Ivy League Education Center

2015 Fall – Competitive Math Prep

Posted on 2015-09-02 | Leave a comment

AMC 10/12 Prep (for 8th to 12th Graders) Fall 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

14 Weekends (Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm):

Sept.	9/13, Sun	9/20, Sun	9/27, Sun
Oct.	10/4, Sun	10/11, Sun	10/18, Sun	10/25, Sun
Nov.	11/1, Sun	11/8, Sun	11/15, Sun	11/22, Sun	11/29, Sun, Thanksgiving— No Class
Dec.	12/6, Sun	12/13, Sun	12/20, Sun	12/27, Sun, Winter Break—No Class

View Course Outline

Tuition: $1120 (including all materials)

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

AMC 8/Mathcounts Prep (for 5th to 8th Graders) Fall Weekend Course

Purpose: To prepare for the AMC 8 — Tuesday, November 17, 2015 and the 2016 Mathcounts

14 Weekends (Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm):

Sept.	9/12, Sat	9/19, Sat	9/28, Sat
Oct.	10/3, Sat	10/10, Sat	10/17, Sat	10/24, Sat	10/31, Sat
Nov.	11/7, Sat	11/14, Sat	11/21, Sat	11/28, Sat, Thanksgiving— No Class
Dec.	12/5, Sat	12/12, Sat	12/19, Sat	12/26, Sat, Winter Break—No Class

View Course Outline

Tuition:
Option 1: $700 (including all materials)
Option 2: $840 (including all materials and an extensive correction of the incorrect answers of all homework)

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

Math Olympiad Prep (for 3rd to 5th Graders) Fall Weekend Course

Purpose: To prepare for the Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS) and Math Kangaroo

14 Weekends (Time: 3:30 – 5:30 pm):

Sept.	9/12, Sat	9/19, Sat	9/28, Sat
Oct.	10/3, Sat	10/10, Sat	10/17, Sat	10/24, Sat	10/31, Sat
Nov.	11/7, Sat	11/14, Sat	11/21, Sat	11/28, Sat, Thanksgiving— No Class
Dec.	12/5, Sat	12/12, Sat	12/19, Sat	12/26, Sat, Winter Break—No Class

View Course Outline

Tuition: $700 (including all materials)

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

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

Private and Semi-private 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: $65/hour

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

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.

Featured 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:

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

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.

Great Benefits of Math Competitions
The Big Value of Middle School Math Competitions
A little competition can inspire math students to greater achievement

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:

AMC 10/12 Prep (for 8th to 12th Graders) Fall Weekend Course Starting Sept 13

Posted on 2015-09-01 | 3 comments

Instructors:

14 Weekends (Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm):

9/13
9/20
9/27
10/4 (Monthly Mock Test/Review)
10/11
10/18
10/25
11/1 (Monthly Mock Test/Review)
11/8
11/15
11/22 (Monthly Mock Test/Review)
11/29 Thanksgiving No Class
12/6
12/13
12/20 (Final Mock Exam/Review)
12/27 Winter Break—No Class

Tuition: $1120 (including all materials). We offer discounts of $40 for returning students.

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

Click HERE to view our Tuition Payment/Refund Policy.

A late fee of $50 will be added to the tuition for payment after the first class.

Locations:
13902 Bromfield Road, Germantown, MD 20874 (The class is FULL!)
18206 Endora Cir, Germantown, MD 20841 (A few spots are available!)

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

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

Specific 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). 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 8th-12th grade students who are hoping to qualify for the AIME.

Mock Tests: Four 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. We will carefully review and check each student’s homework, and correct any mistakes. Based on his/her work, we will provide the student 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.

