Tag Archives: teachers

Summer is the golden time to develop students’ math skills and prepare for the American Math Competitions!

• How to Prepare for the AMC 10
• How to Prepare for the AMC 12
• 2025 AMC 8: 19 perfect scorers. 57 students got the DHR. 33 students got the HR.
• 2024 AMC/AIME: 104 AIME qualifiers. 1 AMC 10 perfect scorer. 1 AMC 12 perfect scorer.
• 2024 JMO/AMO: 8 USAMO Awardees and 7 USAJMO Awardees
  • 1 USAMO Gold Award, 1 USAMO Silver Award, 4 USAMO Bronze Awards, and 2 USAMO Honorable Mention Awards.
  • 1 USAJMO Top Winner, 1 USAJMO Winner, and 5 USAJMO Honorable Mention Awards.
• 2024 MOP: 4 MOP winners.
• How To Use A Solutions Manual Correctly?
• The Learning Trifecta: Preview, Note-taking, and Review
• The Golden Rule of Learning Mathematics: Transitioning from Memorization to Deep Understanding and Creative Thinking
• Over-Reliance on Calculators: A Heavy Burden on Fundamental Education

Purpose: To prepare for the AMC 10/12A — Wednesday, November 5, 2025 and AMC 10/12B — Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

Course Outline
Class Handout Sample
Summer Session I (Number Theory)
7 Classes (Eastern Time: 6:00 – 9:00 pm), Total: 21 Hours
6/14, 6/15, 6/21, 6/22, 6/28, 6/29, 7/5 (Mock Exam/Review)

Summer  Session II (Combinatorics)
7 Classes (Eastern Time: 6:00 – 9:00 pm), Total: 21 Hours
7/6, 7/12, 7/13, 7/19, 7/20, 7/26, 7/27 (Mock Exam/Review)

Online Registration is now open! Click HERE to register and pay. (Two spots are available!)

Tuition (including all materials)
Session I (21 Hours)
New Student:	Via Zelle:  $945 (Phone: 240-300-4380) Please include your child’s name and “AMC 10-12 Summer I” in the “Memo” box.
	Via PayPal:  $980
Returning Student:	Via Zelle:  $925 (Phone: 240-300-4380) Please include your child’s name “AMC 10-12 Summer I” in the “Memo” box.
	Via PayPal:  $960
Session II (21 Hours)
New Student:	Via Zelle:  $945 (Phone: 240-300-4380) Please include your child’s name “AMC 10-12 Summer II” in the “Memo” box.
	Via PayPal:  $980
Returning Student:	Via Zelle:  $925 (Phone: 240-300-4380) Please include your child’s name “AMC 10-12 Summer II” in the “Memo” box.
	Via PayPal:  $960
Sessions I & II (42 Hours)
New Student:	Via Zelle:  $1,860 (Phone: 240-300-4380) Please include your child’s name and “AMC 10-12 Summer I and II” in the “Memo” box.
	Via PayPal:  $1,925
Returning Student:	Via Zelle:  $1,835 (Phone: 240-300-4380) Please include your child’s name and “AMC 10-12 Summer I and II” in the “Memo” box.
	Via PayPal: $1,900
Click HERE to see payment and refund policy.

• This is a live, interactive class, rather than a pre-recorded one. Instructors actively engage with students by asking questions, and students are encouraged to participate by asking their own questions during class or via email after class.
• All lessons are recorded, allowing students to review and reinforce their learning through self-study. According to our policy, recorded class videos are strictly available to enrolled students and are not shared with parents.

Our AMC 10/12 Prep courses last summer in Number Theory and Combinatorics comprehensively covered every discrete math topic that appeared on the 2024 AMC 10 and 12 exams. In fact, each discrete-math problem on the 2024 tests was either identical or very similar to examples we worked through in class. This alignment allowed our students to become thoroughly familiar with contest-style questions and to master the most powerful strategies and methods for solving them — exactly why our courses help students achieve top scores on the AMC 10 and 12.

We update our course handouts every year based on the latest official AMC 10 and 12 problem sets. We use deep learning to conduct an in-depth analysis of the thought processes and problem-design patterns of 39 AMC 10 and 12 Test Creators, based on their published mathematics problems and research articles. Using these insights, we develop targeted contest-style problems to effectively train our students. Additionally, we carefully select significant past competition problems crafted by these test makers to illustrate key problem-solving strategies in our classes. Notably, some of these selected problems have appeared on the AMC 10 and 12 exams, enabling our students to quickly identify the solutions and effortlessly secure an additional 6 to 12 points.

