Essential AIME Resources for U.S. Top-30 College Applicants — 2026 Season Materials Available for Free

The American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) is the ultimate challenge for students participating in the AMC series in China. Organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), AIME is a high-level invitational competition bridging AMC and higher-level mathematics contests.

AIME is invitation-only, limited to top AMC scorers, and being invited is an honor in itself. Performance on AIME is highly regarded in applications to leading universities worldwide, particularly for STEM undergraduate programs.

Latest Updates:

• 2025 AMC 10/12 cutoff scores released, with new award thresholds!

• 2025 USAMO qualification rules updated — AIME results now carry double weight.

AIME Must-Practice Materials Available Now!

Scan the QR code to join the AIME learning community and access extensive preparation resources, including trial courses.

Available Resources:

• 1983–2025 AIME Past Problems + Solutions + Video Explanations

• Categorized & Progressive Problem Sets

• Textbooks & Lecture Notes

• Knowledge Mind Maps

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AIME Course Trial

Students seeking guided coaching can scan the QR code to consult and select a trial course tailored to their preparation needs.

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1. 2026 AIME Competition Schedule

1. Students in China will participate in AIME II.

2. Exam language will be bilingual (Chinese & English), subject to MAA final confirmation.

3. No registration fee required.

4. Format: In-person exam.

5. Only students meeting the qualification score are eligible. Confirm registration via this link after December 26, 2025, 12:00 PM. Failure to confirm will forfeit eligibility.

Timeline:

• AIME II Registration Confirmation: Dec 26, 2025, 12:00 PM – Jan 15, 2026, 12:00 PM

• AIME II Admit Card Access: Feb 7, 2026, 12:00 PM – Feb 12, 2026, 12:00 PM

• AIME II Exam: Feb 12, 2026, 1:00–4:00 PM (Thursday, tentative)

• Score Release: 2–4 weeks after exam (exact date TBD)

• Certificate Download: 2–4 weeks after exam (exact date TBD)

Certificate Access: AMC 10/12 e-certificates will be available from Dec 26, 2025, 12:00 PM at score login using your registration phone number and verification code.

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2. AIME Rules

• Exam Dates:

  • AIME I: Feb 6, 2026, 1:00–4:00 PM

  • AIME II: Feb 12, 2026, 1:00–4:00 PM

• Format & Language:

  • Individual exam

  • 15 problems, 3 hours (180 minutes)

  • Bilingual (Chinese & English)

• Problem Type:

  • Fill-in-the-blank

  • Answers are three-digit positive integers (000–999)

• Scoring:

  • 1 point per correct answer, 0 points for unanswered, no penalty for incorrect answers

  • Maximum score: 15 points

• Calculators: Not allowed

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3. What Does AIME Test?

AIME covers topics similar to AMC 10/12: Arithmetic, Algebra, Counting, Geometry, Number Theory, and Probability. Calculus is not required, though allowed if applicable.

Algebra:

• Polynomials: Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, Factor & Remainder Theorems, Lagrange Interpolation, Integer Polynomials

• Logarithms, Complex Numbers & Trigonometry: Roots of unity, geometric applications, complex equations

• Sequences: Closed-form formulas, linear recurrences, summations, inequalities

• Inequalities: AM–GM, Cauchy, rearrangement, optimization

Geometry:

• Lines & Triangles: Menelaus, Ceva, Stewart, area methods, Law of Sines & Cosines

• Circles: Triangle centers, cyclic quadrilaterals, Ptolemy, Power of a Point

• Solid Geometry: Volumes, inspheres, circumspheres, advanced 3D problems

• Analytic Geometry: Plane & space applications

Combinatorics:

• Counting: Binomial theorem, combinatorial identities, mapping methods, inclusion–exclusion, recursion

• Probability: Classical, geometric, conditional, Bayes, expected value

Number Theory:

• Basics: Divisibility, congruences, GCD/LCM, Euclidean algorithm, Bézout identity, floor/ceiling functions, Legendre symbol

• Famous Theorems: Fermat’s Little Theorem, Wilson’s Theorem, Chinese Remainder Theorem, LTE lemma

• Diophantine Equations: Linear, Pythagorean, quadratic, modular analysis

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4. AIME Difficulty Analysis

Problems 1–6: AMC-level difficulty; recommended for students scoring 120+ on AMC; complete in 30–40 minutes.
Problems 7–10: Transition problems; require deep understanding of concepts (combinatorics, Vieta’s formulas, high-degree polynomials, Diophantine equations, Newton’s identities); ~30–40 minutes.
Problems 11–15: High overall difficulty; may vary by problem.

Tips:

• Verify endpoints & grid-check Diophantine solutions

• Classify cases; mark special points in function/graph problems

• Identify integer vs nonzero solutions

• Apply all constraints; check implicit conditions

• Translate word problems to equations/inequalities

• For geometry, consider multiple approaches: vectors, analytic geometry

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5. Historical AIME Qualification Scores

AMC 10:

AMC 12:

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6. AIME Preparation Resources

1. Past Exam Problems: 1983–2025 AIME problems + solutions

2. AIME Lecture Notes & Guides: Modularized by Number Theory, Algebra, Geometry, and Combinatorics for systematic preparation

3. Categorized & Progressive Problem Sets + Solutions

4. 300 Must-Practice Problems + Solutions

5. Recommended Books:

   • AoPS Volume 2 (core concepts)

   • Intermediate Counting & Probability

   • Intermediate Algebra

   • AoPS Precalculus (Chapters 1–8)

   • UKMT Number Theory

   • UKMT Geometry

   • Euclidean Geometry in Mathematical Olympiads

6. AIME Knowledge Mind Map:
   Organized into four pillars (Algebra, Geometry, Number Theory, Combinatorics) with hierarchical structure and key concepts, helping students quickly identify connections between topics and efficiently tackle creative AIME problems.

Free Materials Access: Scan the QR code to join the AIME community and download:

• 1983–2025 AIME problems & solutions

• Categorized & progressive problem sets

• 300 must-practice problems + solutions

• Recommended reading lists

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7. MAA AMC Series & Path to USAMO

High-performing AMC 10/12 students are invited to continue through the MAA AMC series, ultimately leading to USAMO / USAJMO and IMO / EGMO team selection.

Competition Path:

1. AIME → 2. USAMO / USAJMO → 3. Mathematical Olympiad Program (MOP) → 4. Team Selection Test (TST) → 5. International Math Olympiad (IMO) / European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO)