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Find more resources at Omega Learn! My blog, Pi in the Sky, is frequently updated with engaging math topics. Be sure to check it out for interesting insights and discussions!


Welcome

Welcome to my user page! I am a math competition enthusiast and I frequently compete in math competitions! I contribute to the AoPS Wiki, and I try to get better at math! Here are my AoPS contributions: Aoum Contributions

Please remember to bookmark or watch this page, as it will give you vital information on math competition preparation. My user page provides a list of information and resources for contest preparation, most notably the AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, AIME, MATHCOUNTS, National Science Bowl, F=ma Exam, USACO, and the ACSL. My user page is often updated with more information and edits, so please keep coming back!


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If you would like to find more math and science competition resources, check out OmegaLearn.org for information, resources, books, and videos by Sohil Rathi! Also check out Sohil Rathi's YouTube Channel for a collection of videos, including AMC 8, 10, 12 preparation videos.

Sohil Rathi's Omega Learn provides a variety of resources for math competition enthusiasts. For example, Omega Learn has written the following books, free and available on Omega Learn.


AMC 8

What is the AMC 8 Contest

The AMC 8 is a math contest organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). The AMC 8 contest consists of 25 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 40 minutes. There is no negative marking on this test, so remember to select an answer for every problem, even if you have to guess.

Who can take the AMC 8

Students must be in grade 8 or below and also under 14.5 years of age on the day of the competition. Note that students in elementary schools are also eligible to take the contest.

Where can you take the AMC 8

Many middle schools host the contest in their school. If your middle school doesn't offer the contest, you can try requesting your math teachers or principal to consider becoming a hosting site. You can also search for nearby locations hosting the contest using this zip code search.

The Mathematical Association of America also requests its member institutions of higher learning to consider offering the AMC 8 to students whose schools will not be offering the contest. You can find a list of alternate locations in your area here.

​If you are in elementary school and interested in taking the AMC 8, you can also reach out to math teachers in nearby middle schools and check if any of them will allow outside students to take the contest.

How to score high on the AMC 8

So, how can you score well on the AMC 8? Here are four key things to focus on:

  • Understanding all the content: these go beyond the school curriculum so there's going to be a lot of learning to do if you're new to competition math
  • Being able to apply concepts to tricky problems: these are math content problems and the problems are not straightforward like in school math so the problems require creative thinking and that's something that can only be achieved with more practice
  • ​Solving the problems accurately: You need to learn how to avoid common mistakes like calculation errors, silly mistakes, misreading the questions, etc.
  • ​Working quickly: You need to finish 25 problems in 40 minutes, and you need to learn good time management so you can attempt all the questions without getting stuck.

What are the best resources to prepare for the AMC 8 contest

Beginners

If you are new to competition math or taking the AMC 8 for the first or second time, you need to ensure that you have a good understanding of the fundamental mathematical concepts. You can use the following resources to get started:

  • ​Free AMC 8 Fundamentals Course: A free 10-class course that covers the most important concepts for the AMC 8 like Casework, Complementary Counting, PIE, Finding Areas of irregular shapes, etc.
  • ​Prealgebra by AoPS: The AoPS book is a great resource for beginners.

Advanced

For more advanced students, the following resources will help you improve your skills and help you achieve a perfect score.

  • ​Free AMC 8 Advanced Course: If you have a good understanding of the fundamental concepts, the AMC 8 Advanced Course explores harder concepts like Similar Triangles, Stars and Bars, Recursion, etc.
  • ​Free Mastering AMC 8 Book: This is 400+ page hybrid book that contains fomulas and video lectures for every AMC 8 topic, along with hundreds of examples and pratice problems (some with written solutions and some with video solutions).
  • ​Volume 1: The Basics book by AoPS: For even more advanced students, the Volume 1 essentially provides a summary of the Introduction Series by AoPS, covering many important concepts.

