The AMC8 (American Mathematics Competitions 8) is an annual test of 25 questions and is 40 minutes. It is aimed to middle schoolers to test their mathematic abilities. For the first time as a 6th grader, I decided to take the challenge. For other middle-school students who are destined for success, this is what you need to know before taking the test.
Benefits
Maybe your parents forced you to take the test, and that is relatable. You may be wondering; what is the purpose of the AMC8, and what future benefits may it have? Well, when you prepare for the AMC, you also enhance your math skills. The test is considered slightly harder than an SAT, so it gives you a head start for preparation. Personally, before I started preparing, I was at the normal GT level. But after the test, I’ve gotten much better, and I now am multiple steps ahead.
Taking the AMC is a long-term action. Scoring well on the AMC 10 and AMC 12 catches a higher university, or even an IVY League university. But to be able to achieve so much on a 10 or 12, you have to start early with 8. Taking this test can ultimately positively impact your entire future!
Preparation
Now that you’re convinced, this is how to prepare. The test is in January, so start in the beginning of the school year, around September. Start practicing from books such as Art Of Problem Solving, who specialize in competition math. Their books include questions from AMC, MOEMS, and Mathcounts. I definitely recommend those books for anyone doing a math competition like that.
You should also download older tests and take it for 40 minutes just like a real test. It gives you the opportunity to feel how a real test would feel and look like. Go over the questions afterward, repeating them again and again. Set a target of correct questions you want to achieve this year. I picked 15, and stick with your goal, it helps.
Taking the Test
Now that you’ve prepared- its time for the real challenge; actually DOING the test. You should know how to manage your time (40 minutes) based on your goal. For example, my goal was 15 questions, so I would give myself 10 minutes for 5 questions, 15 minutes for the next 5, and 20 minutes for the next 5. The last 5 minutes were for questions above 15 that I could possibly do. Notice that my time increases as questions get tougher and tougher.
While working, KEEP IT NEAT. I’m not asking you to box every question, or align your equal signs, but your work should be readable and clean. Don’t jumble up different questions into a small space
Top-Secret Information
There is so much information that you should know. First, the questions start pretty easy, but they then get harder and harder going up. Note that there are no points off for unanswered questions, but even if you don’t know the answer, here’s a hint. Pick all the unknown answers the same thing. The letter should be B,C, or D; whichever one is counted the least. That way, there is a higher probability that you will guess correct. Speaking of probability, you should know the core mathematics included; mainly probability, number sense, algebra variants, and geometry. Those are the parts of the test you should really study for.
I hope that after reading this article, you will be willing to take the AMC 8 for future benefits and long-term success.