<p>^and Precalc as well (for the AMC 12). You’ll want to know De Moivre’s theorem and the polar form of complex numbers, etc. Advanced geometry (Menelaus, Ptolemy, Ceva . . .) may also be helpful.</p>
<p>How much of an accomplishment is qualifiying for AIME? I haven’t even registered but I might very soon to take AMC 12B on February 20. </p>
<p>Is it worth it? I think I could get 14/14 and then omit 11…but I need to prepare heartily within the next few weeks. And what’s the difference between A and B? Difficulty level, or just different exams?</p>
<p>They write two tests and then flip a coin to pick which one is A and which is B. There is no intentional difficulty change between the two, altough looking at past AIME qualifying scores indicates that not all tests are created equal.</p>
<p>Just realized that I might have an AP Psychology test and an AP U.S. History test right after the AMC, in a row. Sigh…</p>
<p>I’m taking the 10 this year - I didn’t do that well last year, and I definitely have a better chance of qualifying for AIME than I would if I took the 12. I’m taking a lot of old practice tests and meeting with a tutor a couple times a week. I’m also working through the problems in the first volume of Art of Problem Solving. The thing is, it’s a hit or miss when I calculate my final score each time: I’m always just around the cutoff, and that makes me really nervous because this is pretty much my last “easy” year to qualify for AIME. Anyways, my school is on the B test date, so I still have some time to study. Good luck everyone!</p>
<p>I’m taking the 12 soon. We’ll see how it goes as throughout my experience with standardized testing my practice scores are never accurate enough predictors of my real score.</p>
<p>Also, I think the optimal strategy is answer 18, up to 3 wrong. Not only does this give you room to guess or use your instinct, but it leaves you a margin for error if you think you know how to do more than 14 questions.
Best case scenario: 118.5
Worst case scenario: 100.5</p>
<p>In my opinion, though, just do as much as you can and see where it leads you.</p>
<p>i’m taking the 10 this year and I’m hoping to score well enough so I can possibly make JMO!</p>
<p>Does anyone know what time the contests are held? (Not date, the time) I have school on both days, and I don’t know if I could get a ride.</p>
<p>Usually in the morning. In some cases afternoon or evening, though.</p>
<p>Does doing these tests count as an extracurricular? (I mean if I make AIME and take that too, which I probably won’t.) We don’t have a math club at my school and I can’t afford summer programs but I still want to indicate to colleges that I’ve done math-related stuff outside of class.</p>
<p>I just finished an old 2007 test in under 75 minutes and got a score of 105, though. Let’s hope it continues.
Do you get to use scratch paper/write in the test book?</p>
<p>^ yes, generally proctors should provide paper etc, and you get to keep the test booklet so you can do whatever</p>
<p>I’ve been studying for 5+ hours for the past 2 weeks or so using the Art of Problem Solving: Volume 1 but I’m still a little rusty. I’m getting about 17~19 correct. (Some of them are just lucky guesses.)
I do have the Volume 2 but I still haven’t touched that yet. Maybe for the AMC 10B, I might prepare more.
Anyways. Can anyone tell me which chapters I should mainly focus on in the Volume 1 Book.
Also, would the Volume 1 would be enough to get me a score sufficient for the AIME.
An additional question too… What books should I use from the AOPS bookstore for the AIME. Should I just stick with the Volume 2 books.
Thanks!</p>
<p>
18 correct and 7 skipped = a 118.5. You need to be in the top 2.5% of takers, so the cutoff is usually in the 115-120 range. You can make AIME with a bit more practice. </p>
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<p>Yeah, the Volume I should get you through the AMC 10 really easily. I don’t remember the topics for the 10 (only the 12) but I’d assume you need to do the whole thing minus maybe complex numbers and some of sequences and series. </p>
<p>For the AIME, use the AoPS Volume II, Intermediate Algebra, Intermediate Counting and Probability, and Precalculus. </p>
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<p>The difficulty of the AMC/AIME has grown exponentially. Today’s tests are a lot harder than in earlier years, so a 105 on a 2007 test would translate to something like an 85 - 90 for the 2013 one. However, you just need to be in the top 5%, which is usually around a 93. You should be able to make AIME (keep practicing though).</p>
<p>^Yeah, AMC’s have been quite difficult the past several years. But AIME difficulty still varies a ton. For example, the 2010 AIME I was super easy, the 2011 AIME I was much harder than the AIME II in comparison, etc.</p>
<p>Honestly guys, I would NOT recommend any more practice at this point - just relax.</p>
<p>If you’re interested, work towards the B date.</p>
<p>I’ve been studying out of mind! O_O NEED THAT ONE-TWENTY!</p>
<p>YES, you get scrap paper and CAN write on the test-booklet</p>
<p>Good luck everyone!</p>
<p>“The difficulty of the AMC/AIME has grown exponentially. Today’s tests are a lot harder than in earlier years, so a 105 on a 2007 test would translate to something like an 85 - 90 for the 2013 one. However, you just need to be in the top 5%, which is usually around a 93. You should be able to make AIME (keep practicing though).”</p>
<p>Yeah, I suspected that. I’ve taken a couple 2012 tests, a 2000 test, and several in the middle. I saw that the 2000 test was a lot easier (I was able to answer almost all the questions) and on the 2012 test I could answer maybe 11 or 12 before 75 minutes.
If I can do well on the 2012 tests, how will that translate to this year’s?</p>
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<p>This year’s tests shouldn’t be too much harder. I’m expecting them to be of at least the same difficulty. If you got, say, 10 right, that would give you an 88.5, which could potentially make the cutoff. I believe the cutoff was 88.5 some year, can’t remember which.</p>