Resources
Being good at math does not happen overnight. Fortunately, there are many opportunities for learning and practice. In my early days, I did lots of problems on IXL through my school's free subscription. IXL is a place to drill skills, but it is unforgiving—it penalizes incorrect responses (often severely). Although it can be frustrating at times, it also reduces unforced errors and you can learn from its written explanations about why you make mistakes.
Being good at math does not happen overnight. Fortunately, there are many opportunities for learning and practice. In my early days, I did lots of problems on IXL through my school's free subscription. IXL is a place to drill skills, but it is unforgiving—it penalizes incorrect responses (often severely). Although it can be frustrating at times, it also reduces unforced errors and you can learn from its written explanations about why you make mistakes.
In comparison, Khan Academy is less of a drill, and is more tolerant of occasional mistakes. The video explanations are a real plus for complex concepts. Khan Academy is an intriguing program that compels you to see the wonderful connections across different mathematical domains.
In comparison, Khan Academy is less of a drill, and is more tolerant of occasional mistakes. The video explanations are a real plus for complex concepts. Khan Academy is an intriguing program that compels you to see the wonderful connections across different mathematical domains.
The Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) is considerably more challenging than both IXL and Khan Academy; it takes math to a greater depth. Several textbooks of varying levels have been written by this foundation, often taking concepts way up and beyond. Fighting through these books on your own can be challenging, so I am here to help.
The Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) is considerably more challenging than both IXL and Khan Academy; it takes math to a greater depth. Several textbooks of varying levels have been written by this foundation, often taking concepts way up and beyond. Fighting through these books on your own can be challenging, so I am here to help.
As beautiful as math is, it can also be frustrating even for the most passionate mathletes. Nothing is better than contest math in maintaining this passion, and you will see improvements in your performance over time. For middle schoolers, a great starting point is the MATHCOUNTS competition series, which takes you through different levels of competition (School, Chapter, State, National) and tests your calculation and thinking prowess.
As beautiful as math is, it can also be frustrating even for the most passionate mathletes. Nothing is better than contest math in maintaining this passion, and you will see improvements in your performance over time. For middle schoolers, a great starting point is the MATHCOUNTS competition series, which takes you through different levels of competition (School, Chapter, State, National) and tests your calculation and thinking prowess.
The American Mathematics Competition has annual contests for students in 8th, 10th, or 12th grade and below. Students with excellent performance on the AMC 10 and AMC 12 qualify for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). A top performance on the AIME, in combination with a high AMC 10 or AMC 12 score, qualifies you for the USA Math Olympiad or the USA Junior Math Olympiad. Competition at regional or local levels also exist to keep one going.
The American Mathematics Competition has annual contests for students in 8th, 10th, or 12th grade and below. Students with excellent performance on the AMC 10 and AMC 12 qualify for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). A top performance on the AIME, in combination with a high AMC 10 or AMC 12 score, qualifies you for the USA Math Olympiad or the USA Junior Math Olympiad. Competition at regional or local levels also exist to keep one going.