MBM Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 On Pi Day? :) ETA: Doh! We are not to discuss this yet so disregard me until it's allowed later. Thanks for pointing that out, Ravi, and good luck to anyone who will be taking it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravi B Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 MBM, may I ask you to remove the information about particular questions and about difficulty? Students will be taking the test in different time zones throughout the country (and beyond). Even if the information seems innocuous, it's better to err on the side of caution, until tomorrow when it's safe to discuss. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura in CA Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Yes! (I'll be back when we can talk about it : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowbeltmom Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Can we talk about it yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tattarrattat Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Maybe when MAA posts the answers or when AoPS forum is unlocked. My guess is around noon ET :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tattarrattat Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 The kids at AoPS started posting. Maybe it's safe for the parents here to discuss now:) No official answers yet on maa website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomsintheGarden Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 For those of you whose children made it to the AIME, could you please post about how they prepared? Our ds is in 9th, and he scored 105 on the AMC 10, so just below the qualifying score. I'd love to hear how we can help him get over the "hump" next year. We have the AoPS Volumes I & 2. Thanks! GardenMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura in CA Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 For those of you whose children made it to the AIME, could you please post about how they prepared? Our ds is in 9th, and he scored 105 on the AMC 10, so just below the qualifying score. I'd love to hear how we can help him get over the "hump" next year. We have the AoPS Volumes I & 2. Thanks! GardenMom Definitely working through AoPS 1 & 2 is good! My son also worked problems from past exams (available at the AoPS website or in the actual booklet form from the MAA, which he prefers); took (long ago) an AMC 10 class from AoPS; looked at the AMC 10/12 "math club" books (also from MAA); did Alcumus and FTW obsessively for a few weeks; goes to math competitions like mathleague.org and Stanford Math Tournament whenever he can; etc. Oh, and we recommend taking both the 10 and the 12 (either the 10A/12B or 12A/10B) as soon as he feels ready for the 12; until then taking both the 10A & 10B is good. It takes some work to find both sittings of the exam, but it is definitely worth it. (It used to be easier to qualify under the 12; I think they've loosened the qualifying score for the 10 in recent years, but some kids find the 12 easier than the 10, depending on how their mind works.) He's not home right now, but I'll try to remember to ask him for more advice when he's back. And I'm sure others will chime in with good advice. Best wishes to your son! Just below the qualifying score is frustrating, but he should have a good shot next year. My son is always excited about taking the 3-hour AIME :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowbeltmom Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 For those of you whose children made it to the AIME, could you please post about how they prepared? Our ds is in 9th, and he scored 105 on the AMC 10, so just below the qualifying score. I'd love to hear how we can help him get over the "hump" next year. We have the AoPS Volumes I & 2. Thanks! GardenMom My son has taken the AoPS online classes. We do not have any math circles in our area, but that would help your son too if they are avaliable in your area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy in Richmond Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 For those of you whose children made it to the AIME, could you please post about how they prepared? Our ds is in 9th, and he scored 105 on the AMC 10, so just below the qualifying score. I'd love to hear how we can help him get over the "hump" next year. We have the AoPS Volumes I & 2. Thanks! GardenMom Yes to the recommendations made by Laura in Ca & snowbeltmom: try AoPS problem solving classes, work through AoPS classic volumes 1 & 2, and practice with AMC past exams (there are plenty of these online at AoPS). One other good self-study idea for kids who are just below AIME level is the book First Steps for Math Olympians. It's set up as a textbook with each of 18 chapters concentrating on a single topic. Each chapter has a lesson, solved problems, and an AMC-like exercise set with solutions (explained in detail). Most of the high school math tournaments (HMMT, PUMaC, Stanford math tournament, Duke) have old exams on their websites for practice. Note - these are harder than the First Steps book; I'd do that first. I think that this year's AIME was great...I've spent most of the afternoon playing with the problems. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tattarrattat Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 DS used AoPS books and took their courses including their AMC 10 prep course, but didn't feel the latter as helpful as regular ones. Taking AIME for the first time with other kids made him happy enough! He still has a long way to go. One other good self-study idea for kids who are just below AIME level is the book First Steps for Math Olympians. It's set up as a textbook with each of 18 chapters concentrating on a single topic. Each chapter has a lesson, solved problems, and an AMC-like exercise set with solutions (explained in detail). Kathy, as always, thank you for your recommendation! My purse is getting skinnier though :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie of KY Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 I think that this year's AIME was great...I've spent most of the afternoon playing with the problems. :001_smile: Are the problems available somewhere. I don't see them in the AoPS Wiki. My son barely missed the cutoff for AIME this year, but he wants to see the problems and see how he can do. Our focus this year has been more toward mathcounts since scholarships are available in our state. It's cool that he's already winning four year full-tuition scholarships as an eighth grader. :closedeyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy in Richmond Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 My purse is getting skinnier though :) Haha...sorry! I meant to add above: One year my dd barely missed AIME on the AMC 10A. I had her do a quick trip through this text in mid-Feb, and she qualified for AIME in the B round of exams. It worked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy in Richmond Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Are the problems available somewhere. I don't see them in the AoPS Wiki. My son barely missed the cutoff for AIME this year, but he wants to see the problems and see how he can do. Our focus this year has been more toward mathcounts since scholarships are available in our state. It's cool that he's already winning four year full-tuition scholarships as an eighth grader. :closedeyes: They're being discussed in detail on the AoPS AMC forum today. Yay for your son for winning a Mathcounts scholarship! How nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie of KY Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Thanks, I looked under the high school intermediate (as it also listed AIME) and I looked in the wiki. Somehow I missed the fact that there was also an AMC forum separate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBM Posted March 16, 2013 Author Share Posted March 16, 2013 Back when my son had more time to study for math contests (those days are gone), he worked through Volumes 1 and 2 and did some of the old AMC and AIME tests for practice. Nowadays he just uses whatever he's studying in school and his outside activities to help him out. Anyway, another way to qualify for the AIME is through the USAMTS, a three-part, do-at-home contest. That is my son's favorite contest. If your child decides to participate, it is best to take the AMCs as well. USAMTS problems are tough, so don't let your children get discouraged if they find them difficult. Good luck to your kids if they sit for the USAMO test! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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