Two Cheshire Academy students made names for themselves after successfully beating out many of their peers in a national mathematics competition.

On Feb. 5, CA students took the American Math Competition (AMC) 10 and 12, which are the first in a series of tests issued by the Mathematical Association of America. Zehao “Leon” Jiang ’20 placed within the top five percent of all AMC 12 test takers, and Siyuan “James” Guo ’22 placed in the top two percent of all AMC 10 test takers. As a result, both Jiang and Guo qualified for the 2020 American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). The AIME is a challenging competition offered to those who excelled in the AMC 10 and/or AMC 12, according to the MAA website. Comprised of 15 questions, the AIME is much more difficult than the AMC tests.

The AIME was administered during the week of March 11-19. 

The AMC 10 and AMC 12 are multiple choice examinations comprised of 25 questions that cover high school mathematics. Test takers are given 75 minutes to complete the tests.

“Leon and James are talented mathematical thinkers and have been great leaders in Cheshire Academy’s Math Club,” said Nathan Wright, director of institutional research and advisor to the Math Club. “It is great to see them recognized on a national level.” 

Students in grades 10 and below and younger than 17.5 years of age are eligible to take the AMC 10, a test that covers mathematics up to the tenth-grade high school curriculum. Similarly, the AMC 12 is issued to students in grades 12 and below and younger than 19.5 years of age. Areas of study included in the AMC 12 are trigonometry, advanced algebra, and advanced geometry. Calculus is not included in the exam. 

“The AMC 10/12 provides an opportunity for high school students to develop positive attitudes towards analytical thinking and mathematics that can assist in future careers,” according to the MAA website.