This year, on May 14th, I participated in the Gauss Contest (Grade 7 division). The result was a complete success: I scored 115, the highest mark in my school, and ranked in the top 25% of all participants who wrote the contest. I was able to confidently solve most of the questions up to number 21. Although I struggled a bit on that question, I eventually remembered the area formula for a circle, which I had learned while preparing for the contest.

From my experience, I noticed that geometry problems are quite rare in the Gauss Contest. Most questions are related to number sense, logic, or simple algebra. There are usually only one or two geometry related questions, and even then, they are typically basic, such as finding an angle in a triangle or line segment. There is usually only one question that requires you to use a formula for area or perimeter, and even that can often be solved in creative ways without directly using a formula.

In contrast, the AMC 8 is much more challenging. It has the same number of questions as Gauss but must be completed in 40 minutes, and the problems are generally more difficult. Many AMC 8 questions involve percentages, ratios, and number properties, and they often require clever tricks to solve efficiently. Without those shortcuts, solving them within the time limit is very difficult. The AMC 8 focuses more on quick thinking and efficient strategies than straightforward calculations.

To prepare for the AMC 8, I used a book called Mastering AMC 8, which is very helpful. If I come across a formula I don’t know, I can look it up in the book and study how it works. I also use Art of Problem Solving’s Alcumus platform to practice a wide variety of math topics and problem types.

I developed a strategy that I call SCI, which stands for Solve, Check, and Improve. First, I will solve the question. Then, I double checked my answer. Finally, I improve by looking for alternate solutions. If I find a faster or more elegant method, I study how to use that technique on other similar problems. This strategy helps me not only answer questions correctly but also improve my efficiency.

I am very proud of this achievement, as the Gauss Contest reflects the hard work and dedication I’ve put into math over the past year. Looking ahead, I plan to participate in the AMC 8 this coming January and the Grade 8 Gauss Contest next year.

Currently, I am studying more advanced AMC 8 topics such as the Pythagorean Theorem, binomial coefficients, harmonic mean, and formulas for infinite geometric sequences. At the moment, I can consistently solve more than 20 questions correctly on past AMC 8 tests. My goal is to raise my accuracy to 23 correct answers by the end of the year, and then begin preparing for the AMC 10.