How do you get amazing at math competitions?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I'm already pretty good with regular schoolwork regarding math but I want to do better at math competitions like amc and stuff. My goal is to score above 100 on the amc 12 next year so I want to do some practicing over the summer (I scored around 80's this year...)</p>

<p>So how do you train yourself for these things? I'm trying to find problems but don't know where to look. Are there any books you would recommend?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>[AMC</a> USAMO/Test/IMO & APMO Math Problems Directory](<a href=“http://www.unl.edu/amc/a-activities/a7-problems/problem81012archive.shtml]AMC”>http://www.unl.edu/amc/a-activities/a7-problems/problem81012archive.shtml)
[CEMC</a> - Past Contests - Mathematics and Computing Contests - University of Waterloo](<a href=“Past Contests, Solutions and Results | University of Waterloo - CEMC”>Past Contests, Solutions and Results | University of Waterloo - CEMC)
[Art</a> of Problem Solving](<a href=“http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/]Art”>http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/)</p>

3

<p>Ahh I hate the AMC’s… especially because I had to take the AMC 12 when I was in 10th grade, because all the other kids who were on math team were seniors, and the teacher didn’t want to get two different tests. Anyway… if it just the AMC you want to get better at problem solving… look up random problems on google like: “math problems” or w/e… that is what I do. Speed round is my favorite though…</p>

4

<p>I dunno I think it just comes with math experience.</p>

<p>I don’t study or prepare for AMCs.</p>

<p>Grade 10 I got 79.5.
Grade 11 I got 99.5
Next year I’m hoping for 110+.</p>

<p>As you can see my scores aren’t that great compared to people here that get like 140 hahaha. But ya you could study for it, but I think just do more math problems.</p>

5

<p>What grade are you in? If you score 80 ish on the amc 12, I would recommend buying The Art of Problem Solving Volume 1. If you have enough money, buy that and volume 2.</p>

6

<p>You just math stuff</p>

7

<p>Natural talent (oh of course, some effort too).</p>

8

<p>It takes practice to do well at the AMC level and a lot of it for AIME, but beyond that, you should hope you have some talent in math as well.</p>

9

<p>So who took the AMC 12 last year anyway? I kinda liked the problems… reguardless…</p>

10

<p>I got 100.5 on AMC 12B and 4 (maybe 5) on AIME. I went to review sessions for both, but I didn’t study outside those sessions.</p>

<p>DataBox and goldenratiophi both had more success than me and also put in more effort to studying, so I’m sure they could help you better.</p>

11

<p>With natural talent, followed by practice.</p>

12

<p>Anyone live in colorado and taken the PROBE exam?</p>

13

<p>@simo14- I took the AMC 12 in Grade 10. I was going to take AMC 10 but my math teacher said that I should challenge myself. And thanks for the recommendation.</p>

<p>@noimagination- thanks for the links</p>

<p>So I think the general consensus is talent + practice. I think I have some talent in math. AS for practice, I’m thinking about buying the art of problem solving.</p>

14

<p>^ haha. Just a side note. Buy it off of their website. Something crazy is going on at Amazon with AoPS books…</p>

15

<p>my friend got a crappy grade on the amcs his first year (like 110 or so)
and then got a gold medal at IMO
so you can definitely do it</p>

<p>he said he prepared but i’m not sure exactly how;
he did do a lot of higher math in high school,
so maybe the secret to success is to take algebra and analysis and read up on interesting stuff (it could train your mathematical maturity)</p>

16

<p>Well, although I haven’t studied for math competitions since middle school, I have done decently on the AMCs for the past two years [AMC: (150,145.5),AIME: (10,9)]. Your best bet to qualify for AIME is to review the Art of Problem Solving books and past AMCs.</p>

17

<p>Study aops books (the originals are fine) and practice old tests. You improve as much as you put effort into it. Freshmen year, I studied a lot, and got a 132 on the 12a (after studying for mathcounts in 8th grade). I didn’t really study these past two years, and subsequently, my scores have been 97.5 (10th, 12a), 136.5 (11th, 12a) and 97.5 (11th, 12b).</p>

<p>Just do math.</p>