2016 AMC 10A Problems and Answers

The 2016 AMC 10A was held on Feb 2, 2016. Over 210,000 students from over 4,100 U.S. and international schools attended the 2016 AMC 10A contest and found it fun and rewarding. Top 10, well-known U.S. universities and colleges, including internationally recognized U.S. technical institutions, ask for AMC scores on their application forms. Your children deserve the chance to list these scores on their applications!
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Now we can post the 2016 AMC 10A Problems and Answers below. You can click the following to download them:

More details can be found at:

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Online Courses

  1. Online AMC10/12/AIME Prep Coaching
  2. Online SAT Critical Reading and Writing Tutoring/Coaching
  3. Online SAT Math 800 Tutoring and Coaching
  4. Online SAT Mock Test
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Online AMC 8/10/12/AIME Prep Coaching

Registration and PAYMENT for One-on-One Private Individualized AMC 8/10/12/AIME Prep Coaching

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Bronze_medalOur Students

In 2018, we had 73 students who are qualified to take the AIME either through the AMC 10A/12A or AMC 10B/12B. Two of our students was among the 35 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 10A: Austen M. and Jason W.  and two of our students were among the 21 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 12B: Kaan D. and Edward W. Remarkably, 11 middle schoolers and 2 elementary schoolers qualified for the AIME!

Our students earned top scores on the 2017 AMC 8 contest!

  • of our students were among the top 75 National Winners (Perfect Scorers).
  • 34 students received National Distinguished Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 1% test takers, as shown in Table 2.
  • 22 students received National Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 5% test takers, as shown in Table 3.
  • 63 out of our 65 students(97%) received National Awards for the AMC 8 from the Mathematical Association of America

Read more at: 2017 AMC 8 Results Just Announced — Seven Students Received Perfect Scores

In 2017, we have 61 students who are qualified to take the AIME either through the AMC 10A/12A or AMC 10B/12B. One of our students was among the 28 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 10A: Austen M., and two of our students were among the 65 Perfect Scorersworldwide on the AMC 10B: Ashwin A. and Brad Z. Remarkably, eight middle schoolers and one elementary schooler qualified for the AIME, which is geared toward high school students. Very impressively, Bryan Z., a 6th grader, gained a score of 132 out of 150 on the AMC 10B.
Read more at: 2017 AIME Qualifiers Announced — 61 Students Qualified for the AIME

In 2016, we have 36 students who are qualified to take AIME either through AMC 10A/12A or AMC 10B/12B. One of our students was among the 23 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 10A: Joel (Junyao) T. Particularly, seven middle schoolers and one elementary schooler qualified for the AIME, which is geared toward high school students. Pravalika P., a 6th grader, got a 115.5 out of 150 on the AMC10B, which is very impressive. Read more at: 2016 AIME Qualifiers Announced — 36 Students Qualified for AIME

From 2011 to 2015, in total, 37 students scored above 120 on the American Mathematics Contest 10 (AMC 10) and qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME); 26 students scored above 100 on the American Mathematics Contest 12 (AMC 12) and qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME); 3 students qualified for the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), the highest level of math competition for high school students in the USA. Read more at: Notable Achievements of Our Students

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Our Uniqueness

We have a long history of close collaboration with the MAA‘s American Mathematics Competitions (AMC), which are dedicated to strengthening the mathematical capabilities of our nation’s youth, and are the first of a series of competitions in high school mathematics that determine the United States team for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).

We are only one in the Washington DC metropolitan area to offer elementary, middle, and high-school level competition math courses. Our students have received top scores and awards at prestigious national and math competitions.

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education priceless treasure

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AMC 10/12 Historical Results of Cutoff Scores from 2000 to 2024

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The following are cutoff scores for AIME qualification from 2000 to 2024.

Year AMC 10A AMC 10B AMC 12A AMC 12B
2024 94.5 105 76.5 88.5
2023 103.5 105 85.5 88.5
2022 93 94.5 85.5 81
2021 Fall 96 96  91.5 84
2021 Spring 103.5 102 93 91.5
2020 103.5 102 87 87
2019 103.5 108 84 94.5
2018 111 108 93 99
2017 112.5 120 96 100.5
2016 110 110 92 100
2015 106.5 120 99 100
2014 120 120 93 100
2013 108 120 88.5 93
2012 115.5 120 94.5 99
2011 117 117 93 97.5
2010 118.5 118.5 88.5 88.5
2009 120 120 97.5 100
2008 117 120 97.5 97.5
2007 117 115.5 97.5 100
2006 120 120 100 100
2005 120 120 100 100
2004 110 120 100 100
2003 119 121 100 100
2002 115 118 100 100
AMC 10 AMC 12
2001 116 84
2000 110 92

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American Mathematics Contest 12 — AMC 12

2014124135627709The American Mathematics Contest 12 (AMC 12) is the first exam in the series of exams used to challenge bright students, grades 12 and below, on the path toward choosing the team that represents the United States at the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO).

High scoring AMC 12 students are invited to take the more challenging American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). The AMC 12 is administered by the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC). Two different versions of the contests are given on two dates, about two weeks apart, in February. All USA, USA embassy, Canadian, and foreign school students in grade 12 or below are eligible to participate as long as they are under 19.5 years of age on the day of the contest.

The AMC 12 used to be the American High School Mathematics Examination from 1951 to 1999.

Format

The AMC 12 is a 25 question, 75 minute multiple choice test. Problems generally increase in difficulty as the exam progresses. Ever since 2008, calculators have been banned from use during the test; however, calculators were never required to solve any problems, and students who do not use calculators were not disadvantaged.

The AMC 12 is scored in a way that penalizes guessing. Correct answers are worth 6 points, incorrect answers are worth 0 points, and unanswered questions are worth 1.5 points, to give a total score out of 150 points. From 2002 to 2006, the number of points for an unanswered question was 2.5 points and before 2002 it was 2 points. Students that score over 100 points or in the top 5% of the AMC 12 contest are invited to take the AIME.

Curriculum

The AMC 12 tests mathematical problem solving with arithmetic, algebra, counting, combinatorics, geometry, number theory, and probability and other secondary school math topics. Problems are designed to be solvable by students without any background in calculus. The AMC 12 is a 25-question, 75-minute, multiple choice examination in secondary school mathematics containing problems which can be understood and solved with pre-calculus concepts.

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一个数学家对美国数学教育体制的深刻洞察与批判

這是著名青年数学家ChangShou博士於2013年6月发表的题为《在美国求学执教的见闻与感受》的长文,作者于2006年毕业于北京大学数学系,然后来美留学在哈佛大学攻读博士学位,师承数学大师丘成桐,博士毕业后执教于宾夕法尼亚数学系,以自己在美国求学执教期間的耳闻目睹腦思心想,对美国科教体制的的历史与现状进行了深刻的剖析与批判,非常值得一读。

在美国求学执教的见闻与感受

本人对理科教育一直很感兴趣,多次就此话题发帖。很多朋友对教育以及中美体系比较 甚感兴趣观点众多。现在我想简述一下我在美国七年求学执教的一些第一手见闻和感受。一是希望起到抛砖引玉之效,二是给自己总结一下,为自己回国工作后和人侃教育整理一下材料。

几点说明:

1. 我在21世纪初在北京某大学A学习,之后来美留学读博士(涉及学校 B C),再往后在美国执教(大学 D)。我对国内本科硕士,国外本科博士等阶段的基础科学教育(包括学习和教学)都有一定体会,在我的系列中也会对中美的大学做一些对比。

2. 我的专业方向属于纯数学(以及相当程度的理论物理)。我对实验类学科或工科了解很少,故无法涉及这些方向。但我教过不少数学课(大学里学生最杂的课),这使得我能大范围接触全校各个专业学生并由此感知他们的数学水平。

3 .我求学的学校各自代表了中美的最高水平,我执教的也是老牌藤校。一方面我感觉到了一流大学确有过人之处,另一方面我也看到了一些令我大跌眼镜的现象。我感到这两方面的很多东西我似乎没有在中文媒体网站上见到较多的提及(虽然谈论建立世界一流大学的文章很多很多)。

在 B和C的经历:本科

我是大学B的学生(研究生),但我的导师在大学C导致我常到C校去,故我对两校均有了解。

本科新生数学基础弱于中国同地位大学

B有美国数一数二的理科生源并有很多顶尖国际生源支援,但我感觉他们的平均数理水平仍不及我在中国的母校A的(规模更大的)入校生源的水平(当然A的生源在中国也是数一数二的)。我认为这是中国基础教育的一个胜利。当然B的新生水准也是不错的,少有我认为明显配不上B的。

