<p>@kwkingdom123: Thats why it’s ranked above the other Sci olympiads, I suppose. But it still needs less problem solving and more concept than math.</p>
<p>Math is ranked more highly primarily because there is so much more competition. Something like 400,000 people tried qualifying last year, compared to 11,000ish in USNCO, for example.</p>
<p>It’s also hard as anything. Compare it to bio or chem (? dunno about chem specifically) where you can memorize a book and do really well. USAMO (and even AMC/AIME) require tons of ingenuity and focus</p>
<ol>
<li>USAMO</li>
<li>USAPhO</li>
<li>USACO</li>
<li>USNCO = USABO</li>
</ol>
<p>The USNCO and USABO situation varies, because the cutoff for the national exam for USNCO varies by region while USABO just has a national cutoff. I think past the local/open exams and going to the national exam, USNCO and USABO are more equal. And with math, they’re right. 400,000 people take the AMC 10/12 to advance to AIME, where about 20000 people qualified for AIME this year. Lastly, around 270 qualify for the USAMO exam and 230 qualify for the USAJMO exam. For USNCO, around 11000 take the local exam, 900-1000 take the national exam, then you have people ranking as top 150 (honors), top 50 (high honors), and top 20 (study campers). For USABO, around 10000 take the open exam, 500 take the semifinal exam, and then the top 20 finalists go to the study camp. For the USAPhO, about 4000 take the Fnet=MA exam, 300 become semifinalists, and then the top 20 go to the study camp.
Looking at percentages, the Math Olympiad outclasses the others. The USAMO problems are very difficult - each of the six problems is a rigorous mathematical proof with a total score of 42. My friend qualified for USAMO and scored a 1 or 2, which means he received some partial credit for attempting to prove a problem. Even just getting to the AIME means that you have some good math skills and scoring well on the AIME is great. </p>
<p>Chem is not so much just rote memorization, as you do apply some problem-solving skills and concepts, but if you just took AP Chem and did some supplemental reading, you could advance to top 20 in the nation, whereas USAMO usually requires years of contest math problem-solving and learning.</p>
<p>That reminds me, USAMO has a lot of way more motivated participants. Most serious USNCO participants start cramming a few hours a day a few months before the test, a select few prep year-round. Many USAMO participants start cramming in middle school.</p>
<p>^ haha that would be me lol xD</p>
<p>holy cow…dang, USAMO must be crazy hard if you’ve got to cram in middle school. So I guess trying all year this year cramming still wouldn’t qualify me.</p>
<p>^If you’ve got tremendous innate mathematical ability and a diligent mindset/work ethic, you could still qualify.</p>
<p>Cramming isn’t going to necessarily help you as much USAMO as in the science olympiads though, because there is little material to learn that you didn’t already cover in your elementary/middle school math classes. They are really just practicing problem-solving. While it will certainly give you a boost, you could still go into the test with little prep and do well if you are smart enough.</p>
<p>Well, I wouldn’t call it cramming, more like practice. No matter how smart someone naturally is, its unlikely that they’ll make it to USAMO without training. BTW it is possible to make it without starting in middle school. There has been cases where people start training hard in gr 10 and do well in USAMO by the time they’re gr12</p>
<p>And also I dont mean to be stereotypical, but many Asian/Eastern European parents strart getting their kids to learn math starting from an early age, but most ppl learn bio/chem/physics/compsci out of their own interest when they’re older. That may be a reason why there are so many more participants in math.</p>
<p>Yep. USAMO even owns a bunch of our math teamers, although one of my friends qualified and scored a 2/42 on it. Partial credit for “partially attempting to prove” a proof.</p>