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:

14 tutorial handouts (>300 pages) developed by Dr. Henry Wan and 800 new problems similar to AMC 10/12 level from the licensed AMC Database
4 FREE mock tests, each of which has 25 questions taken from the licensed AMC Database
Registration for free for the AMC 10/12 A — Tuesday, February 2, 2016 and/or AMC 10/12 B — Wednesday, 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. One topic is taught a week on a continuous repeating basis. 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	9/13, Sun	Polynomials and their zeros	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on Polynomials and their zeros, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
2	9/20, Sun	Exponentials and radicals	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on Exponentials and radicals, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
3	9/27, Sun	Defined functions and operations	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on Defined functions and operations, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
4	10/4, Sun	Inequalities: The AM-GM Inequality, Cauchy-Schwarz, and Chebyshev	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on Inequalities, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
5	10/11, Sun	Pigeonhole and Inclusion-Exclusion Principles	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on Pigeonhole and Inclusion-Exclusion Principles, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
6	10/18, Sun	Discrete counting and combinatorics	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on Discrete counting and combinatorics, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
7	10/25, Sun	Number theory: Fermat’s Little Theorem and Wilson Theorem	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on Number theory, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
8	11/1, Sun	Circle geometry	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on Circle geometry, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
9	11/8, Sun	Polygons	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on Polygons, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
10	11/15, Sun	Polyhedra, non-polyhedra, and solid geometry	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on solid geometry, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
11	11/22 Sun	Trigonometry	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on Trigonometry, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
12	12/6 Sun	Non-linear functions	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on Non-linear functions, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
13	12/13, Sun	Logarithms	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on Logarithms, Plus some new problems with a similar difficulty level from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
14	12/20, Sun	Complex numbers	AMC 10/12 Problem Set on Complex numbers, 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.

Regardless 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.

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

3 Comments

Posted in Math Competitions

AMC 8/Mathcounts Prep (for 5th to 8th Graders) Fall Weekend Course Starting Sept 12

Posted on 2015-09-01 | 3 comments

Instructors:

14 Weekends (Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm):

9/12
9/19
9/26
10/3 (Monthly Mock Test/Review)
10/10
10/17
10/24
10/31 (Monthly Mock Test/Review)
11/7
11/14
11/21 (Monthly Mock Test/Review)
11/28 Thanksgiving No Class
12/5
12/12
12/19 (Final Mock Exam/Review)
12/26 Winter Break—No Class

Tuition:
Option 1: $700 (including all materials)
Option 2: $840 (including all materials and an extensive correction of the incorrect answers of all homework)
America’s public school system has a major flaw: teachers grade homework for completion, rather than accuracy. They neglect to check their students’ daily progress through their homework, and lose the opportunity to correct their students’ mistakes. Our teaching style is unique in that we adamantly believe in the importance of checking and reviewing our students’ homework. By examining our students’ homework, we can assess their current levels of academic engagement and performance, and to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, our students can learn from their mistakes and ensure that these mistakes will not be repeated. No other tutoring center will provide such an emphasis on checking homework; this is merely one of the unique aspects of our education service.

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.

Locations:
13902 Bromfield Road, Germantown, MD 20874 (The class is FULL!)
18206 Endora Cir, Germantown, MD 20841 (A few spots are available!)

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

Purpose: To prepare for the AMC 8 — Tuesday, November 17, 2015 and the 2016 Mathcounts

Description: Our curriculum focuses on advancing the mathematical skills of 5th-8th graders to prepare them for the AMC 8/MathCounts Contest. A variety of AMC 8/MathCounts Contest questions are used to teach students strategies to solve problems and help students prepare for the competitions. These problems stimulate their interest and enthusiasm for critical thinking and problem solving, broaden their mathematical intuition, and develop their brainpower. The topics taught in this class are not covered in regular school math classes, allowing our students to stay one step ahead.

Benefits:

14 tutorial handouts (300 pages) developed by Dr. Henry Wan and 800 new problems similar to AMC 8 level from the licensed AMC Database

4 FREE mock tests, each of which has 25 questions taken from the licensed AMC Database

Registration for free for the AMC 8 Contest on Tuesday, November 17, 2015.

Grade Levels: Grades 5-8

Class Outline: In AMC 8/Mathcounts Prep Class, we will focus on efficient tricks, shortcuts, and strategies to solve competitive math problems as well as test-taking tactics. The emphasis of this class will be on problem-solving in fundamental discrete math which is the most important to competitive math.

