AIME takes mathletes to next contest round

The American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), held on March 19, further challenged qualifiers from the AMC 10/12.

According to math teacher and Math Club adviser PJ Yim, 31 total students were eligible for the AIME: 27 students through the AMC 10/12A and 28 through the 10/12B, with overlap of students who passed both. Qualifying scores in either secured entrance to the AIME.

On the AMC 10A, a curve from the standard 120 passing score lowered the qualification to 106.5, and on the 12A, the standard shifted from 100 points to 99. The AMC 10/12B, however, had no curve.

Sophomore William Hu, who passed with a score of 114 on this year’s AMC 10A, qualified for the AIME for the first time.

“The AMC constantly challenges students in problem solving and mathematical concepts,” Hu said. “Passing the AMC 10 is always exciting, although this year was more nerve-wracking due to the uncertainty of the cutoff.”

The 3-hour, 15 question AIME contest, however, posed new difficulties for test takers.

“Unlike the AMC, the AIME isn’t multiple-choice so it’s easier to make mistakes and not catch them, [so] it’s easy to make careless errors,” sophomore Keshav Narayan said. “[But] I also like that the AIME is a relatively long contest, so I can spend more time really thinking about each question.”

On the morning of March 19, qualifying SHS and Redwood Middle School students took the exam. Narayan, who has qualified for the AIME every year since seventh grade, felt that this year’s test was more difficult than the previous one.

Last year, he passed the AIME and entered the third round of the contest, the USAJMO (Junior Math Olympiad).

“My goal this year was to make it to the JMO [again],” Narayan said.