The American Mathematics Olympiad (AMO) is the most famous primary and secondary school math competitions. It is a section of the Math Olympiads for elementary and middle schools in the USA. Students who attempt the American Mathematics Olympiad are evaluated based on their grasp of the subject and their ability to solve various sums at the school, local, zonal, and global levels.

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USA mathematical olympiad-style exams consist of several challenging essay-type problems. Correct and complete solutions often require deep analysis and careful argument. Olympiad questions seem impenetrable to the novice, yet most can be solved using cleverly applied elementary and high school Mathematics.

Exam Highlights

Full Exam Name

American Mathematics Olympiad

Short Exam Name

AMO

Conducting Body

Singapore International Math Contests Centre (SIMCC)

Frequency of Exam

Once a year

Medium

English

Mode of Application

Online or school

Examination Mode

Online

Duration

90 minutes

Eligibility Criteria for AMO 2023

  • Students in Grades 2 to 12 are eligible to take the AMO 2023 test.
  • The American Mathematics Olympiad (AMO) is open to all Primary 2 to 6, Secondary 1 to 4, and Junior College 1 and 2 students worldwide (or Grades 2 to 12).
  • The American Mathematics Olympiad (AMO) is now open to all students globally as it is partnered with Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA, to create a competition that offers scholarships to study in America.

Dates and Pattern of AMO Exams

AMO Olympiad Contest Date

26 – 27 October 2023 @ School (Tentative)

28 October 2023, Saturday @ Online (Tentative)

Note: Registration will be closed on 25 August 2023.

AMO Olympiad Question Paper Pattern

No. of Questions

25

Section A

15 MCQs, and each question scores 3 points

45 points

Section B

5 open-ended questions, and each question scores 5 points

25 points

Section C

5 open-ended questions and each question scores 6 points

30 points

Total

100 points

Note: ***Calculators are not allowed, there is no negative marking, and no points are deducted for wrong responses.

AMO Syllabus 2023

The Mathematics Olympiad Syllabus is given grade-wise, each of which covers concepts and themes customised to the curriculum and students’ knowledge. The AMO syllabus is given here for Grades 2 to 12.

GRADE 2-4 (PRIMARY 2-4)

  • Arithmetic and Statistics
  • Geometry and Mensuration
  • Solving word problems using the model method (or any other non-algebraic methods)
  • Non-routine problem solving (including number patterns, divisibility tests, spatial visualisation, logic problems and simple cryptarithms)

GRADE 5-6 (PRIMARY 5-6)

  • Arithmetic and Statistics
  • Geometry and Mensuration
  • Solving word problems using the model method (or any other methods, including algebra)
  • Non-routine problem solving (including number patterns, divisibility tests, spatial visualisation, logic problems and cryptarithms)

GRADE 7 (SECONDARY 1)

  • Arithmetic and Algebra
  • Geometry, Graphs and Mensuration
  • Statistics
  • Non-routine problem solving (including number patterns, divisibility tests, spatial visualisation, logic problems and cryptarithms)

GRADE 8 (SECONDARY 2)

  • Arithmetic and Algebra
  • Geometry, Graphs and Mensuration
  • Pythagoras’ Theorem
  • Statistics
  • Non-routine problem solving (including number patterns, divisibility tests, spatial visualisation, logic problems and cryptarithms)

GRADE 9-10 (SECONDARY 3-4)

  • Arithmetic and Algebra
  • Geometry, Graphs and Mensuration
  • Pythagoras’ Theorem and Trigonometry
  • Statistics and Probability
  • Non-routine problem solving (including number patterns, divisibility tests, spatial visualisation, logic problems and cryptarithms)

GRADE 11-12 (JUNIOR COLLEGE 1-2)

  • Arithmetic and Algebra
  • Geometry, Graphs and Mensuration
  • Pythagoras’ Theorem and Trigonometry
  • Statistics and Probability
  • Non-routine problem solving (including number patterns, divisibility tests, spatial visualisation, logic problems and cryptarithms)

AMO Awards

Every participant will be given an e-certificate.

  • The top 40% of competitors will be awarded a physical certificate and a medal.
  • The top 40% of winners will be invited to compete in the SIMOC 2023 (Singapore International Math Olympiad Challenge) in July 2023.
  • The top 20% of winners will be invited to compete in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) Ahead 2023: IJMO (International Junior Math Olympiad) in December 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions on AMO 2023

Q1

What is the AMO Olympiad?

SIMCC and Southern Illinois University (SIU) jointly organise the American Math Olympiad (AMO), an international math competition for elementary, middle, and high school students. It fosters the value and understanding of Mathematics.

Q2

How to prepare for the AMO Olympiad?

Candidates should select books that are based on the most recent AMO syllabus in order to learn all the exam-relevant topics and perform well in the AMO Olympiad. Candidates should practise previous years’ papers and sample test papers in addition to the AMO books to improve their preparation level.

Q3

Can AMO (American Mathematics Olympiad) books be purchased online?

Yes, you can get free AMO (American Mathematics Olympiad) exam books from reliable websites.

Q4

Are the AMO books sufficient to pass the written exam?

Yes, the AMO books are sufficient to cover all of the topics included in the syllabus. In addition to the books, students must solve the previous years’ papers to supplement their preparation.

Q5

What are the eligibility criteria for the AMO (American Mathematics Olympiad)?

The American Mathematics Olympiad (AMO) is open to all Primary 2 to 6, Secondary 1 to 4, and Junior College 1 and 2 students worldwide (or Grades 2 to 12).