Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Correlations between AMC8 and AMC10?

Thanks. You are right - if he wants to do it, I should not stand in the way.

That's my take on it. I don't think you need algebra and perhaps not even pre-algebra for AMC8. Even my DD, who is not mathy and hasn't taken pre-algebra, scored above average on the prior AMC8 tests used as practice. However, I think you do need Algebra and Geometry for the AMC10.

I assume that must be your local school's cut-off - that sounds reasonable. Some of DS' practice scores were at that level although we won't get the 2013 AMC8 results for at least a couple of weeks. DS would have to take the AMC10 at one of the university sites as well since his elementary school doesn't offer AMC10 (or even AMC8). However, this means there is no minimum requirement to sign up for the test.

Of course, they don't bother defining "high scoring" AMC8 students so it is up to the Contest Manager at each school/site to adopt (or not) a minimum criteria.

As 20 is somewhere between top 5% (17-18) and top 1% (22) on the AMC8, it probably means the student will score above average on the AMC10.

Thank you for your well-considered post. I find it interesting that you would recommend significantly higher scores for a 6th grader than for an 8th grader. In a way, I would have thought otherwise. There would be no pressure for DS, who is a 5th grader, to score highly on the AMC10 whereas if he were to take it as an 8th grader, he would probably feel embarass if he perfomred poorly.

Our middle school (grades 6-8) offers both the AMC 8 and AMC 10, and they let our son take the AMC 8 even when he was in elementary school. The test was given after school, and we transported him.

I guess I can always check with our local middle schools, but another parent had told me that her DD's private school wouldn't let her DS take the AMC8 there because they were full. We actually had to drive about 20 miles to one of the colleges, but one plus was that DS and DD weren't the outsiders among kids who were classmates.

The AMC 10 is a much more difficult test, so the top 1% have a shot at an above average score, but a student with a 17 or 18 will likely score below average. While the AMC 8 is a pre-algebra test (you can solve all the problems without algebra), the AMC 10 tests knowledge through pre-calc and is especially heavy in algebra and geometry (the same is true of the AMC 12). You see many 8th graders do well on the test; the number of seventh graders is smaller. You'll see very, very few sixth grade show up on any of the award lists. This is why I want to see higher scores from students in lower grades. I followed the lead of the MAA who requires higher AMC 10 scores than AMC 12 scores to qualify for the AIME. Here's how they explain their rationale:

There's no rush to take the AMC 10. Starting in 7th or 8th grade gives students the opportunity to make the achievement roll and plenty of time to improve their score if they don't qualify for the AIME the first time around.

For those who don't know, this link
http://amc-reg.maa.org/amc_external/SchoolSearchByZipCode.aspx
can help finding possible testing locations.


In that case go for it. There's nothing to lose.

ETA: I didn't see ohmathmom's slightly earlier reply. You should put more weight on her opinion which is clearly better informed than mine.