Introduction Series books by AoPS: For even more practice, you should check out the "Introduction" series books from AoPS:

Practice Contests & Mocks

  • AoPS User created Mock Contests: These mock contests are created by users on the AoPS forums and are of varying quality and difficulty levels. Still a good practice if you have completed all the previous year’s AMC 8 contests.
  • AlphaStar AMC 8 Practice Tests Book: A book with some high quality mock contests created by the problem writing team at AlphaStar Academy.
  • ​Challenging Problems in Middle School Math: This is a good book for preparing for middle school competitions


AMC 10

What is the AMC 10 Contest

The AMC 10 is a math contest organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). The AMC 10 contest contains 25 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 75 minutes. You get 1.5 points for every question that is left blank, so remember to not guess blindly.

​The top 2.5% (approximately) students on the AMC 10 are invited to take the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME).

Who can take the AMC 10

Students in grade 10 or below and under 17.5 years of age on the day of the contest can take the AMC 10. Note that even students in elementary schools are eligible to take the contest.

Where can you take the AMC 10

Many middle/high schools host the contest in their school. If your school doesn't offer the contest, you can try requesting your math teachers or principal to consider becoming a hosting site. You can also search for nearby locations hosting the contest using this zip code search.

​The Mathematical Association of America also requests its member institutions of higher learning to consider offering the AMC 10 to students whose schools will not be offering the contest. You can find a list of alternate locations in your area here.

If you are in a school which does not host the contest, you can also reach out to math teachers in nearby high schools and check if any of them will allow outside students to take the contest.

How to score high on the AMC 10

So, how can you score well on the AMC 10? Here are four key things to focus on:

  • Understanding all the content: The problems go beyond the school curriculum, so if you're new to competition math you will need to learn a variety of concepts from Algebra, Number Theory, Combinatorics, and Geometry
  • Being able to apply concepts to tricky problems: AMC 10 problems are not straightforward like in school math, so the problems require creative thinking and that's something that can only be achieved with significant practice
  • ​Solving the problems accurately: You need to simulate test conditions to learn how to avoid common mistakes like calculation errors, silly mistakes, misreading the questions, etc.
  • Working quickly: You need to finish 25 problems in 75 minutes, and you need to learn good time management so you can attempt most of the questions without getting stuck.


AMC 12

What is the AMC 12 Contest

The AMC 12 is a math contest organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). The AMC 12 contest contains 25 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 75 minutes. You get 1.5 points for every question that is left blank, so remember to not guess blindly.

​The top 5% (approximately) students on the AMC 12 are invited to take the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME).

Who can take the AMC 12

Students in grade 12 or below and under 19.5 years of age on the day of the contest can take the AMC 12. Note that even students in elementary/middle schools are eligible to take the contest.

Where can you take the AMC 12

Many high schools host the contest in their school. If your school doesn't offer the contest, you can try requesting your math teachers or principal to consider becoming a hosting site. You can also search for nearby locations hosting the contest using this zip code search.

​The Mathematical Association of America also requests its member institutions of higher learning to consider offering the AMC 12 to students whose schools will not be offering the contest. You can find a list of alternate locations in your area here.

​If you are in a school which does not host the contest, you can also reach out to math teachers in nearby high schools and check if any of them will allow outside students to take the contest.

How to score high on the AMC 12

So, how can you score well on the AMC 12? Here are four key things to focus on:

  • Understanding all the content: The problems go beyond the school curriculum, so if you're new to competition math you will need to learn a variety of concepts from Algebra, Number Theory, Combinatorics, and Geometry. Note: The AMC 12 contests include a few extra topics compared to the AMC 10, so you must specifically prepare for these topics:
  1. Trigonometry
  2. Logarithms
  3. Complex Numbers
  • Being able to apply concepts to tricky problems: AMC 12 problems are not straightforward like in school math, so the problems require creative thinking and that's something that can only be achieved with significant practice
  • Solving the problems accurately: You need to simulate test conditions to learn how to avoid common mistakes like calculation errors, silly mistakes, misreading the questions, etc.
  • Working quickly: You need to finish 25 problems in 75 minutes, and you need to learn good time management so you can attempt most of the questions without getting stuck.


AIME

What is the AIME Contest

The AIME (American Invitational Math Examination) is a math contest organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). The AIME contest contains 15 questions that must be completed within 3 hours. Each answer is a 3 digit integer from 000 - 999. There is no penalty for guessing but there is only a 1 in 1000 chance of guessing something correctly.