题海/考试海/教辅/补课 体系

尽管B有很好的生源,他却毫不懈怠,反倒响鼓偏用重锤敲。B高度重视数学基础课并有自己一套方案

除了通用的教材,还有两三套自编的教学讲义和“教辅材料”;教学讲义和“教辅材料”各有侧重,相互补充,时有更新;大量布置作业习题并对习题精心组织分类;除去正课外,要求学生必须上一周两次的小班习题课(由助教上),而由于有超强的研究生生源这些助教(在读博士研究生)大都具备独立主讲全课程的能力(相比之下中国的大学A里甚至很多博士后都不能做到这一点);由于具有极高的师生比例以及博士生本科生比例B可以为每一门大课组织庞大的教授/助教/批改作业者体系;教授和助教均提供很多课外答疑时间;相关院系,学生宿舍,学生内部均会组织“学习班”“解题班”等,有的学生甚至自己出钱雇家教教自己。

此外 小班习题课上 常有各种小测验(计入最后成绩);全体的大考试则每学期(12周)有3到4次(相比之下中国的大学A通常16周内只大考两次)。

开始我还没太在意,后来我突然意识到B的这套体系不是很像中国高中盛行的 题海/考试海/教辅/补课体系么?

那么这套体系运行情况如何呢?至少从出口看,效果很好:学生考试成绩不错,我教高年级课时也感觉学生的低年级课的基础打得好。学生的负担很重吗?那是很显然的。有时我都觉得没有必要搞这么多任务。但可能是学生已成年以及本身上进心强等方面的因素我没有听说过什么被压出严重心理问题的事(也可能我孤陋寡闻了)。

B的这套本科基础课教学体系是B在北美诸校中脱颖而出的一大法宝,这一点我在到了大学D后有极深体会。

B是让很多中国大学流口水 很多知识分子常挂嘴边的榜样,可是有多少人知道B的基础课教学体系是这样严酷(和类似中国高中)呢?我曾试图和来B“考察高等教育”的中国高校人员 介绍B的经验, 可他不感兴趣。能调动起兴趣的是各种雕像Logo和特色建筑带来的“人文气息”和 学生活动招贴,草地休闲等体现的“自由学术氛围”。。。。。。

在 B和C的经历:研究生

现在我讲讲B和C大学的 研究生教育情况。我只了解数学这样的基础理论科学,工科和实验科学的情况可能不大一样,敬请注意。

研究生学术水平远超中国同地位大学

这当然是来美之前我就预计到的,但来了之后我才知道究竟强到何种程度。

雄厚的学术背景

不少研究生在刚入学时或入学后一年内就已经掌握了不少较深的理论。两年以后,我见过的国内来作访问的一些985学校教授已经无法和我们讨论问题了因为有太多我们懂而他们不懂的东西。

精神原子弹

一个突出的感受 就是关于人的精神面貌。这里是我见过的人的精神力爆发性最强的地方。有一批为学术痴狂的学生 时不时处于唯恐自己学得太少太慢的精神状态。我也是其中之一。在来到这里之前,我觉得自己长期处于一种与周边格格不入的学术化偏执状态,来了之后我觉得自己不孤独了。我甚至很担心我的某些同学会过劳死。

惊人的效率

强大的背景和只争朝夕的精神造就了惊人的学习效率。和中国的A大学做个对比。比如在A大学 五六个好学生进行任务分解 折腾十二三个星期的讨论班(每周讨论一次) 可以理解清楚某一复杂前沿学术文章。在那时候我感觉良好得很,因为若把这文章交得我手里我一个人便能在相同时间内轻松搞定。而到了在C大学里 一个研究生中的猛将靠单干两三个星期就能拿下。当然我没多久也成了这样的人。但如果不是B和C的环境我恐怕还在沾沾自喜自己鹤立鸡群一个顶五六个而没有意识到自己的效率还有提高至少五倍的潜力。

强烈的主人翁意识

B C的不少教授自身便是学界领袖,决定着学术的发展方向。这深深影响了学校的气氛和学生的心态,仿佛自己就处于世界中心未来也要争做主人翁一般。这固然有自大和可笑的一方面,但也意味着很多学生面对再难啃的学习上硬骨头都有“志在必得”“攻必克”的自信。而这种自信在中国国内的大学是非常缺乏的:我见过太多国内的聪明孩子不敢去学最难的学术文献。

也有一些平庸者

当然我要承认再好的学校都有一批水平一般的学生。不过他们中的一些在退出学界走向社会后反而可能成为比我们这些学究社会影响力更大的人。

人的差距是最大的

我一向不认为中国大学和世界一流的差距 主要在于体制。首当其冲的问题是钱比人家少太多。这个问题在近年来得到了较大改善,但也面临需要持续大投入和一定时间积累的问题。

那么在钱的问题不那么突出以后,什么是主要矛盾呢? 我以为是人的差距。确切地说是中国未能在本土完成基础科学一流人才的原始积累。我希望我的见闻能使读者理解为什么即使中国现在全盘复制美国的大学体制,中国的大学的基础科学研究生教育也是无法和B C这样的学校竞争的— 研究生们的 学术基础天赋 野心 勇气 甚至勤奋程度都远远拼不过。

那么是不是 中国的基础科学没希望赶上美国了呢?中短期内(比如15年内)我觉得是这样的。但长期看则不然。

在D的经历和思考:基础差、耽误多

毕业后我在大学D任教。D是老牌名校,是美国综合性大学第二梯队的一个典型代表(B C属第一梯队)。我在D大学教过从大一到大四的来自各个院系专业的学生,有的课还是人数颇多的大课。和以前一样我只能通过数学能力来了解学生。

本科生入学水平远弱于BC

有些人在我看来需要重修高中乃至初中的一些数学课。个别人连小学数学(如分数的四则运算)都不熟!这绝不是我个人的偏激看法。比如学校出的关于新生数学能力的诊断性考试题竟然要考察自然数的四则运算, 分数的四则运算,一元一次方程等(当然后面会考到高中的复数 极限导数等)。而多数新生在这样简单的考题上竟只能拿到一半分。更可怕的是,他们中很多竟然敢于免修第一门微积分课(直接上第二门)。。。

教学困境

显然,在这样的情况下想让学生知其然也知其所以然已成了几乎不可能的任务。一些刚从象牙塔毕业的青年教师(我是其中一员)对此没有思想准备。我试图保住一条底线:最起码我要解释教科书上写了的东西让他们在学完后能看懂教科书。但即便这样低的目标我也根本达不到而以惨败结束。比如我一直耿耿于怀的一件事是:我教的微积分学生可能几乎没有人明白积分的定义。。。直到第二年 我才从更有经验的人那儿了解到:不要试图准确描述基本概念,也不要花较多时间解释主要思路动机或多问为什么(因为这对学生来说实在太难了。。。而且会遭到学生的强烈反对)。

那么是不是说 在所谓“素质/启发性/创造性/实质性”教学完全走不通后 只有“填鸭”教育一条路让学生会算一些题就行了呢?事实上由于没有大学B那样强的(类似于中国高中的)管控体系 我们连“填鸭”的能力也没有。

最终的结果是通常已经有所放水的期末考试 常常是多数人无法及格。而且低年级的劣质情况积累影响中高年级,甚至导致系里不得不把一些 有多年历史的 中高年级的课程内容砍掉1/3以上(但之后仍是大多数人考不及格。。。)

我刚到学校时曾与系里一位老教授攀谈,当谈及基础教育失败导致学生数学能力极差且有越来越差之势时这位曾上过战场的老头竟然控制不住 在我面前哭起来。我在教了好几门课后开始明白他的痛苦了。

学生有自由但反受耽误

另一件让我印象深的事是:D没有让我觉得学术上拔尖的本科学生。到了高年级 确有一些功课学得很好也有心向学的人。我给过他们一些进一步发展的意见指导,但无一例外的发现他们学过的东西非常非常少 对学科的理解则基本还停留在新生和科普水准。在了解了他们在本科三四年中的学习经历后 我发现他们基本上都有几个问题:

