<p>I could do extremely well in my math classes, but when if comes to math team, I suck. I always get a 0/10 in the central league. The thing is I think I became better. With the easy problems, it isn't so obvious. But what I've noticed is that I am one of the few that attempted the difficult problems and got close to the actual answer. I honestly feel like crying because I feel as if my lack of perfect scores translates to incompetency. I love physics and math, but the competitions make me feel stupid. No I haven't tried USAPhO; seems like a bad idea. Knowing that there are the AIME, ARML, USAMO competitions out there makes me want to just crawl to a corner. Am I just not cut out for physics or math? Should I just give up, seeing as I don't have talent? So many people around me say that when it comes to Olympiads, talent will only help you. I don't know if that's completely true. Most of the kids on my school's team took courses over the summer and whatnot. If I want to become better at this intense mathematics, should I continue to study pre-Calc over the summer as I am doing? Should I read the Art of Problem Solving? What are your recommendations? I feel as if I should learn more in-depth topics. Perhaps I should emphasize the topics that school seems to ignore? Maybe including more combinatorics, number theory, and probability will do me some good? I just want to be able to stick it out and solve immensely difficult problems. It's fun. But when you're failing you begin to question your motives and purpose. </p>
<p>There is only one surefire way to get better: practice!
Go to AoPS, create an account, and start using the forums. Solve all the AMC 10 questions, then the 12 questions, then all the AIME questions. It’ll take a while. It’ll be difficult. But I guarantee you’ll get SIGNIFICANTLY better.
Also, get the art of problem solving volume 1 book. If it’s too difficult, “Competition math for middle school” is also a great entry level book. </p>
<p>Indeed, I’m a part of the Math Team and the most important thing you can do to improve is practice. These competitions are suppose to challenge you and in order to do that they go above and beyond the class room. I recommend continuing your pre-calc studies but also grabbing some old test of whatever competition you do and start working on them from top to bottom. Try to do them yourself ,but if/when you get stuck just ask your teacher(s) for some assistance. </p>