Class	Date	Topic	*Homework*	Tutorial Handouts
1	9/12, Sat	Arithmetic Sequences	AMC 8/Mathcounts Problem Set on Arithmetic Sequences, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
2	9/19, Sat	Geometric Sequences	AMC 8 Problem Set on Geometric Sequences, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
3	9/26, Sat	Consecutive Integers	AMC 8/Mathcounts Problem Set on Consecutive Integers, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
4	10/3, Sat	Fibonacci and the Golden Ratio	AMC 8/Mathcounts Problem Set on Fibonacci and the Golden Ratio, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
5	10/10, Sat	Factors and Primes	AMC 8/Mathcounts Problem Set on Factors and Primes, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
6	10/17, Sat	Algebraic Approaches	AMC 8/Mathcounts Problem Set on Algebraic Approaches, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
7	10/24, Sat	Statistics and Probability	AMC 8/Mathcounts Problem Set on Statistics and Probability, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
8	10/31, Sat	Graph Theory	AMC 8/Mathcounts Problem Set on Graph Theory, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
9	11/7, Sat	Combinatorics	AMC 8/Mathcounts Problem Set on Combinatorics, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
10	11/14, Sat	Relations and Functions	AMC 8/Mathcounts Problem Set on Relations and Functions, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
11	11/21, Sat	Coordinate Geometry	AMC 8/Mathcounts Problem Set on Coordinate Geometry, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
12	12/5, Sat	Circle Geometry	AMC 8/Mathcounts Problem Set on Circle Geometry, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
13	12/12, Sat	Triangle Geometry	AMC 8/Mathcounts Problem Set on Triangle Geometry, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes
14	12/19, Sat	Spatial Visualization, Origami, and 3-D Geometry	AMC 8/Mathcounts Problem Set on Spatial Visualization, Origami, and 3-D Geometry, Plus some new problems from the licensed AMC Database	Yes

Mock Test: Four simulated tests will help students assess their level of preparation for the Math Competitions. The test consists of 25 questions similar to AMC 8/MathCounts 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.

Homework: On average, at least 2 hours per week. For those students choosing Option 2, we will carefully review and check their homework, and correct any mistakes. Based on his/her work, we will provide the student with individualized proposal and support.

We have to face the simple truth that to do well on these grueling contests, 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 8 exams (1985-2014) and MathCounts (1990–2015) 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 AMC 8 and MathCounts. 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 and MathCounts. For all questions on the recent AMC/MathCounts contests, we can find their “ancestors” and “roots” from the old AMC/MathCounts problems. Therefore, the best way to prepare for the contest is to practice by solving old AMC/MathCounts problems.

Main Purpose: 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.

Regardless 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 $12.5 per hour.

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

3 Comments

Posted in Math Competitions

Math Olympiad Prep (for 3rd to 5th Graders) Fall Weekend Course Starting Sept 12

Posted on 2015-09-01 | 5 comments

Instructors:

14 Weekends (Time: 3:30 – 5:30 pm):

9/12
9/19
9/26
10/3 (Monthly Mock Test/Review)
10/10
10/17
10/24
10/31 (Monthly Mock Test/Review)
11/7
11/14
11/21 (Monthly Mock Test/Review)
11/28 Thanksgiving No Class
12/5
12/12
12/19 (Final Mock Exam/Review)
12/26 Winter Break—No Class

Tuition: $700 (including all materials)

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

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 Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS) and Math Kangaroo

Description:
This Math Olympiad Prep course is designed to teach the major strategies of problem solving, to foster mathematical creativity, and to stimulate enthusiasm and love for the types of problems that students encounter in competitive mathematics. Each class students explore a different math topic or problem-solving strategy in depth and practice non-routine contest problems. This course provides interactive experiences for students. Students and instructors work on problem solving, clarification of concepts, and group sessions.

The main feature of this course is the use of the concrete → pictorial → abstract approach. This method enables us to introduce simple algebra and geometry as early as in third grade and encourages active thinking processes, communication of mathematical ideas, and problem solving. The emphasis is placed on development and complete understanding of mathematical concepts and their interesting applications, as well as on proficiency in multi-step problem solving, non-routine approach, mathematical reasoning, higher order thinking, and creative thinking.

Grade Levels: Grades 3-5

Class Outline:

In Math Olympiad Prep Class, we will focus on efficient tricks, shortcuts, and strategies to solve competitive math problems as well as test-taking tactics.

