The AMC (American Mathematics Competitions) is a series of math contests for middle and high school students. These contests have different levels, like AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12. Students solve challenging math problems within a time limit. Doing well in these contests can lead to more advanced competitions. The goal is to encourage problem-solving skills and recognize talented young mathematicians. It’s a fun and challenging way for students who love math to show off their skills.

Jora Wu is a Junior student who participated in last year’s AMC math competition. She took AMC 10 last year, and this year, she moved to AMC 12. 

“I felt that the difficulty level of the question increased in AMC 12,” said Jora Wu. 

However, Jora shared some ways she tried to adjust her mindset when she met those challenging questions “First, I will try to calm down. I will panic when I meet questions that are very long. I always tell myself that the longer the question is, the more information is provided.”

Jora also provides some suggestions for the students who are interested in taking the AMC next year “I will say competitions may need some ‘‘math sense’’ of guessing numbers and adding guiding lines to geometry questions, but I think practicing with time recorded really puts pressure on you and may help you to improve.”