What is the AMC 8?

AMC 8 is an elementary and middle school contest which serves as a precursor to the AMC 10 series. The AMC 8 is extremely good practice for those looking to get into the math competition pathway in high school. Most people mistakenly start AMC 8 prep in middle school, however, the top performers always start earlier. Our class covers all topics necessary for the AMC 8, but lightly skims over the basics. Each class will come with a handout before class as well outlining the basics needed to understand the class material.

We will also provide a handout and problem sheet after each class so you can review the material learned in class and apply it to real AMC 8 problems.

Homework will be structured as follows:

Problem 1-3: Review

Problems 4-8: Past AMC 8 / Competition Problems

Problems 9-10: Challenge Problems beyond the level of AMC 8

Hints and thorough solutions will be provided for each homework problem.

Course Syllabus:

Week 1: Solving Quadratics and using the Discriminant

Week 2: Sequences and Series

Week 3: Counting and Probability Week 1

Week 4: Counting and Probability Week 2

Week 5: Modular Arithmetic and Basic Number Theory

Week 6: Harder Modular Arithmetic, LCM and GCD problem solving

Week 7: Similar and Congruent Triangles, Area and Perimeter

Week 8: Circle Geometry

Recommended Books:

AOPS Volume 1 - Covers all of Algebra, Counting and Probability, Number Theory, and Geometry at a higher level than the AMC 8, but it can be useful if you are aiming for a score greater than 20.

AOPS Prealgebra - This is a fundamental book that covers the very basics of algebra.

AOPS Introduction to Algebra/Counting and Probability/Number Theory/Geometry - The AOPS introduction series offers the most thorough curriculum to learn all topics necessary for the AMC 8 and more.