<p>Bummed out about not making AIME this year :/ Do any AIME qualifiers have some tips/ strategies to study for the AMC? I was consistently scoring 130's on old tests and then got a 112.5 on the actual thing. Not sure if I'm doing something wrong or if it's just bad luck.</p>
<p>Old tests are always easier.</p>
<p>This year was my first year of making AIME! I think the best thing to do is just practice practice practice with all the tests possible.</p>
<p>The past few AMC’s seem to have been quite difficult recently. I would practice with recent AMCs and mock AMCs, then go on to earlier AMCs and other problems.</p>
<p>wasn’t the cutoff for the 10A 108?</p>
<p>^It was. 112.5 is above cut-off for 10A…</p>
<p>I took the 10B ^^</p>
<p>Hmmm I took it for the first time this year and qualified, somehow, without any prior knowledge of what the AMC even was…haha. I guess my advice would be to not over think any of the questions because, after looking at the answer key, most of the solutions were fairly simple and quickly done. Even though you get plenty of time, wasting time is probably still your biggest enemy so don’t spend too long on one question. Generic advice is all i can offer…</p>
<p>I took the 12b and just got my score back; 120. I have never taken the 10, but I can assume that the studying process is similar so what I recommend is to take older tests of a higher level. I.e, studying for the 12b I took a few practice aimes and reviewed IMO problems. Of course you should practice at your actual level as well, but the extra challenge is great for the critical thinking and logic. Even just reading through the solutions to see how the problems are crafted.</p>
<p>^ thats not a good idea to start by reading imo problems…</p>
<p>Why not?
It worked for me. I have qualified every year I have taken the 12.</p>
<p>I’m not saying solve the IMO problems, but read through the solutions. Get in the problem solving mindset.</p>
<p>because imo problems are mostly proof based and far beyond the scope required to pass amc12. </p>
<p>and amc12 is more inclined for speed and such</p>
<p>It’s all math. And learning how the problems work and are set up really helps. It’s gotten me to the usamo so it can’t be terrible advice.</p>
<p>^Not sure if fishing for compliments or genuinely/naively believing that everyone else’s brain is as mathematically agile.</p>
<p>Anyway, I’d recommend starting with early tests and doing all the problems from #1 until you start feeling unsure, which for me was always around #20. Then I’d go to the solutions (I love those things) and let them walk me through the “hard” last problems. Repeat for next test, year by year. If you’re not actually born to be good at math (I have this problem) but want to qualify for AIME or just become better, this can’t go wrong.</p>
<p>While not everyone can understand complex proofs and apply an already ridiculously challenging level of mathematical thought to calc-below level problems, everyone can start nailing hard AMC problems if they understand enough practice problems. Like, there’s only so many variations of problems you can do with a calculator-free, speed-centric, and calculus-independent test.</p>
<p>And charlie, that’s not terrible advice. It’s just…ahhh, a bit of a reach. IMO problems and #5-below AIME problems are very different levels. But it is always beneficial to start at a harder level than required, yes!</p>
<p>Thanks randomazn14</p>
<p>So what did yall think of 2013 AIME ?</p>
<p>any idea when they release the official answers to the AIME I?</p>
<p>Our school still has not received the test. This is very worrisome.</p>
<p>lol… t’hell’s “aime”.
I thought you meant aime en Francais… as in “like”</p>
<p>I was like “WHAT?!”
hahahha xD</p>
<p>Is the Alternate AIME more difficult?</p>