Students sat for the American Math Competition, also called the AMC, a proctored exam that serves as a prerequisite for the International Math Olympiad and a benchmark for a student’s performance compared to the nation.

“Curiosity and interest [were why I took it]. I just wanted to know what kind of math is in it, and I want to know how to solve the problems,” sophomore Mingwei Samuels said.

Samuels took the AMC10 exam, a test based on the principles of algebra and geometry that is for students in 10th grade and lower, according to the Mathematical Association of America’s website.

“I don’t really know how to describe them, but the problems were weird,” junior Gates Zeng said.

Zeng took the AMC12, a test for upperclassmen in high school. The two tests typically share 12 of 25 questions, but the AMC12 is designed around pre-calculus concepts, according to the AMC website.

“Unlike in school math, the AMC doesn’t have a real world base,” Samuel said. “The problem is thinking, understanding the underlying mathematics of each problem. In school we’re taught to do each problem with a specific mindset; in the AMC, each problem is different and mostly we haven’t learned to do it.”

Zeng agrees.

“There were a ton of variety in subject and type, and some of questions were easy, but others I just couldn’t figure out,” Zeng said.

According to the Mathematical Association of America’s website, the AMC forms the first of a series of examination designed to identify and honor students with exceptional talent.

“These questions are a test of creativity where the high school math courses are used as a base to develop the answer,” Mathletes Advisor Richard Stanley said. “Each problem can have a combination of the algebra, trigonometry, and geometry that students learn in class, but applied in unexpected ways.”

Students who prove particularly adept qualify for advanced competitions and potentially, the USA and World Mathematical Olympiads.

“Very few students move on to the [the next level of exams], it’s very rare of you do, you need a lot of skill,” Mathletes Captain Parker Philips said.

Ultimately, some students do not aspire to continue on, but would rather develop their skills and compare themselves nationally.

“I doubt I’ll be moving on – I just wanted to take the test and see how I did,” Samuel said.

Test results are expected in the coming month.

Students scoring in the top five percentiles or with a raw score of 100 out of a possible 150 will have the opportunity to move on.