1 在中低年级并没有完全想清楚自己未来要干什么因此花了不少时间去体验其他的专业以及很多“通识课”。大学自由灵活的体制也鼓励他们这么做。

2 以为自己所有的专业课都学得很好就行了。

这样做有啥问题呢?问题在于他们被真正拔尖的孩子(其他学校的和外国的)甩开得太多太多了:三四年前大家的起点差不多,而现在别人“轻舟已过万重山”高出他们好几个境界去了。怎么会这样呢?这是因为最拔尖的学生具有很强的目的性(我一定要当科学家),自我指导性(给他足够的书,他自己就能钻研出来) 和自我激发性(学得越好就越不满足甚至越焦虑)。

D大学的好学生没有这么强 但是如果他们从大一开始 就坚持贯彻明确的专业培养计划他们和最顶尖学生的差距不至于这么大(起码学的专业课会多得多)。而现在我只能指出他们的学术基础太薄弱(很多基础专业课没学)并开出长长的课单书单。但我知道他们没时间了:毕业期申请期快到了,一些孩子也痛苦地意识到:自己看似没有什么问题的学术之路实际上导致自己已经输在起跑线附近(如果以成为一流学者为目标的话)。

坚持贯彻明确的专业培养计划 这其实是中国大学的办法。中国大学给学生转专业和定专业的自由远不及美国学校。这当然导致了众所周知的 学生不得不学不喜欢的专业的问题但也保证了次好的学生在愿意走此专业道路时 不至于落后先进太多。这些次好的学生(假设在中国最顶尖学校)的学术竞争力强于大学D的上述好学生(虽然D的科研和教授实力目前肯定强于中国最顶尖学校)。

我知道中国一些大学 近年来喜欢搞所谓“宽基础”的综合性强的 “XX班”并赋予这些班的学生广泛的专业选择权。但我也了解到很多这样的尝试产生了不小的负面后果(比如事实上削弱了学生的竞争力),在有些学校甚至导致了公开的矛盾冲突。D大学和中国的实践提醒我们 “宽基础”“通识”培养体制存在的弱点:最顶尖学生不会因此更厉害但次顶尖学生可能会严重落后(并在某个时候遭遇信心重挫)。

在D的经历和思考:死亡行军

大学D的新生基础太差,导致教学质量很差。这其实对学生的伤害最大。最直接的一个表现就是

数学科学死亡行军(math-science death march)

这是纽约时报一篇长篇文章中强调的一个词。这篇文章主要讲的是:为什么 有很多爱好科学有志于学习理工科的孩子 到了大学学习两三年后纷纷转专业?—-因为理工科实在是太难了(so darn hard),特别是孩子们无法战胜低年级的数学科学死亡行军(math-science death march)。

But, it turns out, middle and high school students are having most of the fun,building their erector sets and dropping eggs into water to test the first lawof motion. The excitement quickly fades as students brush up against thereality of what David E. Goldberg, an emeritus engineering professor, calls “the math-science death march.” Freshmen incollege wade through a blizzard of calculus, physics and chemistry in lecturehalls with hundreds of other students. And then many wash out.

这篇文章本身没什么大不了,最有价值的其实是后面的1000多条读者评论。其中有大量认真撰写的长评论,我强烈推荐英文好的人看一看(顺便说一下,英文主流媒体常有读者评论比正文有意思的情况)。除了一些有些离题的抨击外国人或华尔街抢饭碗外,评论中出现了两派:一派有很多学生,指责大学要负极大责任:如教授高高在上,所学内容过于晦涩,教学方式过于呆板等等;另一派有很多大学教师和老工程师(很多人上来先亮身份:我做XX/我教XX 已经多少年了。。。),这一派认为主要是学生水平太次,不如自己这一代人。我虽然比学生大不了多少,但我属第二派(屁股决定脑袋?)。大学教学固然可以挑出毛病,但在学生的极薄弱理科基础(尤其是数学)面前都属于小问题了。

我对这件事(数学科学死亡行军) 有直接的体会, 亲见一些有梦想 上进心强 人其实也算聪明的学生由于搞不定我讲的课(也许还有其他课) 而基本上丧失掉了追求梦想(探索科学或者做工程师)的可能。我观察过一些常来问问题的学生发现糟糕的中小学教育 导致他们脑子里的知识点处于一团乱麻的状态(可能比没学过还糟糕)而这种状态又进一步导致他们有条理的梳理组织思路的能力极为欠缺。即使我问一些他们中学学过的东西他们往往都会很快暴露出这些问题来。

把问题带到下一个阶段

也许有读者会说 我这个学究要求太高 很多学生准备做应用技术或商业金融不需要把基础课那么好。但我强调的其实是即使是只要求不求甚解照虎花猫地使用 不少学生也有不小困难。如果要打一个比方我觉得可能类似于要一个只认识1000个汉字的人读报纸。以我们输出的学生水平看,很多人要想在实际工作中 (比方说)考虑优化问题分析处理信号 或者分析稍复杂的统计数据 势必感到吃力而且缺乏变通能力(这点从他们做应用题就能看出)。

一些对中学教育很愤怒的大学教授 用“garbage in, garbage out”来描述这种情况:高中送给我们基础太差的学生导致应用专业毕业的也是基础很差的学生而这又进一步影响到工业界。我可以告诉河里一些在工业界工作的河友一个秘密:除非你的工程师来自第一梯队大学(最有名的那六七所)否则你得假设他的成绩可能水分很大特别是数学基础课(因为数学系通常在学校里较弱势不敢得罪人)。比如如果他的成绩为B 这其实可能意味着他实际成绩不及格。。。。

研究生教育不算拔尖

再简要说一下研究生教育。D大学的教授虽不向B C那样强势但也基本都是功力深厚的悍将。可是D的研究生精神面貌 就远远不如 BC的研究生,反而更像中国最顶尖学校的研究生:没有强烈的主人翁意识,没有精神原子弹,(最令我窝火的毛病)不敢学习自己方向上最难的学术工作。

我感到中国国内的最顶尖大学在研究生教育上 和D大学这样的学校比 虽然仍然落后但已经可以望其项背了。比如如果未来几年能够保持现在的吸收海龟的势头,那么在我熟悉的学科(数学)上十年后达到美国10-15名学校的研究生教育水平 是完全有机会的。

第二梯队基础科学教育形势不容乐观

如果连 D大学这样的学校生源都大成问题,我就不得不怀疑:除了个位数的最好学校外,美国其他的学校的美国理工科生源质量都有大问题。我没有专门调查其他学校情况,但我零星接触的情况同我的怀疑是吻合的。

我回想了一下我在国内的高中情况:中国的第一梯队学校和其后的学校理工科生源质量远没有这么恐怖的巨大落差。

不要再猜测学校

顺便说一下,因为我说了很多D大的毛病,所以希望河友不要猜测D大是哪所学校(其实如果仔细看帖又对北美大学熟悉的话范围很容易缩小到两三所)以免在网上流传后引起不必要的麻烦。ABC也不要猜了(虽然可能比猜D还容易)。

我的一些思考:美国顶尖大学的优势

注意:1 我在这篇里只讲大学的基础科学研究和教育。2 我说的很多是对理论科学的观察,实验科学因为依赖于大量实验设备分析起来可能会有所不同。不过我认为我讲的大体上恐怕还是成立的。如其他领域的河友有不同意见 欢迎提出。

美国最顶尖大学在基础理论科学研究和教育上拥有巨大优势

简单的讲美国拥有的第一流教授和学者 占世界的份额实在是太大了。按我的粗糙印象这类似于美军在世界军事格局上的地位。其他的表现 比如吸引全世界最好学生从而拥有最好研究生院等都是建立在这一基础上的。(虽然我提过美国大学本科生源的严重问题,但最顶尖大学的还不错而且作为象牙塔里的东西基础科学的研究拼的是教授和研究生生源(不限于最顶尖学校)。)

不错随着美国经济地位的下降它维持这一地位的能力会下降。但是这并非一个突变的过程(假定不爆发世界大战或者苏联式经济社会崩溃)。除了美国的经济地位在中短期内大概不会暴跌式下滑外,具体到学界有三个特殊因素是很值得注意的:1 除了中国美国在经济上没有威胁大的赶超型的竞争者(欧洲日本经济更惨),而目前中国仍未在本土攒出哪怕一个理科世界一流的大学;2 一个第一流学者成熟后往往有30年“一流水准保质期”,这是很难被政治经济条件改变的(当然做实验的人会面临经费问题)。这意味着即使现在美国繁殖一流学者能力受到了严重打击仅凭已有人才也能维持一些时日,更何况这件事还没发生;3 最顶尖的学校本身处在经济社会金字塔顶端 抗经济打击能力很强。