Who can take the AIME

To take the AIME, you must qualify based on your score on AMC 10 or AMC 12 contest. The top 10 - 15% on the AMC 12 and the top 5 - 10% on the AMC 10 are invited to take the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME).

​You can also qualify for AIME from USAMTS (USA Mathematical Talent Search), which is a proof based competition with 3 rounds over 3 months. However, this is much harder than making it through the AMC 10/12. Even if you qualify for AIME through USAMTS, it will be much harder to qualify for USA(J)MO as the index for USAMTS is "100 times the USAMTS score divided by 75" so your maximum index will be 100 (compared to AMC max score of 150), and you would need to score very high on AIME to have any chance at USA(J)MO qualification.

Where can you take the AIME

The AIME must be taken at the same center where you took the AMC 10/12, which helped you qualify for the AIME.


MATHCOUNTS

What is MATHCOUNTS

MATHCOUNTS is a middle school math competition, organized by the MATHCOUNTS foundation. The competition has 4 levels:

  • School
  • Chapter
  • State
  • National

MATHCOUNTS also includes a fun math video challenge.

When is MATHCOUNTS

The competition dates for 2024-2025 are:

  • School competitions: November 2024 – January 2025, as determined by the school’s coach. A copy of the 2024 School Competition will be released online Nov. 6, 2024.
  • Chapter competitions: February 1-29, 2025. To find the specific competition date for your area and your chapter coordinator's contact information, use the Chapter and State Competition Search tool.
  • State competitions: March 1 – March 31, 2025. To find the specific competition date for your state and your state coordinator's contact information, use the Chapter and State Competition Search tool.
  • 2025 RTX MATHCOUNTS National Competition: May 11 - 12 in Washington, DC.

​MATHCOUNTS Critical Dates

Who can take MATHCOUNTS

This competition is only for middle schoolers (unlike AMC 8 where elementary schoolers can also participate). There are 500 chapters in the US, and each middle school is assigned to a specific chapter.

Your school needs to register for this contest. You cannot register for this contest individually unless you are home-schooled. If your school doesn’t currently participate in MATHCOUNTS, you can request your math teachers or administrators to register for this prestigious competition.

Each school can register a maximum of 1 team of 4 students and 8 individuals (12 students total) to the Chapter competition. Most schools use the School level test to determine their top 12 students. Some schools use a series of tests throughout the year for that selection.

Competition Rounds

The MATHCOUNTS Competition Series comprises four distinct rounds, each designed to assess various mathematical skills.

The Sprint Round is an individual event featuring 30 short-answer questions to be completed in 40 minutes. Calculators are not permitted in this round. The objective is to evaluate speed and accuracy in solving problems.

The Target Round is also an individual event, consisting of four sets of two questions each, totaling eight questions. Each set must be completed in 6 minutes. Calculators are allowed in this round. The aim is to assess problem-solving abilities and mathematical reasoning.

The Team Round involves a team of four students working together to solve 10 questions within 20 minutes. Calculators are permitted in this round as well. This round evaluates teamwork and collaborative problem-solving skills.

The Countdown Round is an oral event where students compete head-to-head using a buzzer system. Each problem must be solved within 45 seconds without the use of a calculator. This round tests speed and accuracy under pressure. While the Countdown Round is an unofficial fun round at the Chapter and State competitions, it is used to determine the MATHCOUNTS winner at the National competition. To get a better idea, check out the YouTube videos of past-year National MATHCOUNTS Countdown rounds.

CLICK HERE to view past-year samples of school, chapter, and state level MATHCOUNTS competitions.

How to score high on MATHCOUNTS

How can you score well on the MATHCOUNTS exam? Here are four key things to focus on:

  • Understanding all the content: These contests go beyond the school curriculum so there's going to be a lot of new mathematical concepts to learn that are not typically covered in a school curriculum.
  • Practice problems to Improve Problem Solving Intuition: MATHCOUNTS and other math contests are designed to challenge the students and require creative thinking, that's something that you can only develop with lots of practice.
  • Increase Speed and Accuracy: The Sprint round requires solving 30 short answer problems in just 40 minutes, and most students have trouble finishing those questions. So it is critical to improve your problem solving speed to do well on the contest. There are many resources below which will help you in improving your speed and accuracy.

