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Not sure what course to take? Click on the appropriate link below for recommendations.
Grades 5-8, little algebra experience
Grades 6-9, some exposure to algebra
Grades 7-10, mastery of basic algebra (completed algebra I or an equivalent)
Grades 8-12, experienced problem solvers
Calculus
All of our courses will help students prepare for contests such as MATHCOUNTS and the AMC series of tests. In addition to our Introduction and Intermediate series of courses, we also offer classes called Problem Series that are specifically designed for various contests. These contest preparation courses are a survey of useful approaches and methods for tackling problems on the given contests. These contest preparation courses also do not have textbooks, nor do they have assignments that are evaluated by instructors (they do have many practice problems, though!). Therefore, the contest preparation classes are less thorough than the Introduction or Intermediate series of courses, and are intended as supplementary practice rather than a complete mathematics curriculum.
MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8
AMC 10/12
AIME
USAMO
You can see our complete list of classes here.
Students who have worked with square roots, basic variable expressions such as 2x + 3, and basic linear equations like 2x + 7 = 9, but who have not taken an algebra I course or an equivalent, should start with Algebra 1.
Students who have some experience with algebra, but who have not completed an algebra I class in school or with us, should consider starting with our Algebra 1 class. Those students who have mastered linear equations and manipulating multi-variable expressions such as x(x+y) - 3xy + y(x-y) are ready for our Introduction to Counting & Probability and Introduction to Number Theory classes. These two classes can be taken in either order.
Students who have completed algebra I in school or our Algebra 1 class are ready for our Introduction to Counting & Probability, Introduction to Number Theory, Algebra 2 and Introduction to Geometry classes. We recommend starting with the Counting & Probability and Number Theory classes. Of these four, Introduction to Geometry is the most advanced.
To determine if you are in this category, take the diagnostic tests for each of our Introduction courses. Here are the tests for algebra, geometry, counting & probability, and number theory. If any of these give you difficulty, consider taking the corresponding course or working through the textbook for that course. If these diagnostic tests are not difficult for you, then you are ready for our Intermediate courses. These classes, and the basic pre-requisites, are listed below:
Algebra 3: Students should have completed an algebra II course in school or our Algebra 2 class before taking this course. If a student has had no algebra experience beyond a typical school algebra I class, the student should likely start with our Algebra 2 course. Students who have taken an algebra II course that includes precalculus topics will find portions of our Algebra 3 class to be review, but most of the class will include new material, or very challenging extensions of material the student has seen in school.
Intermediate Counting & Probability: We recommend that students either be currently enrolled in, or have completed, an algebra II course in school or the Art of Problem Solving Algebra 3 class before taking this course. Also, students should have mastered the basics of the Introduction to Counting & Probability class.
Intermediate Number Theory: We recommend that students either be currently enrolled in, or have completed, an algebra II course in school or the Art of Problem Solving Algebra 3 class before taking this course. Also, students should have mastered the basics of the Introduction to Number Theory class.
Precalculus: Students should have completed an algebra II course in school or the Art of Problem Solving Algebra 3 class before taking this course.
We offer a calculus course that is much more challenging than the typical high school calculus course. Our course includes more fundamental theory and many more challenging problems than a typical high school class, and is intended to provide an understanding of calculus beyond the level of rote calculation. We strongly recommend that you read the course description page before signing up, and that students in 7th or 8th grades (and possibly 9th) opt for other problem solving classes prior to taking calculus, even if they are ready for calculus. Some reasons for this are outlined in our articles The Calculus Trap and Why Discrete Math Is Important.
For students just getting started with MATHCOUNTS or the AMC 8, we recommend our Introduction series of classes (Algebra 1, Introduction to Counting & Probability, Introduction to Number Theory, Algebra 2, Introduction to Geometry). Review the recommendation information above to determine which of these classes best fits you. We also have two Problem Series classes for MATHCOUNTS and AMC 8 preparation. If you are just getting started with these contests and find many of the problems very challenging, then we recommend the MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics course. If you have some experience with MATHCOUNTS and are preparing for the State or National MATHCOUNTS competition, you are probably ready for our Advanced MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 course.
Our Introduction series of classes will provide students with the tools necessary for all AMC 10 problems and most AMC 12 problems. Our Intermediate series of classes (Algebra 3, Intermediate Counting & Probability, Intermediate Number Theory, and Precalculus) covers the remainder of the AMC 10 and AMC 12. Our AMC 10 Problem Series and AMC 12 Problem Series focus primarily on the harder problems on these contests. They are appropriate for students who currently score in the 80-120 range on the AMC 10 and/or AMC 12.
Our Intermediate series of classes (Algebra 3, Intermediate Counting & Probability, Intermediate Number Theory, and Precalculus) covers much of the curriculum and problem solving approaches needed for success on the AIME. For students looking for further practice, we offer the AIME Problem Series A, the AIME Problem Series B, and a Special AIME Problem Series. We also offer Worldwide Online Olympiad Training (WOOT), a 7-month training program during the school year that helps students prepare for both the AIME and the USAMO.
Our Intermediate series of classes includes essential problem solving strategies for beginning Olympiad students. Our Worldwide Online Olympiad Training (WOOT) offers an opportunity to train for the USAMO for 7 months with many of the top students in the United States.