如果你认为中国有在15年内基础科学赶上美国的机会不妨打开美国最强的10所大学查看相关领域的50岁以下非华人学者的名单。15年后这些人极有可能仍在美国。然后你再想想中国如何能在15年内制造出一个超出这些人的群体来。我的看法是:即使所有华人立马回国中国一流学生也不再赴美留学 也未必做得到。原因很简单:时间不够来不及繁殖那么多国际一流学者。

美国获得第一流地位的“经验”对中国借鉴意义不大

那么美国是如何做到这么强的呢?我的看法是

1 美国的人口对任何其他发达工业国都具有压倒优势。从科学圈的角度看 这人口不仅指美国的三亿人也包括加澳两国和部分英国的。

2 二战导致了人类近现代史上最大规模的科学人才转移。转移目的地是美国。其实虽然美国在19世纪末就是第一工业国直到20世纪30年代初世界科学中心仍在欧洲 特别是受一战重创的德国法国。然而仅用短短10多年希特勒就重画了世界科学版图。我愿举一个很有代表性的例子。国际数学家大会是4年一次的全世界所有分支数学均参与的大会,具有很广的代表性(其他学科没有这么全面的大规模的全行业大集会)。1932年国际数学家大会 20个全会报告只有两个是用英语作的(读者可以由此想想当时美英在国际学术界的地位)。之后希特勒上台,二战来临,在1936之后就14年没开会。到再下一次(1950)时, 22个全会报告有20个是用英语作的,英语也从此有了国际学界的绝对统治地位。

3 苏联解体导致了人类近现代史上第二大规模的科学人才转移。苏联人才转移对生化可能影响小一些,但对数理科学来说可是极为壮观:这是从20出头的天才大学生到80多岁的泰山北斗的全体系的迁移。转移的人少数被欧盟吃了,大部分被美国吞了。

4 在美国的基础科学 于二战后取得西方阵营的独大地位 以及冷战后取得全世界的独大地位后有能力输出第一流后备人才的国家(如中印等)的一流学生蜂拥而至更使美国如虎添翼。

其他的因素(比如很多人津津乐道的 “体制”“创新精神”“自由”等)即使是有利因素其影响力也和上述因素不在一个量级上。

对中国而言:因素1天然具备,在经济赶上来自然就会发挥作用;因素23 可遇而不可求(多半是不可遇);因素4属于已经成第一科学强国后的锦上添花,对如何做到第一没什么用。

美国大学的基础科学体制宏观上是一个容易学的顺其自然的体制

虽然美国获得第一流地位的“经验”对中国借鉴意义不大,但仍可考察一下其维持第一流地位的“经验”。比如说大家都爱谈的“体制问题”。

在我看来 美国的基础科学体制 在最宏观的层面上 其实很简单:用大把的钱 养大把的“学霸”(对大学者的昵称),学痴,顶尖学生;然后让这些人 自己折腾自己治理 就行了。中国有了大把的钱后也可以学当然学了以后还有等足够的时间才能见效。

现在人们抱怨的种种中国学界问题 基本都可以用这套体制来化解。缺乏创新精神?“学霸”和顶尖学生就是创新的标杆;学术抄袭腐败?“学霸”,学痴等很少会这样对此容忍度也很低;心思不在学术上?在中产之后还心思不在学术上的人会被边缘化;学术上近亲繁殖,派系山头斗争?嘿嘿,“学霸”/大学者基本都是有态度的人因为学术上总要面临有所为有所不为的问题。为了贯彻自己的学术判断,“学霸”分派系抢话语权是常态。那美国学界为啥没乱套呢?学霸太多自然地就形成制衡了,派系之间的“多不管”地区也很多为标新立异的人提供了空间。

顺便说一句:我认为真正最难学的是苏联体制,而苏联体制的效率明显高于美国体制(至少在数理科学上是这样的)。

是不是说 中国从美国除了最简单的烧钱“顺其自然”外 就没什么可学的了呢?不然。美国体制的一些具体举措仍有可借鉴之处。

美国体制的一些具体举措有可借鉴之处(举例)

我举例讲一个我觉得值得借鉴的东西tenure track 体系(终身教职轨道体系)。研究性大学选择自己认为比较有前途的做了一段时间博士后的青年学者 将其置于此终身教职轨道上考察数年。期间较好地保障其研究条件。数年后若发现此人确实不错则委任为终身教授若觉得没有那么优秀则让其走人(即所谓的“不升即走”)。这是一种竞争性很强的制度,对最强者很有利(快速上升有效地避免论资排辈),对次强者有一定风险但也可以强烈激发其动力。

对中国来说 这种制度不仅有利于增强国内学术环境里 一直偏弱的学者的斗志,而且也是中国在有钱后同美国抢夺一流人才的需要(毕竟绝大多数海外华人科学人才是在美国)。10年前我就听说过有引进此种制度的传言但可能因为客观条件所限(钱少?)没有施行。最近几年,几所国内最好大学开始在基础科学院系逐步开始使用这套 高门槛高风险高回报的制度。据我所知 这在海外一流青年学者中引起了很大关注很多人都动心了,不少已决定回国或正在筹划回国。。。对这种“高门槛高风险高回报”而且显然对非海龟不利的制度当然有不少不同意见(科学网前不久曾集中讨论过这话题)但看来上层下了决心要和美国正面直接竞争。

我的进一步思考:美国理科基础教育的薄弱

美国理科基础教育质量差而且积重难返

我前面的几篇已描述了 我认为美国理科基础教育质量差的理由这里就不再多说了。那么有没有办法改变呢?在D大学让我大跌眼镜后我决定做一下调查。当然很快我发现早有受不了了的大学教授作了调查并常年奔走呼号。(Berkely的伍鸿熙就是这样的一个热心人,他收集了大量资料和例 教育爱好者可以去看看)

总的说来 我认为明显改善的希望很小。

1 中小学教师素质太弱 本身也是糟糕理科基础教育的受害者

比如伍鸿熙和他的同事调查了很多中小学数学老师,竟然罕有人能解释 类似于 “除以一个分数等于乘以它的倒数” 这类简单事实的原因!(可惜我一时找不到有多高比例教师做不到这些事的原始数据,不过绝对是骇人听闻的高)。最后作调查的大学教授们发现中小学数学老师在上中小学时 他们的数学老师就未能给他们解释 这些简单事实的原因。等他们长大了,逐渐见怪不怪,也能顺利做计算,可是他们始终没有理解为什么!他们虽然上了大学但往往是大学里学得较吃力的学生 被微积分线性代数折磨得够呛,而且最重要的是:大学也不会教这些东西呀。

这时我就深刻感觉到了中国这套师范学校体系的重要性。

2 教材和教学标准体系有严重质量问题

看了愤怒的大学教授和一些家长的控诉后,我才了解到原来很多流行的数学教科书内容有严重漏洞,歧义或错误。感兴趣的河友可以去看上面链接中伍鸿熙找出来的各种奇葩例子。我只半剧透一个。一些美国学生不懂分数的乘法:为啥 2/3 * 1/5=2/15? 就是不懂!甚至还专门造了一个词(fractionphobia–分数恐惧症)来描述这种不懂的恐惧。(中国人想不通)这事儿怎麽就能这么难呢?美国的教科书害的。。。

教科书的问题其实是教学大纲和教学指导思想的产物。那么教学大纲和教学指导思想出了啥问题?大致说来美国有两派。第一派由中小学教师和教育学专家组成主张初等教育要实行“启发式”“探索式”教学多从实际从动手出发 用计算器等代替传统计算教学等;第二派由大学教师和一些家长组成主张传统教学法 强调记忆和练习 强调严格的书本知识学习。两派争执不下 矛盾公开化在90年代曾酿成著名的“数学战争”。从现在的情况看第二派在掌握教育主导权上失败了。前述的问题是在第一派的思想下产生的。

3 教育改革阻力极大

那么美国能不能回归一些传统或者直接向中国之类的体系学习呢?不少人就是这么主张的(当然他们中的很多不说学中国而说学新加坡之类)。但是这类改革会受到强大的教师工会阻挠。家长总是分散的,大学教授人数少而且 外国人多 不接地气。他们是无力和人数众多高度组织的中小学教师争权的。更不用说 把握相当一部分话语权的教育学专家们往往是第一派。。。。。。