What are the best resources to prepare for MATHCOUNTS

Resources For Learning Concepts

  • MATHCOUNTS Handbooks: If you are taking the MATHCOUNTS at the School/Chapter level or you are new to competition math, then first go through the Handbooks that MATHCOUNTS creates every year. They are pretty comprehensive books with a lot of practice problems. Note that these handbooks are made available to your school teacher after registration. Alternatively you can buy the handbook. You may also be able to find the older handbooks online.
  • MATHCOUNTS Minis: Each MATHCOUNTS Mini video provides detailed explanations for at least one MATHCOUNTS problem and its associated concepts. Each Mini also features an activity sheet with practice problems for the discussed concepts.
  • Free AMC 8 Fundamentals Course: A free 10-class course that covers the most important concepts for middle school math competitions, and covers fundamental concepts like Casework, Complementary Counting, PIE, Finding Areas of irregular shapes, etc.
  • ​Free AMC 8 Advanced/MATHCOUNTS Course: If you have a good understanding of the fundamental concepts, this course explores harder concepts like Similar Triangles, Stars and Bars, Recursion, etc.
  • Free Mastering AMC 8 Book: This 400+ page hybrid book provides a comprehensive practice of the most important concepts, and includes video lectures for every chapter, formulas for every topic, and hundreds of examples and practice problems with detailed video solutions.
  • ​MATHCOUNTS Practice Plans: These plans are prepared by MATHCOUNTS to help students review important topics. They include a video lecture along with practice problems on that topics.


MOEMS

What is the MOEMS Contest

Math Olympiad for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS) is a math competition for elementary and middle schools. This competition consists of 5 tests - one each in the month of November, December, January, February, and March. Each test consists of 5 problems with a time limit of 25 minutes. More information about this contest can be found at MOEMS website.

Who can take the MOEMS contest

More than 120,000 students from every US state and 39 additional countries participate every year. The are two divisions:

  • Division E: Grades 4-6 recommended, but the contest is open for anyone in 6th grade or lower.
  • Division M: The middle school contest is open for Grades 6-8.

Anyone can register a team (up to 35 students in 1 team) for the contest including teachers and parents.

The fees for registering a team starts at $175 for early bird (by July) and goes up to $300 for last chance registration (November).


National Science Bowl

What is the National Science Bowl (NSB)

The National Science Bowl (NSB) is a nationwide academic competition that tests students’ knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics. NSB is a buzzer based science competition on questions ranging from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, Energy, and Mathematics. This competition is sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE).

Middle and high school student teams from diverse backgrounds are comprised of four students, one alternate, and a teacher who serves as an advisor and coach. These teams face-off in a fast-paced question-and-answer format. There are 65 high school and 50 middle school regional Science Bowl tournaments, and the winner from each region is invited to attend the National Science Bowl competition in Washington DC.

You can find more details about the 2022 National competition in this video:

Competing at the Most Prestigious Science Competition in the US

You can also find the 2024 Middle School National Science Bowl video here. You can find the 2024 High School National Science Bowl video here.

Who can participate in National Science Bowl

The NSB has two divisions:

  • Middle School: The middle school division has 45 regions, where each school can send 1-2 teams comprised of students in grades 6, 7, 8.
  • High School: The high school division has 60 regions where each school can send 1/2 teams to comprised of students in grades 9-12.

