SFS Students Participate in the American Math Competition

SFS middle school students celebrated Pi Day during a Town Meeting this month, a division community meeting, and honored the top scorers of this year’s AMC 8 (American Mathematics Competitions). Katherine '26 scored 19 out of 25 points, placing her amongst the top 10% scorers nationwide. Raza '26 followed close behind with 18 points. Third place was shared by Ved '27, Maggie '27, and Sadie '26 with 17 points. Biwa '28 scored an impressive 16 points as a first-time contestant! All of these scores were phenomenal considering the time limit and rigor of the problems.

“We are proud of the students' enthusiasm and growth mindset,” shared Jiazhen Zhang, 8th Grade Math Teacher and Middle School Math Coordinator. SFS had a total of 68 students who volunteered to participate in the competition.

AMC is a series of exams and curriculum materials that build problem-solving skills and mathematical knowledge in middle and high school students. Organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), it has now grown to include over 300,000 students worldwide participating annually. AMC 8 is entirely voluntary and is a standalone competition comprising 25 questions (multiple choice) taken in 40 minutes. In high schools, AMC 10 and AMC 12 are administered. Students who perform exceptionally well on the AMC 10 or AMC 12 are invited to continue participating in the MAA AMC series of examinations that culminate in the selection process for the USA International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) team.

The material covered on the AMC 8 includes topics from a standard middle school mathematics curriculum. It provides an opportunity for middle school students to develop positive attitudes towards analytical thinking and non-routine problem solving.

After the competition, students shared their reflections about why they participated in the competition and their experience:

Kate '26 shared, “I have loved math since the start of elementary school. I'm really glad our school participates in the AMC8.”

Maggie ‘27 shared, “I just like the challenge of trying to solve a really tough problem and the feeling I get when I finally figure it out.”

Sadie '26 said, “I participated in the AMC 8 because it helped me measure my math journey and has given me a time to reflect on all the math I've learned, an opportunity I've greatly enjoyed.”

Biwa '28 said, “Why not? There's nothing to lose, and it sounded fun! The more I learn about math, the more I see it in the world.”