So I have about a week before the AMC 10 and I want to qualify for the AIME. As of now, I feel like I would be able to get a 95-ish on the AMC 10 and I want to qualify for the AIME rly badly (I need like a 110 to qualify so just a few more points). I feel like I have a few content gaps related to puzzle/logic-based math and I was wondering what are the most important things to study for the test.
Sry i put this discussion under the wrong category
There is nothing important. You need to practice with last 15 problems on the test - and do it for all of the last 10 to 15 years of real tests.
However, just doing them won’t do any good - you actually need to solve them, then look at solutions and see if there is an alternative and better way of solving the same problem. Usually there is.
You will get some wrong - so once again, look at the solutions and see what concept you are missing.
If you do it repeatedly for last 15 years worth of problems then you should be able to gain those missing 2 or 3 problems.
Keep in mind that first 10 problems are intentionally made easy. If you can solve only those and nothing else then you have gaps in your knowledge and above technique will not help much.
You can get all the problems and solutions on AOPS. Use it. It is the best source to learn math on planet.
Ya that sounds about right–I am easily able to solve the first 10 questions and I usually end up having to leave like 9 of the remaining of them blank. So, would I be able to learn enough to qualify in a week using that technique? Also, some of the explanations dont rly make sense…
Would doing the lessons on combinatorics, probability, number theory, etc. on the AoPS website help me learn for the test? Also, what would you say are the most tested concepts (such as the ones I mentioned above) on the AMC 10? I only have a week so I kinda have to cram lol
@cognizance ^^
At this point, @skompella9892, there is really nothing you can do but do problems. I wouldn’t bother with the lessons. Get on AOPS, and alternate between doing AMC10 problems #10-25/AMC12 problems #10-20 and Alcumus problems set at “medium” or “hard” difficulty.
Based on my kid’s experiences early on, I would say that the biggest bang for the buck will come from number theory and combinatorics problems. Algebra tends to be too difficult to make much headway late in the game, and geometry is more intuitive and can sometimes be eyeballed. Bring graph paper, protractor and a ruler to the test (it’s allowed) and if you can’t solve a geometry problem analytically, then give the old eyeballs a try and make an educated guess.
Good luck, and if you enjoy the tests, make a plan to get to AIME by next year. Some of the AOPS courses are great (especially geometry), but working through AOPS problems vol.1 will get you a long ways. Again, best of luck, and any reason you are not taking the 10A tomorrow? (is it not offered at your school?)
@SatchelSF Yeah, I don’t think it is offered at my school. Also, my only problem with the questions instead of the lessons is that their explanations tend to be very vague…
Yes, solutions will not teach you the material. But that is afterthought.
You still need to learn the concepts - classes, books and practice prior to the real test.
Problems only tell you if you missed something in learning.
The whole of AOPS series is almost 5000 pages long. You need to work those before tackling the AMC tests.
What about the videos? Will those help?
It was SO hard unlike any of the practice tests (can’t discuss it yet tho)