When is the NSB typically held

The competition dates typically are:

  • Regional Competitions: February - early March (different regions host it on different weekends)
  • National Competition: April (Washington DC)

​You can find more information about the previous contests here:

2023 NSB Finals

2024 NSB Finals

How to do well on the NSB

  • Understanding all the content: The concepts asked in NSB go beyond the school curriculum so you need to go deeper into the different subjects. The High School Nationals is significantly harder and requires using many topic specific textbooks (for example Organic Chemistry or Cell Biology). Olympiad Preparation (USABO, USNCO, USAPHO, USAAO, USESO) helps a lot as well. Many accompanying resources (like Chapter Notes, Videos) can be useful for learning and review as well.
  • Being able to answer fast: The NSB is a buzzer based competition so you need to practice fast buzzing speeds especially for the toss-up rounds. Some fast buzzing tips are provided at the bottom of this page.
  • ​Subject and Topic coverage: This is a team event where 4 members competing (with 1 alternate). It is best to divide the topics such that every topic is covered across the team.
  • ​Practice Team Strategies: To maximize your chances, you need to work on team strategies like taking notes, non-verbal clues, and double checking answers.


F=ma

What is the F=ma Contest

The F=ma is a physics contest organized by the Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). The F=ma exam consists of 25 multiple-choice questions related to classical mechanics, and tests skills on how to apply fundamental principles to real-world scenarios. There is no negative marking, so remember to put an answer for every question.

​The top 400 students approximately on the F=ma are invited to take the USA Physics Olympiad (USAPhO). The cut-off is usually between 14-18 for the USAPhO.

​There are two exams "F=ma A" and "F=ma B". Students may take both F=ma A & B exams, but they must meet or exceed the cutoff score for both exams to move on to the USAPhO exam. There is no benefit for students to take both exams.

​The exams are typically held in February. The problems can be solved without the use of calculus, although knowing basic calculus can help you find quicker solution for some problems.

Who can take the F=ma

Students taking the F=ma exam must be either U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders), or currently attending a U.S. school.

Where can you take the F=ma

Both the F=ma and USAPhO exams must be proctored. Parents or relatives of students are not acceptable proctors. It is expected that competitors will take the exam at their local school, though they may take the exam elsewhere if needed. Homeschooled students should contact nearby high schools, community colleges, or universities to ask if they can take the exam there. Parents or relatives of homeschooled students are not acceptable proctors.

How to score high on the F=ma

So, how can you score well on the F=ma? Here are four key things to focus on:

  • Understanding all the content: The exams asks questions only on mechanics, so you need to understand all the topics in mechanics and learn how to apply them to complex scenarios.
  • ​Solving the problems accurately: You need to simulate test conditions to learn how to avoid common mistakes like calculation errors, silly mistakes, misreading the questions, etc.
  • Working quickly: You need to finish 25 problems in 75 minutes, and you need to learn good time management so you can attempt most of the questions without getting stuck.


American Computer Science League (ACSL)

The American Computer Science League (ACSL) is a nationwide computer science competition for middle and high school students in the United States and abroad. It consists of a series of individual and team-based contests, designed to test knowledge in various areas of computer science, including algorithms, programming, and discrete mathematics.

History

The ACSL was founded in 1978 as a way to encourage students' interest in computer science and provide them with an outlet for showcasing their skills. The league has since expanded to include participants from schools across the world.

Structure of the ACSL

The ACSL competition consists of several divisions to accommodate a wide range of skill levels, from beginners to advanced students:

Divisions

ACSL has five divisions: Senior, Intermediate, Junior, Classroom, and Elementary, providing an appropriate challenge for students of varying ages and abilities. Schools can participate in one or more divisions, depending on the students' skill levels. Contest topics are similar across divisions but vary in terms of depth and difficulty.

Each division allows schools to form multiple teams, each consisting of a maximum of 12 students. Schools can choose to compete in the 5-score division (sum of the top 5 students' scores) or the 3-score division (sum of the top 3 students' scores).

Here is a breakdown of each division:

  • Senior Division - Best for high school students with programming experience, especially those taking AP Computer Science.
    • Contest format: 30-minute online 6-question short answer test + online programming problem to solve in 72 hours.
  • Intermediate Division - Best for high school students with little or no programming experience and advanced junior high students.
    • Contest format: 30-minute online 6-question short answer test + online programming problem to solve in 72 hours.
  • Junior Division - Best for junior high and middle school students who are learning programming or have some coding experience. Students in grade 9 or below may participate.
    • Contest format: 30-minute online 6-question short answer test + online programming problem to solve in 72 hours.
  • Classroom Division - Open to students in all grades, and ideally suited for students taking AP Computer Science Principles or other computer science courses without a heavy programming component.
    • Contest format: 50-minute online 10-question short answer test, featuring non-programming problems from the Junior, Intermediate, and Senior divisions.
  • Elementary Division - Open to students in grades 3-6.
    • Contest format: 30-minute online 6-question non-programming test, with each contest focused on a different category of content. Topics vary from algorithms to basic discrete mathematics.

