Amc, aime, usamo ?!

Applying to College
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<p>How can one do better at math exams like AMC, AIME, and USAMO?
I already have The Art of Problem Solving books but they're just too difficult to solve them by myself. Are there online courses specifically for math competitions?</p>

<p>And for those who qualified for USAMO or even IMO, what did you guys do to prepare for the tests?</p>

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<p>bump</p>

<p>^10char</p>

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<p>You definitely need a coach. There are special math schools, which I strongly recommend. If that is not an option, take the online courses from Art of Problem Solving (but beware - they are super fast). If that doesn’t work, form a Math Club with other interested folks, and do the problems together. I believe Math Counts also has great programs, as dopes Stanford EPGY. </p>

<p>You can’t do this alone. Even if you are a genius.</p>

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<p>I qualified for AIME but I did not do so well on the actual AIME exam (and obviously did not make USAMO).
I used Art of Problem Solving and previous AIME problems. And, it did not work for me. Those problems were HARD.</p>

<p>I don’t have an answer to your question but I have enormous respect for those USAMO guys.</p>

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<p>Like 20more I qualified for AIME and didn’t do so hot. My school has a decent math team and that is where I get all my practice in. With that said, I have certainly seen many individuals with less innate talent than myself and a select other group of schoolmates do just as well and even better than us by putting in the hours. Use the books from AoPS. They’ll be tough, but if you can work through them and be tenacious you will see just how much better you’ll become. The most important thing (and you’ll see this all over AoPS) is to do problems and be sure that you understand them.</p>

<p>Other than a few genius kids I know, most USAMO qualifiers truly dedicate themselves to competition math. They usually reserve at least a few hours every night to work through books and do problems.</p>

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<p>Even the geniuses do. There is no substitute to doing math problems for a few hours each day if you want to crack USAMO.</p>

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<p>Perhaps I should rephrase. I certainly agree that these geniuses spend hours on problems. However, they do so because they love to (As everyone who makes USAMO does or should). My claim was that apart from the very, very select few (the David Yang’s) who could make USAMO without considerable effort (though as the poster above me commented they often do put forth effort), all other USAMO qualifiers have reached that stage through intensive studying and work.</p>

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<p>My friend (sophomore) qualified for USAMO and in lieu of tenth grade math, he’s taking classes at Columbia, if that helps.</p>

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<p>To get into USAMO, you’d have to be a legit math genius.
It’s not like SAT math; it’s not really practicable.</p>

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<p>Is the amc a very difficult exam or is it similar at all to SAT problems? Sorry if I seem ignorant, I’m taking it for the first time next year with the AIME being my goal.</p>

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<p>It’s different from SAT.
It’s better for you to download free samples or buy past problem sets to practice from the AMC or AoPS sites instead of posting questions here. Your questions will be answered promptly and throughly on AoPS forum.</p>

<p><a href=“American Mathematics Competitions | Mathematical Association of America”>American Mathematics Competitions | Mathematical Association of America;
[Math</a> Problems Directory](<a href=“American Mathematics Competitions | Mathematical Association of America”>American Mathematics Competitions | Mathematical Association of America)
[Index</a> page • Art of Problem Solving](<a href=“http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/index.php?]Index”>http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/index.php?)</p>

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<p>Not true at all.</p>