AMC course (AMC 10 and AMC 12) has a lot of benefits for students. AMC competitions are multiple-choice mathematics competitions held by the MAA or the Mathematical Association of America for high school and middle school students. The competitions are offered twice a year and are the first competitions for students who want to qualify for US Math Olympiad Team.
Important information
Grade 10 and younger students who are under 17 years and six months old are eligible for AMC 10. On the other hand, grade 12 and younger students who are 19 years and six months old are eligible for the AMC 12 course. Each year, the exams are offered on two dates, referred to as AMC 10 A or AMC 12 A and AMC 10 B or AMC 12 B. Students can take A and B exams but not AMC 10 and AMC 12 exams on the same date. Each of these tests has 25 multiple-choice questions.
The tests have a time limit of 75 minutes. It is also important to understand that each question has 6 points and you score 0 points if you give wrong answers. However, you will score 1.5 points if you leave a question unanswered. The questions are set to test your knowledge in geometry, algebra, probability, counting, and number theory. The two tests cover material that is typically covered in the first years of high school math. Various topics such as complex numbers, trigonometry, and logarithms are needed for the AMC 12 exam only. None of the exams requires calculus.
You do not need calculators for the AMC course online or when taking your exam. The test is typically given by universities and schools so it is important to contact your school for guidelines on how to register if you are interested in the course.
Why should you take AMC 12 and AMC 10?
AMC 12 and AMC 10 exams are the first in the sequence of tests used to qualify for US Math Olympiad team. Just like other types of math competitions, AMC 12 and AMC 10 provide a great way for students interested in mathematics to learn new ways to use their knowledge of math to advanced problems.
A lot of schools organize math teams or clubs for students competing in math competitions such as AMC 12 and AMC 10 which give students a good extracurricular activity and the chance to compete against others. There are awards for the top-scoring student who later qualify for the AIME.
How to prepare
Knowing what you learnt throughout the AMC course will help you score highly in the exam. This is where proper preparation comes in. The easiest way to prepare for the exam is to practice solving old AMC 12 and AMC 10 problems. You should practice with math problems daily to sharpen your skills in math. You should also use past papers and compete with your friends adhering to the examination rules to gauge how you could perform in the main exam.