Class	Date	Topic
1	9/12, Sat	Mental Math — Best techniques to count faster in your head. Students will learn arithmetical calculations using only the human brain, with no help from calculators, computers, or pen and paper.
2	9/19, Sat	Drawing a Picture or Diagram: Both theoretical and applied problems will be used to show how a sketch helps to make sense of and model a problem.
3	9/26, Sat	Using Deduction: Students will apply principles of logic to solve classic riddles, such as those involving colored hats and identity of the truth-teller, in addition to non-routine math problems.
4	10/3, Sat	Simplification: Students will learn techniques for decreasing the number and complexity of calculations for simplifying problems involving whole number operations, complex fractions, factorials, and exponents.
5	10/10, Sat	Finding a Pattern: Students will investigate patterns involving time, additive number sequences, and repeated multiplication.
6	10/17, Sat	Making a List: This topic expands on strategies for making lists for counting and arrangements, along with divisibility and remainders, laying a solid foundation for later work with more formal concepts in modular arithmetic, number theory and combinatorics.
7	10/24, Sat	Making an Organized Table: Students use tables to compare unknown quantities in an organized way to test possible solutions, which serves as a basis for more algebraic methods in subsequent coursework.
8	10/31, Sat	Using Number Operations: Students will broaden their understanding of number operations and factors as they apply methods to solve for unknown digits and complete magic squares.
9	11/7, Sat	Working Backwards: This topic exposes students to various situations for which beginning at a given result and working backwards is the best strategy.
10	11/14, Sat	Estimation and Elimination: Strong estimation skills are often required in making sense of problems and checking reasonableness of solutions. In this topic, students apply their number sense to make estimates as they narrow the number of possible solutions to problems involving exponents, divisibility, and remainders.
11	11/21, Sat	Number Sense: Students will learn number meaning, number relationships, number magnitude, operations involving numbers and referents for numbers and quantities. These skills are considered important because they contribute to general intuitions about numbers and lay the foundation for more advanced skills.
12	12/5, Sat	Elementary Number Theory: Prime numbers, factorization, greatest common factor, and least common multiple will be introduced and explored in ways that build stronger number theoretic foundation.
13	12/12, Sat	Basic Algebraic Processes: Students will learn writing and using simple formulas, rules for writing algebra, and solving simple equations.
14	12/19, Sat	Basic Processes of Geometry: Students will learn constructions. A construction is a method of creating a geometric object (such as a triangle) using a set of tools. In the case of this book, the tools we will be using are a compass and a ruler. The constructions are useful for letting the child experience geometric ideas and get visual results.

Our class will mainly focus on preparing for the following prestigious national elementary school mathematics competitions：

Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS): This is a large and popular mathematics competition for students in grades 4 through 8. The goal of MOEMS is to expose students to elementary methods of mathematical problem solving.
Math Kangaroo in USA: This is the world’s largest mathematics competition with students in grades 2-12 competing from many nations around the world.
Math League: This is a well-known mathematics competition for elementary, middle, and high school students in the United States.
Continental Mathematics League (CML): This is an important mathematics contest for students in grades 2 through 12.

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

5 Comments

Posted in Math Competitions

PSAT Changes: Structure and Timing, Schedule, Scoring, National Merit Scholarship

Posted on 2015-07-29 | 1 comment

slide_5 Not only is the content of the PSAT changing in 2015 to align with the new SAT, there will be important structural changes, too, as compared in the following table. The most significant change, from the student’s perspective, is that the length of the test is increasing by more than 25% to 2 hours and 45 minutes. The time allotted per question is increasing, but it remains to be seen whether that will actually translate into a test that feels less fast-paced. This is because, by all accounts, the amount of text students must digest before answering the questions is expected to increase.

Historically, the PSAT was offered on both a Wednesday and a Saturday in October, with each high school deciding between one of two national test dates. In this transition year, the College Board has decided not to offer a Saturday PSAT date. The recommended 2015 PSAT will be Wednesday, October 14, with schools having the option to offer the test on an alternate date of October 28. A Saturday alternative is expected to return in 2016. PSAT score release may slide to Jan 2016, but they are still hoping Dec 2015 might be possible.

11th graders will have only the October option for the PSAT, but starting in 2016 schools will have the option to administer a spring PSAT to their 10th graders. Dubbed the “PSAT 10,” this test will be identical in structure and scoring to the October PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test). Schools will have a multi-week window in the spring when they may choose to offer this test, and it is believed that schools who favor a spring-to-spring slate of assessments will opt for this timing.

