Red MOP cutoff

[remy1140]

I understand that this changes every year, but what is the usual minimum USAMO score necessary to make Red MOP? Or, since USAMO is really focusing on #1 and 4 from now on, around what score would be the cutoff in those two problems?

[andersonw]

Usually, the cutoff is around 9-10 (1 problem fully solved, partial credit on 1-2 other problems), but now that they're only going to use 2 problems, it will probably be 7-8 (or even lower), because some people taking USAMO may solve, say, problem 2 and not problem 1, but it wouldn't count toward red MOP. Also, if you solve 1 problem, you can only get additional partial credit on 1 other problem, unlike when you could get partial credit on 5 other problems.

For example, if only 1 and 4 were counted toward red MOP on last year's USAMO, the cutoff score would have most likely been 7 or 6 instead of 8, because lots of people got 2 free points on problem 2, which wouldn't count under the new system.
(unfortunately, I got a 7 last year )

[Ihatepie]

[modularmarc101]

Really? Then what's the point of taking the whole test if only 2 problems count? It would be pretty sad to get points on other problems but those 2..

[Bugi]

To get to Blue MOP, Black MOP?

[remy1140]

Also for tiebreaker, in case some 2 people tied on #1 and 4 scores.

[not_trig]

[Bugi]

So basically, your USAJMO doesn't give you anything? No international competitions, nothing more than red MOP?

Why is it introduced then?

[remy1140]

According to the AMC Director, it is created to give a chance to beginners in olympiad who do not have much experience so that they won't get to intimidated by the difficulty of USAMO. But I don't see how we would really get frightened because of USAMO if we at least tried...

[worthawholebean]

I know multiple people at my school who are just almost good enough to qualify for USAMO. They are definitely good enough for USAJMO, and would much rather take it than the USAMO, which is very intimidating. Remember, the set of people on AoPS is exactly the set of people who would be motivated by a really difficult contest - for others who are different, it's a good idea to have the intermediate level. AIME to USAMO is a gigantic jump, especially for people unfamiliar with proofs.

[AwesomeToad]

This year:

Red MOP: 8+
Blue MOP: 20+
Black MOP: 27+

[kyyuanmathcount]

Blue was 18 this year.

To get to red, you should just be comfortable with #1 and #4.

[iYOA]

what if someone gets a 9 on USAMO but solves problem 2 and get partial credit on problem 1?
(this scenario might be possible because the ninth grader could have first solved 2 and not had enough time to do 1 properly)

would they still qualify for red MOP assuming the cutoff is about 7-8?

[andersonw]

Under the current rules, no.
(I think this is pretty clear based on what was already said in this thread, and it's also not that hard to search "USAJMO" to find more details on it )

[Ihatepie]

[sup3rcrash3r]

Then that would be unfair because USAMO would have 6 problems that count toward qualification, while USAJMO would only have 2.

[MellowMelon]

1. That the entire USAMO score counts for red MOP is a frequently suggested proposal on this forum, frequent enough to (I think) mislead people here. I have not seen AMCDirector say anything about changing their original policy of counting only J3/J6 and 1/4.

2. To the above: It's not necessarily unfair. It is harder to make the USAMO than the USAJMO.

[mathwizarddude]

Just wondering what would a sophemore get from taking the USAJMO (since that would only help you get to Red MOP only)?

[Mewto55555]

Absolutely nothing, other than possibly the honor of being a USAJMO winner (sort of like MVP of the AAA baseball world series?)

[Ihatepie]

You'd get the experience of solving olympiad questions in an actual test environment, hopefully it would help you do better the next year in the USAMO.