We warmly invite you to enroll in our online course — an efficient and effective way for students to engage with experienced instructors from anywhere. Classes are conducted via Google Meet, allowing students to interact face-to-face with teachers, learn proven strategies and shortcuts for excelling on math contests, and receive personalized guidance and support. Students can ask questions in real time and work through problems under the supervision of our expert coaches. Click  HERE for detailed instructions.

Committing to the full course ensures students gain the maximum benefit from all the mathematical concepts, methods, strategies, techniques, and problem-solving skills covered.

• We aim to help students develop a deeper understanding of fundamental mathematical concepts, build a strong foundation in math, and cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving skills that go beyond the typical school curriculum. Our program also fosters motivation and perseverance—key traits for reaching one’s full potential.
• This course emphasizes efficient techniques, shortcuts, and strategies for solving competitive math problems, particularly challenging questions from the AMC 10/12 and introductory-level AIME problems. It also covers essential test-taking tactics.
• The primary focus will be on a systematic, comprehensive, and in-depth approach to advanced discrete mathematics — specifically number theory, counting, and probability — which are central to competitive math but rarely taught in school settings.
• We implement a highly effective instructional approach, detailed in the article “Small-sized Class Instruction-focused Model.”

Instructors:

• Dr. Henry Wan
• Dr. Irina Khovanova
• Dr. Natasha Kufareva

Contact Information:
Ivy League Education Center
Tel:  301-300-4380     or        240-406-3402
Email:  chiefmathtutor@gmail.co

Specific Goal: 

To help students achieve a score of 120 or higher out of 150 on the American Mathematics Contest 10 (AMC 10), or 100 or higher on the American Mathematics Contest 12 (AMC 12) — scores that typically qualify for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). Success on the AIME is a key step toward qualifying for the USA 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!

Click here to read more!

Who should take this class: This class is very appropriate for raising 6th-12th grade students who are hoping to qualify for the AIME.

Benefits:

• 14 Comprehensive Tutorial Handouts (over 700 pages), developed by Dr. Henry Wan, covering essential concepts, strategies, and techniques for AMC 10/12. Includes 600 new practice problems modeled after AMC 10/12-level questions, sourced from the licensed AMC Problem Database. Click HERE to view a sample handout.
• 4 Full-Length Mock Exams designed to closely simulate the AMC 10/12 experience. Each test contains 25 carefully selected problems that reflect the difficulty and style of official contests. Students receive detailed solutions, score reports, and a performance analysis to help identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• FREE registration for local students for the AMC 10/12A — Wednesday, November 5, 2025 and AMC 10/12B — Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Please see: The AMC 10/12 Online Contests on November 5, 2025, and November 11, 2025

Weekly Homework:

At least 6 hours per week. Problem sets include all problems on the past AMC 10/12 and ARML, and 500 brand new problems having similar difficulty and style as the real AMC 10/12 problems, extracted from the licensed AMC Database.

The focus will on the final 15 problems on the AMC 10/12, and the first 5 problems on the AIME, as well as those hard problems on the ARML. Note that some hard problems on the recent AMC 10 and 12 are exactly the same as previous ARML Problems.

Read More at:

• The 2020 AMC 10/12 Contests Recycle Four Previous AIME Problems
• Some Problems on the 2016 AMC 10/12 are Exactly the Same as Previous AMC/ARML Problems 
• Some Hard Problems on the 2017 AMC 10A/12A are Totally the Same as Previous Problems on the AMC 10/12

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.

Class Outline:

• Competitive Problem-Solving Techniques: Master efficient tricks, shortcuts, and test-taking tactics tailored to AMC-style questions.
• Advanced Discrete Math: Dive deep into number theory, counting, and probability — the most prevalent topics in math competitions.
• Speed and Time Management: Develop rapid problem-solving strategies and learn to allocate time effectively during exams.
• Adaptive Instruction: We will adjust content and teaching methods to match students’ comprehension levels and pace of learning.

Summer Session I (Number Theory)

Summer Session II (Combinatorics)

Small-Sized Class Teaching Model
We employ a small-class format to ensure each student receives personalized attention and active engagement with their instructor. In these intimate settings, teachers can tailor explanations to individual learning needs, fostering deeper understanding and confidence. Frequent one-on-one interactions help students solidify foundational concepts and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that support lifelong learning.

Our Mission
We aim to cultivate a deep mastery of fundamental mathematical concepts, build a robust problem-solving toolkit, and nurture the perseverance and reasoning skills essential for success in any field. Above all, we believe in making math fun, engaging, and collaborative, so every student—regardless of their starting level—can thrive in a supportive, enjoyable environment.