With so much else changing, why not change the PSAT scale as well? As of October 2015, PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 scores will be reported on a 160-760 scale for each of two components: Math and Evidence Based Reading & Writing. This normed-for-10th-grade scale is expected to play nicely with the 200-800 scale for the SAT. Younger students whose schools decide to offer the new “PSAT 8/9” to 8th and 9th graders will receive scores on a scale from 120-720. This “vertical scaling” allows educators to track student progress over time using a consistent scale. And, in case you missed it, the maximum total SAT score will once again be 1600. 2400 is dead, because Critical Reading and Writing are no longer scored separately.

We have established that the current SAT will suffice as a “confirming” score for National Merit Scholarship standing for those students who score in the 99th percentile on the new PSAT. Top scorers will not be forced to take the new SAT if they have already done well on the current SAT.

We welcome questions and feedback about any of the information discussed above. Meanwhile, we will keep our ear to the ground and will continue evaluating and reporting what we hear. The current 11th graders in the class of 2016 are forgiven for feeling relieved and fortunate that they will emerge from the college admission testing gauntlet without having had to cope with this rather chaotic period of change. 10th graders: hang on for the ride!

psat-scholarship

psat

PSAT-NMSQT

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Posted in Admissions Counseling, SAT Critical Reading Prep, SAT English Prep, SAT Math Prep, SAT Prep, SAT Writing Prep

SAT Essay Scoring and Feedback

Posted on 2015-07-15 | 2 comments

Click HERE to find out a complete list of real SAT essay prompts (March 2005 – June 2015), provided by the College Board. You can use these prompts for practice.

The essay on the writing section of the SAT is the most difficult part to prepare for because neither books nor most SAT prep courses provide students with what they most need to improve: individualized feedback on their own SAT practice essays from highly professional and well experienced writing instructors who are also official College Board SAT Essay Readers. Our SAT Essay Scoring and Feedback service is completely different from computer-based artificial intelligence scoring systems, which provide overly general feedback to pre-programmed essay prompts. We help students understand their own unique strengths and weaknesses and the different steps they need to take to boost their essay scores using specific examples from, and suggested corrections to, students’ own essays.

Each essay is independently and carefully scored by two SAT Essay Readers on a scale from 1 to 6, according to the College Board’s SAT Essay Scoring Guide. These readers’ scores are combined to produce the 2-12 scale. Note that the two readers are randomly selected from a pool of 39 Official College Board SAT Essay Readers, who have extensive experience scoring SAT essays.

We provide the following two types of score reports within 3 business days of essay submission.

1. Basic Score Report:

The report contains an overall score as well as separate sub-scores for the different skill areas assessed, including thesis and support, reasoning and analysis, structure and organization, and use of language.

Click HERE to view a sample of the report.
$20.

2. Comprehensive Individualized Score Report:

The report includes everything in the basic report above, plus individualized, comprehensive comments made by one of the two SAT Essay Readers, regarding the different skill areas assessed, such as: thesis and support, reasoning and analysis, structure and organization, and use of language.

Sample SAT Essay Score Report
Page 1
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Sample SAT Essay Score Report
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Sample SAT Essay Score Report
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$40.

Submission Guidelines:

Email your SAT essay question and completed response as an attachment to ivymocktest@gmail.com with the Order ID # in the subject line of the email. You can find the Order ID # in the receipt that will be emailed to you after your order is submitted.
Essay Prompt must be an official College Board SAT Essay Prompt. Essay questions and responses should be typed and submitted utilizing Microsoft Word in either a .doc or .docx format.
SAT essay responses are expected to be completed in 25 minutes and generally do not exceed 500 words. We will not comment on/respond to content that exceeds 500 words.

Please view: Notable Achievements of Our Students

Click HERE to find out more about SAT Prep!

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Posted in SAT English Prep, SAT Prep, SAT Writing Prep

A Complete List of Real SAT Essay Prompts (March 2005 – June 2015)

Posted on 2015-07-14 | 2 comments

A complete compilation of real SAT essay prompts administered historically by the College Board for different test periods.

SAT essay prompts contain a first part which is a passage or quote, followed by a second part which is the assignment.