Team Registration and Scoring

  • Each school can register multiple teams per division, and each team can have up to 12 students.
  • The team score is calculated by summing the top 5 (or 3) students' scores in a contest.
  • The cost for registering a team is $150 per division (except the Elementary Division), and each additional team costs $75. For the Elementary Division, the costs are $100 and $50, respectively.
  • After the first registration, additional teams can be registered.
  • A student can only participate on one team, and once a student is assigned to a team, they cannot change teams after Contest #1.

End-of-Year Finals

High-scoring students across all divisions are invited to participate in an end-of-year online Finals competition.

Contest Topics

The ACSL tests students on a variety of topics, including:

  • Algorithms - Sorting, searching, pathfinding, etc.
  • Programming - Solving problems using code, algorithmic thinking.
  • Discrete Mathematics - Logic, combinatorics, graph theory, set theory.

Resources

There are several resources available to help students prepare for the ACSL contests:

  • Official ACSL Practice Problems - The ACSL website offers a range of past contest problems that students can use for practice. These problems help familiarize participants with the format and level of difficulty of the questions asked.
  • YouTube Videos - A great set of 21 YouTube video lessons covering the ACSL topics, each an hour long, has been created by the ACSL friends at RICHCODE based in Orange County, CA.
  • Books and Textbooks - Books such as Introduction to Algorithms by Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest, and Clifford Stein provide in-depth coverage of algorithmic techniques, which are useful for the ACSL's algorithm-focused sections.
  • Online Coding Platforms - Websites like Codeforces, Codewars, and HackerRank offer coding challenges and competitions that align with the problem-solving skills required for the ACSL.
  • ACSL Forums and Discussion Groups - Participating in forums such as the AoPS Community can help students connect with others preparing for ACSL and share strategies and solutions.
  • Practice with Online Judges - Platforms like USACO and TopCoder provide regular programming challenges that allow students to hone their skills and get familiar with algorithmic thinking.

See Also

External Links


USA Computing Olympiad (USACO)

The USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) is a premier national programming competition that identifies, motivates, and trains high-school students in the United States. USACO provides an excellent opportunity for students to enhance their programming skills, with multiple levels of competition and extensive resources for preparation.

Mission and Objectives

The mission of USACO is to encourage students to develop strong problem-solving and programming skills, fostering the next generation of computer scientists. USACO is instrumental in providing opportunities to represent the United States at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI).

USACO achieves this mission by providing:

  • Online Training Resources: USACO offers a wealth of free materials, including tutorials, problem sets, and training pages.
  • Quarterly Contests: Four online contests per year, allowing participants to compete at various skill levels.
  • Summer Training Camp: The top-performing students are invited to a summer training camp, which prepares them for the next stage of international competitions.
  • International Representation: USACO selects top participants to represent the USA at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI).

Contests

USACO holds quarterly contests with problems in algorithmic problem-solving. The contests are divided into divisions based on experience and skill level:

  • Bronze: Entry-level division for those starting in competitive programming.
  • Silver: Intermediate division for students with some experience.
  • Gold: Advanced division for students who have mastered many programming topics.
  • Platinum: The elite division for top competitors.

The contests consist of three algorithmic problems, each with varying difficulty. The time limit for the contest is typically four hours. Advancement between divisions is based on performance in each contest.

