Sophomores Gyubin Jang, Andrew Wang, and Cary Hung were the top scorers in the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) at Campolindo, and qualified to take the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME).
120 students participated in the test held on Wednesday, February 20.
2 levels of the test were given: the AMC 10 for grades 10 and under and the AMC 12 for grades 12 and under. The AMC has 25 questions, each worth 6 points. The test is 150 points total. Guesses may earn one point but questions left blank are awarded 0 points.
“The test is challenging and builds character,” said math teacher Petro Petreas. “The questions involved aren’t straightforward and hard to answer.”
Jang was the highest scoring Campo student this year with 136.5 points. 10 year old Jeffae Schorfe scored an impressive 85.5 in the AMC 12, which was the highest score in that category. Wang scored 123 and Hung scored 120.
“I’m happy to pass the test, but at the same time, nervous to take the AIME. I hope to pass the next level,” said Jang. “I practiced for the test by solving last year’s problems. There was a video guide on the internet too.”
The purpose of the test is to give students additional math experience. While the AMC 10 covered algebra, geometry, and probability, the AMC 12 covered trigonometry, precalculus, and calculus. According to math teacher Ken Ingersol, students are presented with real life scenarios. If students pass the 3 levels of tests, the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) and the ASIMO the students earn an academic scholarship as well as a $10,000 cash prize.
“The test is difficult but neat because of the variety of questions exposed to the students are not in a normal math class,” said Ingersol.
“I’ve been doing it since freshman year and I always come in with an open mind,” said junior Nikkitha Kodali.