4 经济困难

宏观经济困难导致美国政府捉襟见肘。各利益集团都要争夺缩水的经费蛋糕。在金融军工医疗等巨人面前公立教育是弱势。。。

5 种族因素

非洲裔和拉美裔的理科成绩弱 在好大学的理工科里所占比例极低。而他们占人口的比例在不断上升。。。

6 教育标准在全国范围内不统一

在联邦制下 地方有很大的自主权。我询问过我的学生,感觉不同地区的学生学的课的难度 知识点甚至顺序都会有很多不一样, 情形十分混乱。更麻烦的是美国人迁移性大。我听说有很多孩子在搬家后会出现学习的课程无法衔接的麻烦。我甚至知道有的人在中学里没学过物理(连牛顿三定律都没学过)。。。

7 反智主义的干扰

有至少两类反智主义。一类基于保守宗教思想。这类思想对知识分子没大的影响力 但有一定群众基础,有民粹式的政治影响力。其对某些地区出身的人 有洗脑作用。比如曾有学生告诉我他因为对上帝的信仰和家庭教育因素长期以来对学习物理和数学有难以克服的感情排斥性。。。

另一类则以 相对主义 多元化 极端环保主义 女性主义等面貌出现 或者表现为一些受过良好高等教育但理科学得不好的人 质疑学习理科的必要性。这些人虽不如第一种多但往往更难缠。我可以举一例管中窥豹。纽约时报曾刊登一文,鼓吹“数学作为必修课 会阻挠我们发现和发展年轻天才”(Making mathematics mandatory preventsus from discovering and developing young talent.)并建议 大多数人不用学中学的代数了。注意,这是中学的代数:是教你用xyz代表变量 教你了解多项式教你解一元一次方程的代数课!他的提议固然受到了多数读者的抨击 但值得注意的是也有相当一些人支持他。。。

中国的这方面的情况要好一些。第一类在轮子被镇压后没有什么引起我注意的迹象;第二类呢?嘿嘿我觉得中国公知的脑残度是不输于美国的。好在他们的几乎全部注意力一直放在TG身上。。。

美国的理科基础教育质量差 是美国人自己也意识到了的一大问题 各种抱怨充斥媒体 但始终不见什么好办法。我在做了一些调查后 也感到问题积重难返 解决希望渺茫。

我的更多思考:依赖外国人才输入的科研模式

美国的基础科学研究高度依赖外国人才输入

这是大家都熟知的事实。那么依赖程度有多高呢?最好的办法是看各学科的行业学会的年度报告。我查看了美国数学会的多年报告发现美国的数学博士中 出生在美国的所占比例常年维持在四成多。另外在其所统计的美国顶级大学数学系高引用率学者中外国人占六成。所以在数学界可以说至少半壁江山靠外国人。其他的学科也许会略有不同 但美国的基础科学研究高度依赖外国人才输入应该是个准确的判断。

美国的这种情况是非常奇特而且前所未有的。历史上曾出现过的其他顶级科学强国(老欧洲三强英法德以及后来的苏联) 在巅峰期其科学事业都是基本上完全由本族人支撑起来的。

基础科学研究高度依赖外国人才输入 是一把双刃剑。

先说其好处:1 它使美国科学在世界上所占份额大大超出其经济总量占世界的份额(美国GDP约为世界的两成多 但顶级学者显然不只这一比例)。2 它使美国的潜在竞争者追赶美国的难度大增。

但它也有明显的风险:当国家相对衰落到一定程度后 可能会导致科学水平大幅度下滑难以坚守住一个高位。

我仔细解释一下。

以数理科学为例。外国人才的最大两个来源是 前苏联人(或者稍广一点–前华约人)和中国。苏联(和华约)靠着具有惊人培养人才效率的苏联体制在冷战结束前夕积累了群星璀璨后浪推前浪的 全年龄段顶尖人才梯队。苏联崩溃后人才梯队几乎全体系地离开苏联多数去了美国。此后苏联地区的优质科学研究和教育体系基本崩溃。现如今不仅在一流学术竞争方面基本出局(Perelman等极个别人例外,而且Perelman是脱离学术体系的异类)前苏联地区甚至连向美国输出一流后备人才(顶尖大学博士生)的能力都已非常薄弱(我留意过好几年B的研究生来源,我想不起一例B大学从前苏联地区的大学招研究生的例子而同期B从中国招了一大批学生)。简单的说解体后的苏联不仅金蛋被抢光 会下金蛋的母鸡也被杀死了。

苏联解体20年了。未来15年内美国从苏联获得的人才战利品将过期而且无法补充。

中国的情况则是最有意思的。自中国对外开放以来中国理科的最顶尖学生就持续不断的流向美国。这一方面强化了美国的领先地位 另一方面导致中国长期失血始终难以完成本土一流人才的原始积累。可以说中国近二三十年的状态对美国维持其地位来说是非常理想的:中国基础和本科教育足够强可以大规模长期为美国输入后备人才但研究生教育和基础研究足够弱以至于无法大规模吸引顶尖人才回流。

然而中国的很多事业都有这样的特点:格外漫长, 挫折失误连连,长期看不到希望(或者说只能将希望寄托于人多), 眼看着别人有很多“捷径”但学不到手,最后走了一条异常艰苦一个台阶都绕不开的路,然后逐渐收获果实并能望见难以限量之光明前途但很多人还没意识到最难的阶段已过去。。。

我感觉中国的基础科学研究大概也是这个路子:顶尖理科人才的长期外流纯粹从国家角度看,在三十年尺度上是吃大亏的事,但从五六十年尺度看却可能是最终盈大利的。中国通过美国的体系在海外顺利完成了一流人才原始积累和建设全年龄段人才梯队。由于中国经济实力的急速提高,美国的令本国人民和精英都始料不及的地位下滑以及中国青年有了美国可被中国“取而代之”的“皇帝轮流做之贼心”,最近几年来已经有未来10年内还会有成批第一流中国青年人才回流。在我看来 中国基础科学在本土完成一流人才原始积累 就如中国经济总量超过美国一样是没有什么悬念的事。各种人们抱怨的国内不利因素只会影响早几年还是晚几年实现的问题。当然从在本土完成一流人才原始积累到基础科学赶上美国还需要一段不短的时间(学术后代繁殖需要时间)。

一个中国顶尖学生 20多岁到美国学习 30多岁回国工作这是一种新模式。六年前(08美国金融危机前)这样的模式凤毛麟角, 但最近几年呈现滚雪球之势。我周边(包括我)有越来越多这样的人而且相互影响相互呼应。这和更早时期的顶尖人才的 20多岁到美国学习 之后在美定居的模式 大不同。后者对中国也是很有意义的(回国讲学组织会议,保持华人在世界学术中心一席之地等)但对美国的直接贡献更大。而前者则显然对中国贡献远大于对美国的而且做贡献的能力是在美国获得。如果说美国在一流基础科学人才这个领域从中国抽了30年血的话,现在中国要开始反过来从美国抽血了。美国无法通过刻意压缩从中国招研究生阻止中国抽血:如果它这样做 则不仅会导致生源质量下降而且会导致顶尖学生不得不在中国深造从而帮助中国更快的进行一流人才的繁殖。更可怕的是中国学生在21世纪以来在美国后备科学人才中占的比例似乎越来越高 近年来更是迅速扩散到本科阶段(我亲身体验似有爆发趋势不知是否和美国高中生的理科水平进一步下滑有关)。这意味着中国的潜在抽血能力还在增强。。。

美国能不能找到弥补“苏联空洞”和“中国抽血”的办法呢? 由于本土理科教育质量积重难返靠本国人是极为困难的。这件事和美国高度依赖外国人才输入的现状是相互促进的。这事情有点类似于美国要将已经丢掉的制造业从海外拉回来一样不靠谱。更麻烦的是,在制造业方面 美国总还可以将希望寄托于新的高科技,而在基础科学方面 按照定义 已经没有更“高端”的东西了。

依靠其他外国也不太可行。印度或有在未来向美国输入更多科学人才的能力但我很难想象他能弥补“苏联空洞”加“中国抽血”。欧洲有人才 但只要法德荷比瑞等几个老欧洲核心经济不崩溃美国捞不到多少。非洲 大中东拉美 东南亚等 人口众多 但理科基础教育体系太弱 输出后备人才到美国一流学校搞基础科学的能力几近于零。

