BMSAQ Primary Challenge
6 May 2027
Next: TBC
You are not registered to participate in this Challenge.
0%
2026/27 organiser guide
Challenge Assistant
Plan, order and run your BMSAQ Challenges with confidence.
Competition process
Challenge process and key dates
The complete organiser guide for registering, ordering, running the Challenge and receiving results.
Register your schoolCreate an organiser account and confirm your school details.
Purchase entriesOrder sets for the Challenges and formats your school needs.
Sit the ChallengeRun the Challenge in school under supervised exam conditions.
Receive resultsAccess results, analysis and certificates in the organiser portal.
Challenge formats
Online Challenge
Students can compete using a computer, laptop or tablet. After entries are purchased, BMSAQ emails individual usernames and passwords for the Challenge Portal.
- Test that your school can access the Challenge Portal before Challenge Day.
- Students may answer questions in any order and return to change an answer.
- Answers save as students work. They must select Submit after question 100 when finished.
- The organiser must enforce the 30-minute time limit, plus approved extra time where applicable.
- Once an online entry is submitted, no answer sheets need to be returned.
Paper Challenge (printed by school)
BMSAQ emails the question paper and answer sheets before the Challenge. BMSAQ does not print or post paper packs; the school must print enough copies and keep them secure.
- Students record answers on the separate multiple-choice answer sheet and include their candidate number.
- After the Challenge, scan every completed answer sheet and return them using the instructions in the Challenge Day email.
- Do not return question papers, rough work, blank sheets or seating plans.
- Keep question papers and rough work secure until results are released.
When students sit the Challenge
Invigilator responsibilities
- Keep question papers covered and secure until the Challenge starts.
- Allow 30 minutes. Students who normally receive recognised exam access arrangements may receive 25% extra time.
- Seat students under exam-style conditions so answers cannot be seen by others.
- Do not clarify questions or provide additional information.
- Collect paper materials and retain them securely until results are released.
Student responsibilities
- Check that their name, year group and candidate details are correct.
- Read all instructions carefully before starting.
- Use only permitted equipment and work independently.
- Submit the online Challenge or hand the paper answer sheet to the invigilator before leaving.
Challenge instructions
- Blank paper may be used for rough working.
- Squared paper, calculators and measuring instruments are not permitted.
- Paper-format students should use a B or HB non-propelling pencil.
- The five sections are Geography, Science & Nature, History & Politics, Culture, and General Knowledge. Questions increase in difficulty within each section, with a visual element at the end of each topic.
- Do not discuss or publish any part of the paper until 48 hours after the Challenge date.
2026/27 key dates
| Challenge | Entry deadline | Challenge date | Results issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior | 5 November 2026 | 12 November 2026 | About 16 November 2026 |
| Intermediate | 28 January 2027 | 4 February 2027 | About 8 February 2027 |
| Junior | 4 March 2027 | 11 March 2027 | About 15 March 2027 |
| Primary | 29 April 2027 | 6 May 2027 | About 10 May 2027 |
Common questions
Do schools need to print paper-format materials?
Yes. BMSAQ emails the files and the school prints the question papers and answer sheets. Nothing is posted by BMSAQ.
What access arrangements are available?
Students who normally receive extra time in a recognised UK or Ireland examination may receive an additional 25%. The organising member of staff is responsible for applying the arrangement appropriately.
How does scoring work?
Each Challenge has 100 available marks. Each correct answer earns one mark and no marks are deducted for an incorrect answer.
How is the order paid?
The organiser supplies an invoice email when ordering. BMSAQ sends the invoice to that address for payment through the methods shown on the invoice.
How should paper answer sheets be scanned?
- Use a sheet-fed scanner where possible and create a PDF.
- Scan at 100-300 PPI in greyscale, black and white, or colour.
- Include one answer sheet per page and keep each file below 100 MB.
- Do not use a mobile phone scanning app that may alter the sheet layout or obscure marks.
Can students take materials home?
Not on Challenge Day. Materials must remain secure while other schools may still be competing. They may be returned to students after results are released.
Need help? Email info@bmsaq.com. For urgent Challenge Day support, call 07542 192952.
Your organiser journey
Checking your progress...
Online Format
The online format allows students to use a computer, laptop, or tablet to compete. It's easy to use and students can practice using the online platform from our website, at any time.
Logging in:
After you purchase entries, we will email you a list of individual usernames and passwords that students can use to access the Challenge.
Let students know that they can attempt the questions in any order and can always go back to change an answer. Their answers will be saved immediately. At the end of the Challenge, they must select the 'submit' option beneath question 100.
Please note: Teachers are fully responsible for ensuring students are not allocated more than 30 minutes to complete the Challenge (unless a student requires extra).
