked among the top 50 young mathematicians in the country after taking part in a national competition.

Max Rose initially excelled in the UK Mathematics Trust junior challenge alongside 250,000 other Year 7 and 8 students.

Making it into the final 1,200, the student at Hitchin Boys’ School was invited to take on a maths olympiad – a two-hour examination involving six in-depth maths questions.

The 13-year-old, who lives in Codicote, gained a distinction in the exam and has been awarded a silver medal and a new maths book by the UKMT for his efforts.

Speaking to the Comet, the Year 8 student said: “I was really nervous in the first round but felt quite confident in the second round. The test required written answers and not just something brief. I have always liked maths and it has always been my thing because it is so logical.”

Max’s maths teacher Ritu Uppal said: “Max is an exceptional student, highly gifted, and often investigates concepts at A-Level maths. We are supporting Max at Hitchin Boys’ School by providing tailoring lessons to suit his ability, and also providing additional lessons explore the higher maths concepts.”

Max will now be entered into the UKMT intermediate challenge in Year 9.