For practice, you could write an entire essay on one of the prompts, or you could identify one historical, one literary, and one current event example that could be useful for each prompt. If you have taken a course at our center, you will remember that you should research and memorize 5 literary, 5 historical, and 5 current event examples on a variety of topics before you walk into the test. This strategy saves you valuable time and ensures your examples are detailed, accurate, and original.

For SAT Tips on the Writing section, please click: 25-Minute Essay Strategies.

Click HERE to find out more about SAT Prep!

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Posted in SAT English Prep, SAT Prep, SAT Writing Prep

Online SAT Mock Test

Posted on 2015-07-05 | 1 comment

Students located outside the Washington metropolitan area can take a SAT mock test at home in an environment that resembles the testing environment as closely as possible, using the College Board’s actual SAT test booklet on May 3, 2014. Form Codes are AEKC, BWKC, CFKC. It has 10 sections, including an experimental section. Click HERE to download the test booklet.

Based on our statistical data analysis, the correlation coefficient between the questions on this test and all the questions from SAT exams from Oct. 2013 to June 2015 is as high as 0.91. Therefore, this test is the most representative of the SAT exams, and is the best one to be used to evaluate our students’ abilities.

If you wish to have another real SAT test pocket rather than this one, please click: 72 Full-length Real SATs are a Golden Resource to Our SAT Prep Program and find the test pocket that you wish to use for your mock test. Then email us at ivymocktest@gmail.com the year/form codes of the real SAT test, and we will email you the complete SAT set.

Our mock test is exactly the same as the real test provided by College Board/Educational Testing Service. Particularly, each essay is independently scored by two SAT Essay Readers on a scale from 1 to 6, according to the College Board’s SAT Essay Scoring Guide. These readers’ scores are combined to produce the 2-12 scale. Note that the two readers are randomly selected from a pool of 39 Official College Board SAT Essay Readers, who have extensive experience scoring SAT essays. So the test is exactly the same as the real test provided by College Board. The score is pretty accurate and meaningful.

We provide the following three types of score reports within 3 business days after receiving the online payment and the completed Answer Sheet (including the essay) from the student.

1. Basic Score Report:
The report contains:

Critical Reading: 200-800 points
Math: 200-800 points
Writing: 200-800 points
Essay: 0-12 points (if you actually wrote anything remotely relevant, that’s 2–12).

The report displays the number of questions for each question type (critical reading; mathematics; writing), that you answered right or wrong, or that you omitted. It also shows the total number of questions, and your raw score.

Click HERE to view a sample of the report.
$25. Click HERE to register and make payment.

2. Detailed Score Report:
The report is similar to the College Board’s Question-and-Answer Service. This includes a detailed table of correct answers and scoring information. For each question, it also provides information about the type, level of difficulty, what your answer was, and whether it was correct, incorrect, or omitted. This gives you the opportunity to analyze your mistakes in some detail.

Click HERE to view a sample of the report.
$50. Click HERE to register and make payment.

3. Individualized Comprehensive Score Report:

The report provides individualized, comprehensive comments and suggestions with each section (critical reading, mathematics, and writing).

Click HERE to view a sample of the report.
$75. Click HERE to register and make payment.

Click HERE to find out more about our SAT Prep Program.

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Posted in SAT Critical Reading Prep, SAT English Prep, SAT Math Prep, SAT Prep, SAT Writing Prep

Summer Evening Intensive AIME Prep Course Starting July 20

Posted on 2015-07-01 | 2 comments

This program has been carefully designed for the students with a busy daytime schedule for internships or other activities. These students usually have higher expectation for their American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) scores. While enriching their resume through exciting internship experience, 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:

Two Weeks: 7/20 – 7/31
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm

Tuition: $1100 (including all materials)

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

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

Objectives

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.

