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Invitational Competitions

Information Overview

Students who perform exceptionally well on the AMC 10/12 are invited to continue participating in the AMC series of examinations that culminate with the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). The first in this series is the American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME), followed by the USA Mathematical Olympiad and Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO and USAJMO). The top USAMO and USAJMO participants are invited to the Mathematical Olympiad Program (MOP) in the summer after the competition. Participants from the Mathematical Olympiad Program are then eligible to be selected for the following summer’s six-member team that will represent the United States of America at the IMO. The top female-identifying students from MOP are meanwhile eligible to represent the United States at the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO).  

To learn more about each competition within the MAA AMC Program, follow the links below:

American Invitational Mathematics Exam

The American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) is a challenging competition offered for those who excelled on the AMC 10 and/or AMC 12. The AIME is a 15-question, 3-hour examination, in which each answer is an integer number between 0 to 999. The questions on the AIME are much more difficult than those on the AMC 10 and AMC 12. Top-scoring participants on the AIME are invited to take the USAMO or USAJMO.

AIME Competition Dates:

  • AIME I (main AIME competition date): Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024 between 1:30 pm ET and 5:30 pm ET.
  • AIME II (alternate AIME competition date): Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024 between 1:30 pm ET and 5:30 pm ET.

AIME Administration Resources:

  • AMC Platform: AIME II Registration Form & Change of Venue Form are located under “Competition Resources” on the dashboard. Only competition managers may fill out these forms.
    • AIME II Registration Form: Students who qualify for the AIME will automatically be registered to take the AIME I. Competition managers who are unable to administer the AIME I can register for the AIME II, which takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Deadline: Feb. 1.
    • AIME Change of Venue Form: Students who qualified for the AIME must take the AIME I or AIME II at the institution where they took the AMC 10/12. A student may only take the AIME I or AIME II at a different location if the institution where they qualified is unable to host either AIME I or AIME II. In such event, the Competition Manager of that institution must complete and submit this form. Deadline: Jan. 18.
  • 2024 AIME I & II Teacher's Manual

USA Mathematical Olympiad and Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO and USAJMO)

The United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) and the United States of America Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAJMO) are six-question, two-day, 9-hour essay/proof examinations. The top-scoring AMC 12 participants (based on a combination of AMC 12 and AIME scores) are invited to take the USAMO. The top-scoring AMC 10 participants (based on a combination of AMC 10 and AIME score) are invited to take the USAJMO. U.S. citizens and students studying in the United States and Canada (with qualifying scores) are eligible to take the USAMO and USAJMO.

The MAA AMC champions inclusivity within our program and competitions. As we work towards creating a mathematical community to empower students of all genders, we invite the top-scoring AMC female students to our USAMO and USAJMO each year. These students are placed on an ambitious path to potentially qualify for the Mathematical Olympiad Program (MOP), European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO), and ultimately the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).

For the USAMO, the AMC awards Gold prizes to at least approximately 6%, Silver to at least approximately 12%, and Bronze to at least approximately 18% of competitors. For the USAJMO, we will continue to name winners but will increase recognition to at least approximately 20% of contestants. For both USAMO and USAJMO, each additional contestant with 14 points or more will receive an Honorable Mention distinction. Each year, the Student Selection Committee will decide the exact percentages and number of awards.

USAMO and USAJMO COMPETITION DATES:

  • USAMO and USAJMO Day 1: Tuesday, March 19 between 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET
  • USAMO and USAJMO Day 2: Wednesday, March 20 between 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET

USAMO and USAJMO Administration Resources: 

 

FAQs for the AIME and USAMO/USAJMO

  1. Q. How do I qualify for the AIME?

    A. Qualification parameters for AIME vary with the results of the AMC 10/12 competitions. For AMC 10, invitations are issued to at least the top 2.5% of all scorers. For AMC 12, invitations are issued to at least the top 5% of all scorers. The exact cutoffs will depend on the difficulty of each competition.

  2. Q. How do I qualify for the USAMO and USAJMO?

    A. Qualification parameters for USAMO and USAJMO vary with the results of the AMC 10/12 competitions and AIME competitions. Selection to the USAMO will be based on the USAMO index which is defined as AMC 12 Score plus 10 * AIME Score. Selection to the USAJMO will be based on the USAJMO index, which is defined as AMC 10 Score plus 10 * AIME Score. The committees calibrate the difficulty level for the 6 competitions each year and may determine different cutoffs based on the exam version if there is a significant difference in results and score distribution.

  3. Q. Who can proctor the AIME or USAMO and USAJMO?

    A. Students will be proctored by a teacher (preferably a mathematics teacher) or administrator at the school; a college or university teacher of mathematics, or a responsible adult such as a math club coach or librarian.The proctor should not be related to any of the participants. This cycle we are once again requiring that students be proctored in person only.

  4. Q. When can I see my AIME results? When can I see my USAMO and USAJMO results?

    A. As with this year’s AMC 10/12, scores will be available on the AMC Platform 24 hours after submission. The USAMO and USAJMO qualifiers and awards reports will be available within 3 to 4 weeks on the AMC Platform.

    Grading of the USAMO takes place approximately 10 days after the competition, with awarding thresholds posted on the website soon thereafter. About 2-3 weeks after the USAMO and USAJMO, Competition Managers will be able to find the USAMO and USAJMO solutions and student scores in the AMC Portal. Note that the AMC does not return your USAMO and USAJMO papers to you.

  5. Q. If you take both A-date and B-date AMC tests, but one score is higher than the other, do you get to choose which score to use with your AIME score for USAMO and USAJMO qualification?

    A. We use the higher numerical score. We match both AMC scores with the AIME score using the student’s ID number generated after registering on our AMC Platform. 

  6. If I need to take the AIME at a location other than where I took the AMC 10/12, what should I do?

    A.  Students are to take the AIME at the same testing location where they took the AMC 10/12 whenever possible. This ensures that a student’s AMC 10/12 score can be accurately matched up with their AIME score for USAMO and USAJMO qualification. If a student cannot take the AIME at the same competition location, they are to make arrangements with a different competition manager who has the materials to proctor the exam, and who will complete the “Change of Venue” form. Our customer service office cannot assist in finding new venues for the exam, instead, students should reach out to schools near them, using the Competitions Locations page as a resource. Once you have made arrangements with this location, send an email to amcinfo@maa.org to inform our office that you will be taking the AIME at this new location, not at the qualifying location.

  7. Q. If I qualified with both the 12A at my own high school and the 10B at another high school but wish to put my 10 B score on the AIME I'm taking at my own school, what do I need to do?

    A. Students who qualified for the AIME must take the AIME I or AIME II at the institution where they took the AMC 10/12. A student may only take the AIME I or AIME II at a different location if the institution where they qualified cannot host either AIME I or AIME II. In such an event, the Competition Manager of that institution must complete and submit a form.