Taylor’s College SACE and GCE A Level Students Achieve Gold at KMC 2026

15 Oct 2026

4 Min Read

Taylor's Team (Editor)

IN THIS ARTICLE

For Irdina Humaira binti Mohd Hasuwat, a student of Taylor's College SACE (also known as AUSMAT), the appeal of mathematics is seeing how differently people can solve the same problem. She watches videos of unexpected solutions on social media and has loved the subject since childhood. Entering the Kangaroo Math Competition (KMC) gave her a chance to explore that interest herself, and this year, she earned a Gold Award.

She was one of seven Gold Award recipients among the College’s 14 participants in KMC 2026. The group also earned two Silver Awards, two Bronze Awards and two Honourable Mentions, with one student receiving a Certificate of Participation.

These results came in a competition involving more than 114,000 students across Malaysia. The top 10% of participants in each category receive Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards. It is a selective distinction, earned through questions that test how students reason with the mathematics they know.

Five of the College’s Gold Award recipients shared their experiences. Some entered because they enjoyed difficult questions. Others wanted another attempt at gold or needed encouragement to try the competition.

A Reason to Explore

KMC questions cover logic, number patterns, geometry and mathematical puzzles. Students have 75 minutes to complete the paper without calculators. A familiar formula may be useful, but recognising how to approach a question is part of the work.

‘That’s what made me interested in a competition like Kangaroo Math, where you must think creatively instead of just applying formulas,’ Irdina explains.

During preparation workshops, she learnt techniques for topics she was less familiar with. She particularly valued being able to put those techniques into practice. The experience added to her enjoyment of mathematics and left her keen to enter more competitions.

GCE A Level (also known as Cambridge A Level) student Wong Zi Yi also sought out KMC because he wanted harder questions. He hoped to improve his problem-solving skills and explore new ways of thinking. What he valued most was learning to consider a problem from several perspectives.

Fellow GCE A Level student, Saw Jie Rou enjoyed the unexpected answers that creative problem-solving could uncover. Her reason for entering was straightforward: she wanted to learn more and try questions that would test her abilities.

Their interest in the questions themselves is something SACE lecturer Mr Kumar Sukumaran recognises. He sees participation as evidence of curiosity and a willingness to persevere when a problem is challenging.

Returning With More Preparation

For SACE student Cheng Tze Zenn, KMC was familiar territory. He had entered several times during high school but had never received gold. He decided to try again this year.

This time, past-year and forecast papers helped him feel ready. He found that thorough revision made the test easier to tackle, and his confidence grew before the results were announced.

‘Honestly, the practice papers made a huge difference for my confidence,’ he says.

After several previous attempts without gold, he was not particularly surprised by this year’s result. His preparation had given him reason to feel confident.

SACE student Lohan Arulkanden Batumalai came to the competition with encouragement from his teacher and close friends. Their support helped him accept the challenge. When he received gold, his response was clear: ‘Personally, it proves that persistent practice pays off.’

For Mr Kumar, the results were especially meaningful because students had chosen to put in this effort beyond their regular coursework. Seeing that commitment recognised was a proud moment for their lecturers.

Seeing Students in a Different Setting

SACE lecturer Ms Lucia Liew noticed that students who were quiet during regular lessons were also willing to take part. They showed commitment and a genuine interest in solving challenging mathematics problems.

Her observation points to a valuable reason for offering students experiences outside their examination requirements. An interest may be expressed through independent preparation or a decision to enter a competition, even when a student says little in class.

‘This competition challenged students to apply mathematical thinking in creative, unfamiliar ways beyond the classroom,’ Ms Lucia says.

The results also changed how some students saw their own abilities. Jie Rou was shocked to receive gold and felt more motivated to improve. Zi Yi said his award encouraged him to believe in himself and take on further challenges.

Irdina’s plans are already taking shape. She wants to keep entering competitions where she can explore mathematical ideas and strengthen her problem-solving skills. Her enthusiasm offers a useful starting point for other students: finding questions that interest you enough to investigate further. Preparing for them, trying unfamiliar methods and discovering what works are all reasons to take part, whatever result follows.

Celebrating Our Students' Achievements

Congratulations to all 14 SACE and GCE A Level students who represented Taylor’s College at KMC 2026. May this achievement encourage them to pursue their curiosity further and take on challenges they once felt were beyond their reach. Their achievements are recognised below.

Gold Awards

Cheng Tze Zenn SACE
Tan Ern Jie SACE
Lohan Arulkanden Batumalai SACE
Pua Ji Hong GCE A Level
Irdina Humaira binti Mohd Hasuwat SACE
Saw Jie Rou GCE A Level
Wong Zi Yi GCE A Level

Silver Awards

Sarah Haziqah binti Azmi GCE A Level
Tun Yandar Lwin GCE A Level

Bronze Awards

Achilles Quah Tian Juen GCE A Level
Loh Yee Zhi GCE A Level

Honourable Mentions

Miyu Eng Xin Yu GCE A Level
Isabella Chen Cheu Tein GCE A Level

Certificate of Participation

Chan Zi Yi GCE A Level

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