从更长远角度看 如果美国的经济地位持续下滑(哪怕仅仅相对于中国)美国的白人人才也存在外流中国的可能。我以前觉得不大可能,但我近年来已经看到了一些国内最有钱学校用高薪招到美国中档藤校正教授水平的白人。顶尖学者由于职业特点国际主义倾向较重而且美国和西方已有一代人以上学者是在高度推崇全球化的大学环境中成长的。。。

日本在经济出现“失去的20年后”基本保住了本土的一流科学人才(当然这也说明了日本的封闭性)。在中美经济力量对比易位后的20年内美国的科学界只怕“欲为日本而不得”。

教育问题显现效应有较长滞后期 美国精英可能准备不足

我以前提过 一个第一流学者成熟后往往有30年“一流水准保质期”。另一方面一个中国学生可能现在刚到美国来读书离他回国可能还有10年离他在国内开始有效的繁殖学术后代可能还有15年;这意味着虽然他最终属于“从美国抽血”的人但这事有10几年滞后期。

从主流媒体看美国的精英阶层 对教育问题显现效应有较长滞后期这件事似乎没有足够警觉性。至少没有警觉到认为 就算现在集中资源死保基础科学地位都有可能动手晚了点。不错有很多指出美国基础教育差的声音,但对于基础科研和高等教育(研究生教育)舆论似乎还是普遍很乐观 认为这是中国差距甚大美国不必太忧虑的领域。对于美国高度依赖外国人才很多人单纯觉得这是美国的优势:外国人来说明我们厉害嘛。更有甚者各种有浓重意识形态色彩的肤浅言论还大有市场似乎喊几句中共体制压制自由就能推出中国创新赶不上美国。。。

美国例外论

根植于上述许多问题深处的精英思想根源 是“美国例外论”。我认为

1 美国冷战后的经济地位与其人口比例高度不匹配

2 美国冷战后的基础科学地位与其经济比例不匹配(与其人口比例更是超高度不匹配)。美国例外论者大概也同意这两点。

我们的分歧在于:我认为从长的历史尺度看 美国的上述地位的获得有很大的偶然性而且是不可长时间持续的(即使美国没有犯大的错误),更不用说美国还犯了一些大错误;而例外论者认为美国是“例外的”从而即使相对地位有所削弱,也必然是居第一位的领导者,不会被中国取代。很多诚实的例外论者也承认既成或几乎既成事实(比如从中国出口超美到中国制造业超美到中国经济超美),但是他们往往在下一个里程碑处继续持“例外论”。

结语

上述历史观的差异是很重要的。对很多美国精英来说 美国的基础科学和高等教育具有中国在值得预测的未来没有机会哪怕接近的地位 从而不仅成为他们自信的源泉而且可能为其他领域(如制造业)提供美国“王者回归”的机会。对我来说在基础科学和理科高等教育方面 “中国速胜论”和“中国无法超美论”都站不住脚。但中国在跨越我一生主要学术期的未来30-40年的“持久战”颇有胜算。在认识到这一点之后我就知道我一定要回国:不仅因为我是中国人也因为我是希望参与到新的世界科学中心形成进程中去的“国际人”。另一方面我衷心希望美国人能平稳过渡到世界第二并和欧洲等力量一起实现基础科学不过度集中于一国(中国)。这种长期存在的平衡和竞争力量对中国和人类的基础科学的长远发展都会是有利的,有长久历史经验积累的中国人当能体会。

作者:changshou,来源:转载自西西河中文网

2016 Winter – Competitive Math Prep

BANNER_Top_Mathletics

Competitive Math Program — Winter 2016 Schedule

Class Day/Time Grade
AMC 10/12 Prep Sunday/6:00pm – 8:30pm 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Intensive AIME Prep Sunday/3:00pm – 5:30pm 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Middle School Competition Math Saturday/6:00pm – 8:00pm 5, 6, 7, 8

1. AMC 10/12 Prep (for 8th to 12th Graders) Winter Weekend Course

Purpose: To prepare for the AMC 10/12 A — Tuesday, February 2, 2016 and/or AMC 10/12 B — Wednesday, February 17, 2016. Please see: The AMC 10/12 Contest at Montgomery College on February 2, and February 17, 2016

8 Weekends (Time: 6:00 – 8:30 pm), Total: 20 Hours

Jan. 1/10, Sun 1/17, Sun 1/24, Sun 1/31, Sun
Feb. 2/7, Sun 2/14, Sun 2/21, Sun 2/28, Sun

View Course Outline

Tuition: $800 (including all materials)

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

2. Intensive AIME Prep Winter Weekend Course

Purpose: To prepare for the AIME I — Thursday, March 3, 2016 or AIME II — Wednesday, March 16, 2016

10 Weekends (Time: 3:00 – 5:30 pm), Total: 25 hours

Jan. 1/10, Sun 1/17, Sun 1/24, Sun 1/31, Sun
Feb. 2/7, Sun 2/14, Sun 2/21, Sun 2/28, Sun
Mar. 3/5, Sun 3/13, Sun

View Course Outline

Tuition: $1250 (including all materials). We offer discounts of $50 for returning students.

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

3. Middle School Competition Math (for 5th to 8th Graders) Winter Weekend Course
Purpose: To help 5th-8th graders prepare for math competitions, such as Mathcounts, AMC 8, Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS), Math Kangaroo, and Math League

12 Weekends (Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm), Total: 24 hours

Jan. 1/9, Sat 1/16, Sat 1/23, Sat 1/30, Sat
Feb. 2/6, Sat 2/13, Sat 2/20, Sat 2/27, Sat
Mar. 3/4, Sat 3/12, Sat 3/19, Sat 3/26, Sat

View Course Outline

Tuition: $720 (including all materials and an extensive correction of the incorrect answers of all homework. Click HERE to see a sample)

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

  1. Self-studying for AMC 8/10/12 Contests

Even if you cannot attend our classes, you can purchase the official AMC materials from our bookstore and, using our solutions, self-learn/study the tricks, shortcuts, tips, and strategies to solve AMC problems as well as test-taking tactics. VIEW ALL OFFICIAL AMC MATERIALS

  1. Private and Semi-private Coaching/Tutoring

(1)     One-on-One Private Individualized Coaching/Tutoring:                 $110/hour

  • 1-on-1 instruction
  • Completely personalized prep
  • Books and materials included
  • Only our best and most sought after tutors
  • Tutors with the skills and style to totally meet your needs
  • The freedom to meet when you want
  • A plan to help you get into your top-choice schools

(2)     One-on-Two Semi-Private Instruction:    $90/hour/person

  • Specialized 1-on-2 instruction
  • Books and materials included
  • Only our best and most sought after tutors
  • Individualized attention
  • Customizable schedules

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Our Uniqueness

We have a long history of close collaboration with the MAA‘s American Mathematics Competitions (AMC), which are dedicated to strengthening the mathematical capabilities of our nation’s youth, and are the first of a series of competitions in high school mathematics that determine the United States team for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). There are many math competitions in the United States. Of those, only AMC → AIME → USAMO sequence would take you to the IMO (International Math Olympiad), the highest level math competition for high school students in the world. We are only one in the Washington DC metropolitan area to offer elementary, middle, and high-school level competition math courses. Our students have received top scores and awards at prestigious national and math competitions. We have collected all AMC8/10/12 and AIME Official Problems and Official Solutions as shown in the article ” American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) Materials,” which have formed our “big data” system, a golden resource for our students, who are the ultimate beneficiaries.

 math-olympiad-620x350Featured Instructors

All of our sessions are taught by highly qualified instructors who are excellent experts on preparing students for the contests. We distinguish ourselves by the high quality of our instructors. Finding top-quality instructors is no easy task. We’ve hand-picked some of the best, including distinguished mathematicians. Meet some of them here:

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Our Students

From 2011 to 2015, in total, 37 students scored above 120 on the American Mathematics Contest 10 (AMC 10) and qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME); 26 students scored above 100 on the American Mathematics Contest 12 (AMC 12) and qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME); 3 students qualified for the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), the highest level of math competition for high school students in the USA

Read more:
Notable Achievements of Our Students
2015 AMC 8 Results Announced
AMC 8 Winners for the U.S. Ivy League Education Center (2014)

Great Benefits of Math Competitions

In an increasingly competitive college application pool, the process of mastering math skills through our courses and participating in the American Math Competitions will help students strengthen and diversify their extracurricular activities. These contests can motivate students’ interest and passion in math, and they can discover their talent through solving challenging problems different from those in the school classes. Many top colleges also request AMC scores as part of the college application process. Both MIT and Caltech have entry blanks on their official admission application forms for the applicant to enter their best AMC and AIME scores. Ivy League Colleges and Stanford ask for to the AMC and AIME scores in their Supplement to the Common Application Forms. Your children deserve the chance to list these scores on their applications! Good AMC scores will greatly enhance admission opportunities for students to elite colleges.