Our Students

In 2024, we had 90 students who obtained top scores on the AMC 8 contest!

• 10 of our students were among the top 116 worldwide winners (Perfect Scorers).
• 54 students received National Distinguished Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 1% test takers. They were among the 697 worldwide winners.
• 29 students received National Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 5% test takers. They were among the 2,683 worldwide winners.
• 93 out of our 96 students (96.9%) received National Awards for the AMC 8 from the Mathematical Association of America

Read more at: 2024 AMC 8 Results Just Announced — Ten Students Received Perfect Scores 

In 2023, we had 99 students who qualified for the AIME either through the AMC 10A/12A or the AMC 10B/12B. One of our students was among the 11 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 10B: Ali R. and one of our students was among the 13 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 12B: Yaoyun X.  Read more at: 99 Students Qualified for the 2024 AIME and 2 Students Received Perfect Scores on the 2023 AMC 10/12

In 2023, we had 8 students who won USAMO awards and 7 students who won USAJMO awards.

• 1 USAMO Gold Award, 1 USAMO Silver Award, 4 USAMO Bronze Awards, and 2 USAMO Honorable Mention Awards.
• 1 USAJMO Top Winner, 1 USAJMO Winner, and 5 USAJMO Honorable Mention Awards.

Read more at: 2023 USAMO and USAJMO Awardees Announced — Congratulations to Eight USAMO Awardees and Seven USAJMO Awardees

In 2023, we had 90 students who obtained top scores on the AMC 8 contest!

• 8 of our students were among the top 81 worldwide winners (Perfect Scorers).
• 51 students received National Distinguished Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 1% test takers. They were among the 697 worldwide winners.
• 31 students received National Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 5% test takers. They were among the 2,571 worldwide winners.
• 90 out of our 93 students (96.8%) received National Awards for the AMC 8 from the Mathematical Association of America.

Read more at: 2023 AMC 8 Results Just Announced — Eight Students Received Perfect Scores

In 2022, we had 96 students who qualified for the AIME either through the AMC 10A/12A or the AMC 10B/12B. One of our students was among the 6 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 10A: Justin W. and one of our students was among the 3 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 12B: Ming Y. Read more at: 96 Students Qualified for the 2023 AIME and 2 Students Received Perfect Scores on the 2023 Fall AMC 10/12

In 2022, we had 3 students qualified for the Math Olympiad Summer Program. Read more at: Brendon J., Kyle S., and Isabella Z. Qualified for the 2022 Math Olympiad Summer Program

In 2022, we had 1 student Competes in International Girls’ Math Olympiad. Read more at: sabella Z. Competes in International Girls’ Math Olympiad

In 2022, we had 7 students qualified for the USAMO and 7 students for the USAJMO. Read more at: 2022 USAMO and USAJMO Qualifiers Announced — Seven Students Qualified for the USAMO and Seven Students for the USAJMO.

In 2022, we had 88 students who obtained top scores on the AMC 8 contest!

• 10 of our students were among the top 131 worldwide winners (Perfect Scorers), as shown in Table 1. Click Here see a full list of the 131 worldwide winners.
• 52 students received National Distinguished Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 1% test takers. They were among the 1,010 worldwide winners. Click HERE see a full list.
• 26 students received National Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 5% test takers. They were among the 2,449 worldwide winners. Click HERE see a full list.
• 88 out of our 91 students (96.7%)received National Awards for the AMC 8 from the Mathematical Association of America

Read more at: 2022 AMC 8 Results Just Announced — Ten Students Received Perfect Scores

In Fall 2021, we had 93 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 5 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 10A: Nina L. and one of our students was among the 2 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 10B: Ming Y. Read more at: 93 Students Qualified for the 2021 Fall AIME and 2 Students Received Perfect Scores on the 2021 Fall AMC 10/12

In 2021, we had 6 students qualified for the USAMO and 6 students for the USAJMO. Read more at: 2021 USAMO and USAJMO Qualifiers Announced — Six Students Qualified for the USAMO and Six Students for the USAJMO

In Spring 2021, we had 91 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 17 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 12A: Evan L. and Suraj O. and one of our students was among the 27 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 10A: Xinchen L. Read more at: 91 Students Qualified for the 2021 AIME and 3 Students Received Perfect Scores on the 2021 AMC 10/12

In 2021, we had 8 students who got into the MathCounts state-level top 10. Yunyi L. won 9th Place in the 2021 MathCounts National Competition!

In 2020, we had 79 students who obtained top scores on the AMC 8 contest!

