USAMO

The USAMO (United States of America Mathematics Olympiad) provides a means of identifying and encouraging the most creative secondary mathematics students in the country. It serves to indicate the talent of those who may become leaders in the mathematical sciences of the next generation. The USAMO is part of a worldwide system of national mathematics competitions, a movement in which both educators and research mathematicians are engaged in recognizing and celebrating the imagination and resourcefulness of our youth.

The USAMO is a six question, two day, 9 hour essay/proof examination. This school year it will held Tuesday and Wednesday, April 27-28, 2010 . All problems can be solved with pre-calculus methods. Approximately 270 of the top scoring AMC 12 participants (based on a weighted average) are invited to take the USAMO. Approximately 230 of the top scoring AMC 10 participants (based on a weighted average) are invited to take the USAJMO. U.S. citizens and students legally residing in the United States and Canada (with qualifyng scores) are eligible to take the USAMO & USAJMO.

The members of the Committee on the American Mathematics Competitions (CAMC) are dedicated to the goal of strengthening the mathematical capabilities of our nation's youth. The CAMC believes that one way to meet this goal is to identify, recognize and reward excellence in mathematics through a series of national contests called the American Mathematics Competitions. The American Mathematics Competitions include: the American Mathematics Contest 8 (AMC 8) (formerly the American Junior High School Mathematics Examination) for students in grades 8 and below, begun in 1985; the American Mathematics Contest 10 (AMC 10), for students in grades 10 and below, begun in 2000; the American Mathematics Contest 12 (AMC 12) (formerly the American High School Mathematics Examination) for students in grades 12 and below, begun in 1950; the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), begun in 1983; and the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), begun in 1972.

The twelve top scoring USAMO students are invited to a two day Olympiad Awards Ceremony in Washington, DC sponsored by the MAA, the Akamai Foundation, the Microsoft Corporation and the Matilda Wilson Foundation. Six of these twelve students will comprise the United States team that competes each summer in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) . The IMO began in 1959; the USA has participated since 1974.

Scroll down for photos from the 2009 USAMO Grading in Washington, D.C. and selection criteria for the USAMO below.

Grading the 2009 USAMO contests in Washington, D.C.

Grading the 2009 USAMO contests in Washington, D.C.

Some of the 2009 USAMO graders in Washington, D.C.

USAMO Selection Criteria:

USAMO/JMO Selection Protocol:

1. Selection to the USAMO and JMO will be based on the USAMO index which is defined as AMC score + 10 * AIME score.
2. Only AMC 12A or AMC 12B takers are eligible for the USAMO (with the slight exception mentioned in item 5 below).
3. Only AMC 10A and AMC 10B takers are eligible for the JMO.  (This automatically limits Junior Math Olympiad participation to 10th graders and below.)
4. Approximately the top 260 AMC12 based USAMO indices will be invited to the USAMO.
5. In order to find unrecognized young talent, AMC 10 takers who score 11 or more on the AIME will be invited to the USAMO. (In 2008 and 2009 this was 5 or 6 students).
6. Select the top index from any state not already represented in the USAMO.
7. Approximately the top 220-230 students with AMC10 based USAMO indices and not already selected to the USAMO via an AMC12 based index will be invited to the JMO.