Read more:

Locations:
13902 Bromfield Road, Germantown, MD 20874
18206 Endora Cir, Germantown, MD 20841

Contact Information:
Ivy League Education Center
Tel:  301-922-9508     or        240-780-8828
Email:  chiefmathtutor@gmail.com

Click the following articles to read more about our competitive math prep courses:

Click HERE find out more about Math Competitions!

education priceless treasure

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Optimal Strategies to Solve Hard AMC Geometry Problems

Henry Wan, Ph.D.

The AMC 10 is a 25-question, multiple choice contest. The questions are arranged from the easiest to the hardest. The scoring will be 6 points for a correct answer, 1.5 point for a blank answer, and 0 points for an incorrect answer. The key to doing well on the AMC 10 is not to get the most difficult questions (usually question #21 – #25) right; rather, it is to correctly answer the first 20 problems without error. However, the last five problems of the AMC 10 almost always contain at least two geometry problems that can be solved using a ruler, protractor and compass. Getting these two problems correct can give a student even more points, so they can get at least 120 points on the AMC 10 and advance to the next level, the AIME.

2015 AMC10B-CoverAlthough the rules of AMC state that no calculators are allowed, students are permitted to use scratch paper, graph paper, rulers, compass, protractors, and erasers. We must use these tools to our advantage. Even if you do not know to solve a problem mathematically, you can always use these tools to solve it.
stock-photo-17284174-drafting-tools-ruler-drawing-compass-protractorFor example, 2014 AMC 10 Problem #22 is a very difficult problem to solve mathematically. But by simply using a ruler and a protractor, one can easily solve this problem.

2014 AMC 10A #22

In rectangle ABCD, AB = 20 and BC = 10. Let E be a point on CD such that Angle 1. What is AE?

Answer 1

Click HERE to see a detailed solution.

Click HERE find out more about Math Competitions!

Intensive AIME Prep Course Starting Jan. 10

aime2
This program has been carefully designed for the students with higher expectation for their American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) scores. While enriching their resume through the school classes, honing the test skill for AIME becomes even more critical.

The AIME is used to determine qualification for the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO). There are many math competitions in the United States. Of those, only AMC → AIME → USAMO sequence would take you to the IMO (International Math Olympiad), the highest level math competition for high school students in the world.

Instructors:

10 Weekends (Time: 3:00 – 5:30 pm), Total: 25 hours

  1.       1/10
  2.       1/17
  3.       1/24
  4.       1/31  (Monthly Mock Test/Review)
  5.       2/7
  6.       2/14
  7.       2/21  (Monthly Mock Test/Review)
  8.       2/28
  9.       3/5
  10.       3/13  (Final Mock Exam/Review)

Tuition: $1250 (including all materials). We offer discounts of $50 for returning students.

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

Payment Policy

  • Full payment must be received on or before the day of first class.

Refund Policy

  • Withdrawal before the first class: Full Refund
  • Withdrawal after the first class: $140 deduction
  • No refund after the second class

NOTE: We reserve the right to cancel classes due to lack of enrollment.

A commitment to the whole course can maximize the benefit of learning all the math ideas, methods, strategies, tactics, skills, and techniques.

Locations:
13902 Bromfield Road, Germantown, MD 20874
18206 Endora Cir, Germantown, MD 20841

Contact Information:
Ivy League Education Center
Tel:  301-922-9508     or        240-780-8828
Email:  chiefmathtutor@gmail.com

Purpose: To prepare for the AIME I — Thursday, March 3, 2016 or AIME II — Wednesday, March 16, 2016

ObjectivesAIME-Logo

  • Improve student scores by working on both fundamental theorems and ideas
  • Develop and foster creative problem solving strategies
  • Make the USA(J)MO!!!

For Whom?
This AIME course is aimed at those students with AMC 10/12 scores of 100+ to students who have scored around 4 on the AIME.

AIME_RGB

What?
This class will focus mostly on building strong basics in the five main pillars of Combinatorics, Number Theory, Geometry, Algebra, and Probability. The goal is for students to obtain the mental agility required to tackle these complex problems and hopefully get them within and past range of qualification for the USAMO and USAJMO, or around 9 problems.

How?
Focus on basic concepts and essential knowledge before moving on developing the skills and intuition to find and pursue good lines of attack for complex problems.

Class Outline:
In AMIE Prep Class, we will focus on efficient tricks, shortcuts, and strategies to solve AIME problems as well as test-taking tactics.

Class Date Topic Homework Tutorial Handouts
1 1/10, Sun Number Theory: Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, Greatest Common Divisor and Least Common Multiple, Modular Arithmetic, Divisibility Tests AIME Problem Set on Number Theory Yes
2 1/17, Sun Combinatorics: Partitions and Bijections, Generating Functions, Combinatorial Identities, the Inclusion-Exclusion Principle, the pigeonhole principle AIME Problem Set on Combinatorics Yes
3 1/24, Sun Probability: Properties of Probability Functions, Geometric probability, Algebraic Probability, Tournaments, Socks, and Dice AIME Problem Set on Probability Yes
4 1/31, Sun Algebraic Equations: Distance-Rate-Time Problems, Systems of Nonlinear Equations AIME Problem Set on Algebraic Equations Yes
5 2/7, Sun Diophantine Equations, Systems of Diophantine Equations, Quadratic Diophantine and Pell Equations, Special Factoring Trick –– Completing the Rectangle AIME Problem Set on Diophantine and Pell Equations Yes
6 2/14, Sun Sequences and Series: Arithmetic Series, Geometric Series and the Telescope Tool, Tiling and the Fibonacci Recurrence, The Catalan Recurrence AIME Problem Set on Sequences and Series Yes
7 2/21, Sun Logarithmic and Trigonometric Functions: Putting Logarithmic, Exponential,  and Trigonometric Functions Together AIME Problem Set on Logarithmic and Trigonometric Functions Yes
8 2/28, Sun Complex Numbers and Polynomials: The Algebra of Complex Numbers, The Geometry of Complex Numbers, Basic Definitions and Facts about Polynomials, Polynomials with Complex Roots AIME Problem Set on Complex Numbers and Polynomials Yes
9 3/6, Sun Plane Geometry: Triangle Geometry, Circle Geometry, Geometrical Concepts in the Complex Plane AIME Problem Set on Plane Geometry Yes
10 3/13, Sun Spatial Geometry: Rectangular Boxes, Cylinders, Cones, Spheres, Tetrahedra and Pyramids AIME Problem Set on Spatial Geometry Yes

Two FREE textbooks:

  • Paul Zeitz: The Art and Craft of Problem Solving, 2nd Edition
  • Richard Rusczyk   and   Sandor Lehoczky: The Art of Problem Solving, Vol. 2: And Beyond, 7th Edition

Homework: At least 5 hours per week. Students are expected to complete all of the previous AIME contests in the past 10 years, which is over 60 hours of practice. Our instructors are open to questions on any previous AIMEs.
AIME_large

All problems from all of the previous 49 AIME contests (1983-2015) form our “big data” system. We have used data mining and predictive analytics to examine the types and the frequencies of questions in all these materials, and then completely “decoded” the AIME. We will show all the “secret code” cracked from the above big data to students, and teach them to totally grasp and “control” the AMC. For all questions on the recent AIME contests, we can find their “ancestors” and “roots” from the old AIME problems. Therefore, the best way to prepare for the contest is to practice by solving old AIME problems.

Bronze_medal

Our Students

From 2011 to 2015, in total, 37 students scored above 120 on the American Mathematics Contest 10 (AMC 10) and qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME); 26 students scored above 100 on the American Mathematics Contest 12 (AMC 12) and qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME); 3 students qualified for the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), the highest level of math competition for high school students in the USA.