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	7/27, Mon	Algebraic Equations: Distance-Rate-Time Problems, Systems of Nonlinear Equations	AIME Problem Set on Algebraic Equations	Yes
2	7/28, Tue	Combinatorics: Partitions and Bijections, Generating Functions, Combinatorial Identities, the Inclusion-Exclusion Principle, the pigeonhole principle	AIME Problem Set on Combinatorics	Yes
3	7/29, Wed	Probability: Properties of Probability Functions, Geometric probability, Algebraic Probability, Tournaments, Socks, and Dice	AIME Problem Set on Probability	Yes
4	7/30, Thu	Number Theory: Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, Greatest Common Divisor and Least Common Multiple, Modular Arithmetic, Divisibility Tests	AIME Problem Set on Number Theory	Yes
5	7/31, Fri	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	8/3, Mon	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	8/4, Tue	Logarithmic and Trigonometric Functions: Putting Logarithmic, Exponential, and Trigonometric Functions Together	AIME Problem Set on Logarithmic and Trigonometric Functions	Yes
8	8/5, Wed	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	8/6, Thu	Plane Geometry: Triangle Geometry, Circle Geometry, Geometrical Concepts in the Complex Plane	AIME Problem Set on Plane Geometry	Yes
10	8/7, Fri	Spatial Geometry: Rectangular Boxes, Cylinders, Cones, Spheres, Tetrahedra and Pyramids	AIME Problem Set on Spatial Geometry	Yes

Homework: At least 2 hours per day. 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.

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.

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

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Posted in Math Competitions

2015 Summer – Competitive Math Prep

Posted on 2015-06-30 | 1 comment

Summer is the golden time to prepare for the American Mathematics Competitions!

1. Math Olympiad Prep (for Rising 3rd to 5th Graders) Summer Weekend Course

Purpose: To prepare for the Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS) and Math Kangaroo

5 Weekends (Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm):
(1)        7/11, 7/12
(2)       7/18, 7/19
(3)        7/25, 7/26 (Midterm Mock Exam/Review)
(4)        8/1, 8/2
(5)        8/8, 8/9 (Final Mock Exam/Review)
View Course Outline

Tuition: $500 (including all materials)

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

2. AMC 8/Mathcounts Prep (for Rising 5th to 8th Graders) Summer Weekend Course

Purpose: To prepare for the AMC 8 — Tuesday, November 17, 2015 and the 2016 Mathcounts

5 Weekends (Time: 9:00 – 12:00 pm):
(1)        7/11, 7/12
(2)       7/18, 7/19
(3)        7/25, 7/26 (Midterm Mock Exam/Review)
(4)        8/1, 8/2
(5)        8/8, 8/9 (Final Mock Exam/Review)
View Course Outline

Tuition: $900 (including all materials)

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

3. AMC 10/12 Prep (for Rising 8th to 12th Graders) Summer 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

5 Weekends (Time: 1:00 – 4:00 pm):
(1)        7/11, 7/12
(2)       7/18, 7/19
(3)        7/25, 7/26 (Midterm Mock Exam/Review)
(4)        8/1, 8/2
(5)        8/8, 8/9 (Final Mock Exam/Review)
View Course Outline

Tuition: $1200 (including all materials)

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

4. Summer Evening Intensive AIME Prep

Two Weeks: 7/20 – 7/31
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm
View Course Outline

Tuition: $1100 (including all materials)

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register.

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

6. Private and Semi-private Tutoring

(1) One-on-One Private Individualized Coaching/Tutoring: $90/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: $60/hour

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

(3) One-on-Three Semi-Private Instruction: $50/hour

Specialized 1-on-3 instruction
Books and materials included
Only our best and most sought after tutors
Individualized attention
Customizable schedules

Our Uniqueness

Featured Instructors

Our Students

Great Benefits of Math Competitions

Great Benefits of Math Competitions
The Big Value of Middle School Math Competitions
A little competition can inspire math students to greater achievement

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:

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Posted in Math Competitions

Ivy League Education Center

2015 Fall – Competitive Math Prep

AMC 10/12 Prep (for 8th to 12th Graders) Fall Weekend Course Starting Sept 13

AMC 8/Mathcounts Prep (for 5th to 8th Graders) Fall Weekend Course Starting Sept 12

Math Olympiad Prep (for 3rd to 5th Graders) Fall Weekend Course Starting Sept 12

PSAT Changes: Structure and Timing, Schedule, Scoring, National Merit Scholarship

SAT Essay Scoring and Feedback

A Complete List of Real SAT Essay Prompts (March 2005 – June 2015)

Online SAT Mock Test

Summer Evening Intensive AIME Prep Course Starting July 20

2015 Summer – Competitive Math Prep

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