Competition rules for participating in Ritangle

1. Team formation

1. The maximum size of a team is six members.
2. Teams should consist of students of AS/A level Mathematics, Scottish Highers or the International Baccalaureate (or qualifications with equivalent content).
3. All the students in a team must attend the same school/college.
4. One student from the team must register the team and submit answers; the team should agree on who this will be to ensure there is only one entry per team. This student is referred to below as the Team Captain.
5. Every student can only be in one team, including the Team Captain.
6. The Team Captain must inform a Nominating Teacher at their school that their team is competing, and provide that teacher with the names of all the students in their team.
7. The Nominating Teacher will need to be available at the provided email address on Monday, 14 and Tuesday, 15 December 2026.
8. A teacher can be the Nominating Teacher for more than one team.

2. Registration

1. Registration is via the Ritangle webpage, and a team must be registered in order to submit answers.
2. Registration will be open from 14 October 2026 until 7 December 2026. 
3. A list of the information required to register a team is
   • Team Name
   • School/college name
   • Team Captain Name
   • Team Captain E-mail Address
   • Nominating Teacher Name
   • Nominating Teacher E-mail address
4. If a team captain notices any mistakes after completing the registration process, the team captain is advised to let the original team remain dormant, register a new team, and inform the nominating teacher. Such dormant teams will not be taken into consideration when applying Rule 1.5.

3. Taking part

1. An entry to the competition requires the submission of answers via a web form. Attempts to every Stage 1 and Stage 2 question can be submitted as many times as the team captain chooses, and in any order, until the close of the competition.
2. Teams should keep evidence of their work on the questions. The judges may request to see this. It is suggested that each team nominates a member as Team Archivist to keep the team’s work on the questions as they are attempted.
3. The use of AI is not permitted. Otherwise, the use of mathematical software is permitted.
4. Teams should not seek help with the questions from anybody outside their team. However, help from teachers with relevant theory is acceptable. Team members must understand any help received and have the working to demonstrate this (see 3.2).
5. Don’t publicise/share your answers. Other people are working on the puzzle, and their work should be respected.
6. Teams may submit answers to the final question (stage 3) more than once, but only their final submission will be considered.
7. Anyone found leaking the answers or clues inappropriately, and anyone found making intentional use of such leaks, will be barred from receiving the prize 
8. Any news, such as the discovery of an error in one of the questions, a change in the rules, or the publication of a clue, if deemed appropriate, will be announced on the Ritangle website.

4. Winning the competition

Answers for the final question will be accepted up until 1200 on Monday, 14 December 2026. After that:

1. The team scoring most highly on the final (stage 3) question will be declared the winner, subject to their working satisfying the judges.
2. If there is more than one team with the highest score on the final question, the winner will be chosen from such teams as the team that submitted their answer first, subject to their work satisfying the judges. Note that only the final submission of a stage 3 answer will be considered, along with its timestamp.
3. In the event that the above does not determine a winner, the winning team will be chosen at the discretion of the judges based on the answers submitted.
4. If there is a possibility that a team has won, in accordance with 3.5, the judges will contact the Nominating Teacher to verify details of the team and their participation. If the answer is satisfactory to the judges (see 3.2), then that team will be the winner.
5. The decision of the judges is final. No discussion will be entered into regarding the decision over who is the winner.
6. The winning team and the answers will be announced on the Ritangle website as soon as possible after the closing date for submissions.
7. The prize will be a maths hamper, including an Integral subscription for the school/college, a trophy, and it will be awarded to the school of the winning team. Due to postage costs, we reserve the right to substitute a prize of equivalent value but of less weight/bulk should the winning team be based outside mainland UK.

General

1. The judges reserve the right to change these rules as necessary
2. Competitors or teachers can email ritangle@mei.org.uk with any queries.