Read more:

Click HERE find out more about Math Competitions!education priceless treasure

 

 

AMC 10/12 Prep (for 7th to 12th Graders) Winter Weekend Course Starting Jan. 10

logo_americanmath
Instructors:

8 Weekends (Time: 6:00 – 8:30 pm), Total: 20 Hours

  1.       1/10
  2.       1/17
  3.       1/24
  4.       1/31  (Monthly Mock Test/Review)
  5.       2/7
  6.       2/14
  7.       2/21
  8.       2/28  (Final Mock Exam/Review)

Tuition: $800 (including all materials). We offer discounts of $30 for returning students.

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.
Click HERE to view our Tuition Payment-Refund Policy.

A commitment to the whole course can maximize the benefit of learning all the math ideas, methods, strategies, tactics, skills, and techniques.

Locations:
13902 Bromfield Road, Germantown, MD 20874
18206 Endora Cir, Germantown, MD 20841

Contact Information:
Ivy League Education Center
Tel:  301-922-9508     or        240-780-8828
Email:  chiefmathtutor@gmail.com

math-olympiad-web

Purpose: To prepare for the AMC 10/12 A — Tuesday, February 2, 2016 and/or AMC 10/12 B — Wednesday, February 17, 2016.

BANNER_Top_MathleticsSpecific Goal: To earn a score of 120 or more out of 150 on the American Mathematics Contest 10 (AMC 10), or a score of 100 or more out of 150 on the American Mathematics Contest 12 (AMC 12), and then qualify for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), which is used to determine qualification for the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO). See for more details: Optimal Strategies to Solve Hard AMC Geometry Problems

There are many math competitions in the United States. Of those, only AMC → AIME → USAMO sequence would take you to the IMO (International Math Olympiad), the highest level math competition for high school students in the world.

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Who should take this class: This class is very appropriate for 7th-12th grade students who are hoping to qualify for the AIME.

Mock Tests: Two simulated tests help students assess their level of preparation for the Math Competitions. The test consists of 25 questions similar to AMC 10/12 level from the licensed AMC Database, and is intended to mimic an actual math competition exam. After attempting the test, students get answers, explanations, and a detailed score report and wise performance summary.

Weekly Homework: At least 3 hours per week. Each week, we will carefully review and check 2 students’ homework, and correct any mistakes. The next week, we will check another 2 students’ homework, and this will continue on a rotational basis until all students have had their homework checked at least once and the cycle will start again. Based on the work of the 2 students that week, we will provide the those 2 students with individualized proposal and support.

The only way to learn mathematics is by doing mathematics. Homework assignments are a fundamental part of a mathematics course. Homework is also seen as a welcome challenge and an opportunity for further learning. Homework given prior to a lesson can aid in understanding later during class. Homework also provides opportunities for reinforcement of the material learned in class.

We have to face the simple truth that to do well on this grueling contest, we will need to practice. Just like it is for sports and music, the key to success is repetition and practice. We strongly believe in effort and the malleability of intelligence. Intelligence can be enhanced through effort. People can develop impressive levels of expertise through hard work and practice. Effort and persistence are the keys to success. Hard work always pays off. Practice makes perfect!

All problems from past AMC 10/12 exams (2000-2015) and AHSME (1973–1999) form our “big data” system. The AHSME (American High School Mathematics Examination) was the former name of the AMC, before 2000. We have used data mining and predictive analytics to examine the types and the frequencies of questions in all these materials, and then completely “decoded” the AMC 10/12. We will show all the “secret code” cracked from the above big data to students, and teach them to totally grasp and “control” the AMC. For all questions on the recent AMC contests, we can find their “ancestors” and “roots” from the old AMC problems. Therefore, the best way to prepare for the contest is to practice by solving old AMC problems.

Bronze_medal

Our Students

From 2011 to 2015, in total, 37 students scored above 120 on the American Mathematics Contest 10 (AMC 10) and qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME); 26 students scored above 100 on the American Mathematics Contest 12 (AMC 12) and qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME); 3 students qualified for the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), the highest level of math competition for high school students in the USA.

Read more:
Notable Achievements of Our Students
2015 AMC 8 Results Announced
AMC 8 Winners for the U.S. Ivy League Education Center (2014)

Small-sized Class Teaching Model: We utilize the highly effective small-sized class teaching model. Smaller classes lead to pupils receiving more individual attention from teachers, and having more active interactions with them. We focus on every individual, not the whole class. Students will thrive from the smaller class sizes that allow them to reach their full potential. Particularly, students can benefit tremendously from high-frequent individualized student-teacher interactions leading to establishment of a stronger foundation for lifelong learning.

Benefits:

  • 8 tutorial handouts (>160 pages) developed by Dr. Henry Wan and 400 new problems similar to AMC 10/12 level from the licensed AMC Database
  • 2 FREE mock tests, each of which has 25 questions taken from the licensed AMC Database
  • FREE registration for the AMC 10/12 A — Tuesday, February 2, 2016 and/or AMC 10/12 B — Wednesday, February 17, 2016. Please see: The AMC 10/12 Contest at Montgomery College on February 2, and February 17, 2016

Course Description:

This course is designed to extend skills in problem solving and critical thinking, to foster mathematical creativity, and to introduce the fundamentals of proof. Students learn to think at an advanced level as they tackle challenging problems.

Topics addressed in this course will draw from: number theory, set theory, algebra, geometry, combinatorics, graph theory, and probability. The class will also discuss problems from all past AMC 10/12 exams (2000-2015), as well as efficient strategies for taking the test.

Each week, students explore a different math topic or problem-solving strategy in depth, and practice both non-routine and contest problems. In tackling non-routine problems whose solutions are not immediate, students are encouraged to approach problems from different angles. Additionally, they will learn to create inductive and deductive proofs, with a focus on the proper use of notation and terminology and precision in their writing. Our classroom provides interactive and team-building experiences for students.

Each topic covered in the course is independent of the other topics. Students will not necessarily start with “Topic 1” in their first week of enrollment.

Class Outline:

In AMC 10/12 Prep Class, we will focus on efficient tricks, shortcuts, and strategies to solve AMC problems as well as test-taking tactics.

AMC 10/12 Prep Class

Class Date Topic Homework Tutorial Handouts
1 1/10, Sun Using the ruler, protractor, and compass to solve AMC geometry problems (See for more details: Optimal Strategies to Solve Hard AMC Geometry Problems) AMC 10/12 Problem Set on geometry, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database Yes
2 1/17, Sun Tricks and shortcuts for solving AMC counting and combinatorics problems AMC 10/12 Problem Set on counting and combinatorics, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database Yes
3 1/24, Sun Number bases, modular arithmetic, integer divisions, and linear congruences at the heart of a great many AMC problems AMC 10/12 Problem Set on number theory, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database Yes
4 1/31, Sun The art and craft for solving AMC statistics and probability problems AMC 10/12 Problem Set on statistics and probability, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database Yes
5 2/7, Sun Efficient strategies for testing primality to solve AMC problems AMC 10/12 Problem Set on arithmetic, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database Yes
6 2/14, Sun Problem solving in algebra equation, inequalities, polynomials, rationals, and quadratics AMC 10/12 Problem Set on algebra and functions, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database Yes
7 2/21, Sun Sophisticated and elegant strategies and tactics to solve sequences and series problems in the AMC AMC 10/12 Problem Set on sequences and series, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database Yes
8 2/28, Sun Arts and tricks to solve AMC problems related to circles, polygons, coordinates and graphs, and three-dimensional geometry AMC 10/12 Problem Set on three-dimensional geometry, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database Yes

 

Our main purpose is to help our students gain deeper understanding of the fundamental math concepts, build a solid foundation in math, and develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are so valuable to success in any career. We are big believers in the FUNDAMENTALS! Our students will receive the LIFELONG BENEFITS from learning math.

IMG_2563_0Regardless of his/her math level, each student will have the opportunity to learn math in a fun, friendly, cooperative, supportive learning environment. The most important thing is to have fun.

We are only one in the Washington DC metropolitan area to offer elementary, middle, and high-school level competition math courses. Our tutoring model is very unique. We ask that all students complete all the required problems at home, and then email their work to us before come to the class. We will carefully review and check the students’ work. Based on their work, we can detect what are the student’s specific weaknesses and use those problems in class to teach the students all the tricks, shortcuts, strategies, and tactics for taking the contest. The entire two hours are used for instructional teaching only. We firmly believe that learning is extremely important, and that a student should not waste time doing problems with our supervision if they can do those problems at home. So our 2-hour session is equivalent to a regular 4-hour session, and thus our hourly rate is equivalent to $20 per hour.

Read more:

Click HERE find out more about Math Competitions!

education priceless treasure3