Once your students have finished, you do not need to do anything further.
Paper Format
Students can sit the challenge on paper booklets, similar to a formal exam. BMSAQ no longer prints or posts paper packs. If you order paper format, we will email the question paper and answer sheets to your school; your school must print these before the Challenge. The Challenge should be sat in school and under exam conditions, with no exceptions.
Students must record their answers on a separate multiple-choice answer sheet. A template of this answer sheet can be viewed before the challenge here. Students will need to fill in their candidate number (which will be emailed to you) on the answer sheet.
After the challenge, you must scan each student's answer sheet and download them to your computer. You must email this file to BMSAQ before the deadline closes. You do not need to upload any question booklets or rough worksheets. These can be kept safe until the results are released, when you may return them to students (if wished).
Age categories
The eligibility line for your school region is highlighted automatically.
Primary Challenge
England & Wales: Year 6 and below;
Scotland: P7 and below;
Northern Ireland: P7 and below;
Rep. Ireland: 5th Class and below.
Junior Challenge
England & Wales: Year 8 and below;
Scotland: S1 and below;
Northern Ireland: Year 9 and below;
Rep. Ireland: 1st Year and below.
Intermediate Challenge
England & Wales: Year 11 and below;
Scotland: S4 and below;
Northern Ireland: Year 12 and below;
Rep. Ireland: 4th (Transition) Year and below.
Senior Challenge
England & Wales: Year 13 and below;
Scotland: S6 and below;
Northern Ireland: Year 14 and below;
Rep. Ireland: 6th Year and below.
0%
0%
0%
0%
Practice
Purchased papers remain in your account. Public past paper store. New to BMSAQ? See what to practise and how the Challenge works.
Intermediate Past Paper 2025/26
£8.99
Senior Past Paper 2025/26
£8.99
Junior Past Paper 2024/25
£8.99
Intermediate Past Paper 2024/25
£8.99
Senior Past Paper 2024/25
£8.99
Practice Paper
Free
Helpful resources
Key dates
Primary Challenge
- Paper format deadline29 Apr 2027
- Online entry deadline29 Apr 2027
- Challenge Day6 May 2027
- Results issued10 May 2027
Senior Challenge
- Paper format deadline5 Nov 2026
- Online entry deadline5 Nov 2026
- Challenge Day12 Nov 2026
- Results issued16 Nov 2026
Intermediate Challenge
- Paper format deadline28 Jan 2027
- Online entry deadline28 Jan 2027
- Challenge Day4 Feb 2027
- Results issued8 Feb 2027
Junior Challenge
- Paper format deadline4 Mar 2027
- Online entry deadline4 Mar 2027
- Challenge Day11 Mar 2027
- Results issued15 Mar 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
You can edit quantities up to one week before the challenge. Please see the Orders page.
As soon as marking is complete and award boundaries are decided. This can take about a week. Please see the dates above for estimates.
One entry set includes participation for 10 students in the BMSAQ Challenge you order. This allows 10 unique students to have the fun experience of taking part in a BMSAQ Challenge and test their knowledge against peers. All students receive a certificate of participation, along with any other award they may achieve.
BMSAQ will award candidates who normally receive additional time for any formal UK/Ireland recognised exam an additional 25% extra time in all papers because of their impairment which substantially impacts upon a student's reading, writing and processing skills. The member of staff organising the BMSAQ Challenge within a school must lead on awarding the access arrangement. More information can be found on our Teacher Information page.
All BMSAQ Challenges have a possible 100 marks. Each question is worth one mark. There are no negative marks for a wrong answer.
Awards are given on a percentage basis and the minimum raw marks for each award change each year to reflect any changes in difficulty. The top-scoring 49% of students are awarded each year. Diamond, Gold, Silver and Bronze are awarded to students scoring in the top 10th, 20th, 35th and 49th percentile respectively. Students who are best in school, county and nation (overall highest) will also be awarded specially. All students receive a Certificate of Participation.
Yes. Schools can choose both the online platform and paper format. BMSAQ no longer prints or posts paper packs; if you choose paper format, we email the question paper and answer sheets, and your school prints them and scans completed answer sheets back to us.
After you purchase entries we email you a list of unique usernames and passwords for your students. They can sit the Challenge on a computer, laptop or tablet. Please ensure your school can access the BMSAQ Challenge Portal before the Challenge.
We aim to release results within one week after the Challenge day. They can be accessed by organisers on the BMSAQ Organiser Platform. Certificates for Diamond, Gold, Silver and Bronze, plus special awards, are available to download and print. We also provide statistics and analysis of the Challenge both nationally and for your school.
Please call the National Organiser on (+44) 07542 192952 for rapid support. For non‑urgent matters, email info@bmsaq.com.