Training Resources

USACO provides various resources to help participants prepare for the contests:

  • USACO Training Pages: The training pages are free resources provided by USACO, offering detailed tutorials and problems on a wide range of topics. They are divided into levels and categories, making them suitable for all skill levels. The topics include:
    • Basic programming concepts
    • Data structures
    • Algorithms
    • Dynamic programming
    • Graph theory
    • Number theory
    • And more!
  • USACO Guide: The USACO Guide offers a structured path to progress from Bronze to Platinum level. It includes detailed explanations, example problems, and tips for preparing for the USACO contests. The guide is especially helpful for students who are aiming for higher divisions.
  • Problem Archives: USACO maintains an extensive archive of past contest problems along with detailed solutions, which can be invaluable for practice. These past problems allow students to familiarize themselves with the types of challenges they will face in future contests.
  • Books and External Resources: In addition to the free online materials, several books are recommended to help participants prepare for USACO:
    • Competitive Programming by Steven Halim and Felix Halim
    • Introduction to Algorithms by Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest, and Clifford Stein
    • The Art of Computer Programming by Donald E. Knuth

These books cover advanced algorithms, data structures, and problem-solving techniques.

Summer Training Camp

Each year, the top performers from the USACO contests are invited to the USACO Summer Training Camp. The camp is a high-intensity training program that prepares students for international competitions like the IOI. The camp focuses on advanced topics in algorithms, data structures, and problem-solving strategies.

Students who excel at the Summer Training Camp may be selected for the USA IOI team.

International Representation

The most successful USACO competitors are invited to represent the United States at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI). The IOI is a prestigious global competition that gathers the best young programming talent from around the world. USACO participants who earn top rankings have the opportunity to be selected for the USA IOI team and compete internationally.

Additional Resources

  • USACO Forum: The USACO forum is a community of students, coaches, and past competitors who discuss programming, share solutions, and provide guidance for preparation. Engaging with the community can be an excellent way to learn from others and stay motivated.
  • Competitive Programming Communities: Communities like Codeforces, AtCoder, and TopCoder host regular programming contests and provide problem sets for practice. Participating in these contests will expose you to problems of varying difficulty and will improve your overall competitive programming skills.

Explore competitive programming communities:

Conclusion

The USA Computing Olympiad is an excellent way for students to develop their problem-solving and programming abilities. By participating in USACO contests, utilizing the training resources, and engaging with the community, students can strengthen their skills and achieve success in programming competitions. Whether you're just starting out or aiming for the top divisions, USACO offers a variety of tools to help you grow as a competitive programmer.

For more detailed information and resources, visit the official USACO website: www.usaco.org.

See Also

Free Book: Mastering AMC 8

The Mastering AMC 8 book covers the most important concepts on the AMC 8 exam with video lectures for every topic and hundreds of practice problems with video solutions. This includes problems from AMC 8, MATHCOUNTS, BmMT, EMCC, and many original problems.

This book covers the following topics:

  • Combinatorics
  • Algebra
  • Number Theory
  • Geometry

Award: The National Museum of Mathematics organizes the Strogatz Prize for Math Communications which awarded an honorable mention to the Mastering AMC 8 book.


Free Book: Mastering AMC 10/12

The Mastering AMC 10/12 book covers the most important concepts on the AMC 10/12 exam with video lectures for every topic and hundreds of practice problems with video solutions.

This book covers the following topics:

  • Combinatorics
  • Algebra
  • Number Theory
  • Geometry
  • Logarithms
  • Trigonometry
  • Complex Numbers

Note: This book is a work in progress and new chapters and problems will be added regularly, so bookmark OmegaLearn.org and check often to get the latest version of the book.


Free Book: The Mathematical Book of Formulas and Strategies

This book covers the most popular mathematical formulas and strategies. This book is a 140+ page collection of the most important theorems, formulas, and strategies for math competitions. This book should serve as a reference guide for quick review before any math competition, and should be useful for competitions like the AMC 8, AMC 10/12, MATHCOUNTS, and AIME.

This book covers the following topics:

  • Algebra
  • Number Theory
  • Combinatorics
  • Geometry
  • Trigonometry
  • Logarithms
  • Complex Numbers


Free Classes

Math Olympiad (MOEMS)

A class discussing some important topics for the Math Olympiad (MOEMS). This class is useful for elementary and middle school students who are just starting with math competitions.