• 5 of our students were among the top 57 worldwide winners (Perfect Scorers).
• 49 students received National Distinguished Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 1% test takers.
• 25 students received National Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 5% test takers.
• 79 out of our 81 students (97.5%) received National Awards for the AMC 8 from the Mathematical Association of America.

Read more at: 2020 AMC 8 Results Just Announced — Five Students Received Perfect Scores

In 2020, we had 82 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 11 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 12A: Yiyang X, and one of our students was among the 13 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 10A: Jason W.. 43 middle schoolers and 9 elementary schoolers qualified for the AIME! Read more at: 2020 AIME Qualifiers Announced — 82 Students Qualified for the AIME

In 2019, we had 71 students who obtained top scores on the AMC 8 contest!

• 8 of our students were among the top 151 National Winners (Perfect Scorers), including 2 sixth graders.
• 36 students received National Distinguished Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 1% test takers.
• 27 students received National Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 5% test takers.
• 71 out of our 73 students (97.3%) received National Awards for the AMC 8 from the Mathematical Association of America.

Read more at: 2019 AMC 8 Results Just Announced — Eight Students Received Perfect Scores

In 2019, we had 4 Students Qualified for the USAMO and 4 Students for the USJMO.

• Of the 280 USA Math Olympiad national qualifiers, 4 are our students: Luke C., Zipeng L., Sameer P., and Peter P.
• Of the 235 USA Junior Math Olympiad national qualifiers, 4 are our students: Michael H., Noah W., Holden W., and Isabella Z.

Read more at: 2019 USAMO and USAJMO Qualifiers Announced — Four Students Qualified for the USAMO and Four Students for the USAJMO

In 2019, we had 76 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 22 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 10A: Noah W. and one of our students were among the 10 Perfect Scorers worldwide on the AMC 12B: Kenneth W. Very impressively, 32 middle schoolers and 7 elementary schoolers qualified for the AIME!

In 2018, we had 64 students who obtained top scores on the AMC 8 contest!

• 3 of our students were among the top 44 National Winners (Perfect Scorers): Eric B., Kevin Y., and Isabella Z.
• 40 students received National Distinguished Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 1% test takers.
• 21 students received National Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 5% test takers.
• 64 out of our 66 students (96.5%) received National Awards for the AMC 8 from the Mathematical Association of America

Read more at: 2018 AMC 8 Results Just Announced — Three Students Received Perfect Scores

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 were 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!

In 2017, we had 63 students who earned top scores on the AMC 8 contest!

• 7 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.
• 22 students received National Honor Roll Certificates awarded to top 5% test takers.
• 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 had 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 Scorers worldwide 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 had 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

2011 – 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

2011 – 2015: In total, 23 students achieved perfect scores of 28 on the AMC 8

Read more at: Notable Achievements of Our Students

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.

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 at::

• 20 Sets of AMC 12 Mock Test with Detailed Solutions
• 20 Sets of AMC 10 Mock Test with Detailed Solutions
• 365-hour Project to Qualify for the AIME through the AMC 10/12 Contests
• 116 Full-length Real AMC Problems Sets are a Golden Resource to Our AMC 10/12 Prep Program
• 365-hour Project to Qualify for the AIME through the AMC 10/12 Contests
• The 2020 AMC 10/12 Contests Recycle Three Previous AIME Problems
• Some Hard Problems on the 2017 AMC 10A/12A are Totally the Same as Previous Problems on the AMC 10/12
• AMC 10 versus AMC 12
• AMC 10/12 Historical Results
• Some Problems on the 2016 AMC 10/12 are Exactly the Same as Previous AMC/ARML Problems
• Optimal Strategies to Solve Hard AMC Geometry Problems
• Students Can Easily Qualify for the AIME Through the AMC 12 During 11th and 12th Grade
• The AMC 10 and AMC 12 Have 10-15 Questions in Common
• Every Student Should Take Both the AMC 10A/12A and 10 B/12B!
• The Big Value of Middle School Math Competitions
• Great Benefits of Math Competitions
• A Little Competition Can Inspire Math Students to Greater Achievement
• Mathematics competitions are NOT mysterious, and every student can attend them! — 数学竞赛绝非神秘，每个学生都可参加！
• Girls should attend math competitions — 女生更应参加数学竞赛
• Small-sized Class Instruction-focused Model
• Why are Math Competitions Important to Girls?
• Small-sized Class Instruction-focused Model
• 2016 AIME Qualifiers Announced — 36 Students Qualified for the AIME
• Cutoff scores for AIME qualification in 2016
• Why Math Competitions are so Important to Girls?

Click HERE find out more about Math Competitions!

Click HERE to find out more about SAT Prep!