Talented Robin Shen scores 100 per cent in maths test

TOP MARKS: Mathematics award winners, from left, Dillon Pike, Robin Shen, Sarah Przychodzko. Photo Jack Penman

Paraparaumu College student Robin Shen gained the perfect score in the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking International Competition run by the Australian Maths Trust.

The 13-year-old Year 10 student gained a high distinction award after scoring 100 per cent in the hour-long 15 question written test conducted at the college.

Robin found the test "pretty easy" but was unsure what one of the questions meant.

"My friends all said one of the questions was phrased like this, and that I had got it wrong and stuff, but I got it right."

Finding out he had gained the perfect score, Robin, 13, was "pretty happy".

He estimated it took him about 25 minutes to do the test.

The result was right up there with an Otago Maths Competition result he got in
Year 7 [at Paraparaumu Beach School] when he achieved first equal.

Robin is also a good swimmer - he's ranked fifth nationally in his age group for
the 100m individual medley.

And last year was the Year 9 Talent Quest winner for classical piano.

Meanwhile, Sarah Przychodzko, 14, and Dillon Pike, 14, also performed to a very
high level gaining distinction awards in the maths test.

"Compared to the other tests I've done, it was a little bit easier," said Sarah, who scored
12 out of 15.

"But I was very pleased."

Dillon scored 12 out of 15.

"I felt very good," he said about the result.

"Some of the questions were difficult and more time consuming."

Eleven other mathematicians in the college gained credit awards in the competition too,
making it the college's best results in the competition.

They were Chris Campbell, Sam Harrison-Barker, Bowie Ali, Reece Nash, Andrew Penman, Fraser Beggs, Jaden Fearon, Jack Harmon, Jonathan Walker, Cameron Mallinder, Stefan Przychodzko.