AMC 8 Fundamentals

In this class, we covered most of the fundamental concepts needed for the AMC 8 and discussed smart ways to solve AMC 8 problems. These classes were targeted for middle schoolers or advanced elementary students interested in math competitions.

AMC 8 Advanced/MATHCOUNTS

In this program, we discussed concepts to help master the AMC 8 and also prepare for other competitions like MATHCOUNTS! These classes were targeted for middle schoolers or advanced elementary students who are familiar with math competitions and want to improve their scores.

AMC 10/12

This program covered some important topics for the AMC 10/12 exams to help students prepare for those competitions. These class were targeted for middle schoolers or high schoolers who are new to AMC10/12 competitions.

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Popular Videos

AMC 8 Math Class 1 - Permutations and Combinations

This is class 1 of AMC 8 Preparation - Math Competition classes. In this class we learned:

  • Basic Counting Techniques
  • Word Rearrangements
  • Permutations
  • Combinations

How to Prepare for AMC 10/12, and qualify for AIME and USA(J)MO

In this video we showed a 6 step formula on how to prepare for the AMC 10/12 Math Competitions and qualify for AIME and USA(J)MO.

AMC 8 Math Class 3 - Probability and Geometric Counting

This is class 3 of AMC 8 Preparation - Competition Math classes. In this class we learned

  • Probability
  • Geometric Counting
  • Practice AMC 8 Problems

AMC 8 Math Class 2 - Casework, Complementary Counting, and Overcounting (PIE)

In AMC 8 Preparation -Competition Class 2 we covered:

  • Casework
  • Complementary Counting
  • Overcounting (PIE - Principle of Inclusion and Exclusion)

Permutations & Word Rearrangements - Mastering AMC 10/12

In this video, we will cover Permutations and Word Rearrangements.

All you need to know about Math Competitions and how to prepare for them

In this video you will learn about the various Math Competitions from elementary to high school and how to prepare for them.


Art of Problem Solving Books

Introductory-Level Series

Intermediate-Level Series

Competition Preparation Series


My Competition History

How to Prepare for...

A middle school math competition focused on basic problem-solving skills. Preparation involves practicing with past problems, strengthening number sense, and reviewing fundamental math topics like algebra and geometry.

A high school math competition covering algebra, geometry, number theory, and combinatorics. Prepare by solving past AMC 10 problems, mastering important mathematical concepts, and developing efficient problem-solving strategies.

A more challenging version of the AMC 10, aimed at high school students. It tests advanced topics such as trigonometry, calculus, and combinatorics. Prepare by diving deeper into high-level math concepts and practicing with difficult problems.

A highly challenging math competition that follows the AMC 10/12. It focuses on problem-solving with a higher level of difficulty. Prepare by solving past AIME problems, and mastering advanced topics like number theory and combinatorics.

A math competition for middle school students that tests algebra, geometry, and problem-solving skills. To excel, practice mental math, solve problems quickly, and review common topics such as sequences, patterns, and combinatorics.

The Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS) competition focuses on reasoning and problem-solving. Preparation involves sharpening your ability to think critically and solve creative problems across a range of mathematical topics.

The National Science Bowl (NSB) is a science and math competition that requires strong knowledge in both fields. While not exclusively math-focused, preparation should include reviewing scientific principles, math-related topics, and interdisciplinary knowledge.

The F=ma (Force $=$ Mass $\times$ Acceleration) competition tests students on physics and math problem-solving. It focuses on mechanics and physics-related math. To prepare, strengthen your understanding of physics principles, practice solving physics problems, and apply mathematical concepts in physics contexts.

The American Computer Science League (ACSL) is a competition that challenges students in computer science and programming. It covers topics such as algorithms, data structures, and programming languages. Prepare by studying coding concepts, practicing algorithm design, and solving past ACSL problems.

The USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) is a programming competition that tests students on algorithmic problem-solving and computer science concepts. It features problems in areas such as sorting, searching, dynamic programming, and graph theory. Prepare by mastering programming languages (especially C++, Java, or Python), practicing with past USACO problems, and learning key algorithms and data structures.


My AoPS Contributions

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