Last-Minute Tips for AMC 10 and AMC 12

Below are key strategies to help you prepare in the final two days before your AMC 10 and 12 test, covering sleep, food, physical activity, math practice, and mindset.

1. Sleep: Essential for focus

• Two nights before: Aim for a full night of sleep (7-9 hours). Good rest two nights before the test has a strong impact on your alertness on test day.
• The night before: Relax 30-minutes before sleeping, go for a walk. Avoid screens and intense studying in the hour leading up to sleep.

2. Food: Steady energy

• Two days leading up: Focus on balanced meals with complex carbs (like whole grains), lean proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of vegetables. This helps keep your energy levels steady.
• The day of the test: Keep a regular meal schedule and avoid all sugar, easy carbs, and heavy meals. Balance protein, fat, and complex carbs. Plan the time of the meal before your test.

3. Physical Activity: Light exercise for alertness

• Two days before: Engage in light to moderate exercise, such as a 30-minute walk, a gentle run. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and improves focus. Avoid anything too strenuous that might make you overly tired.

4. Math Practice: Focus on quality focused work

• Two days before:
  • Take a practice test, but limit yourself to one or two timed practice tests. See this guide.
  • Analyze your mistakes. Review each incorrect problem and understand the solution thoroughly.
  • Review key formulas and concepts that appear frequently on the AMC 10, like algebraic manipulation, geometry properties, and counting techniques.
• One day before:
  • Spend 1-2 hours on light review, focusing on revisiting tricky concepts rather than learning new material.
  • Go over any problem-solving strategies you found helpful, such as skipping hard problems initially, checking work for small errors, and time management.

5. Mindset Setting: Build Confidence and Stay Positive

• Two days before:
  • Set realistic expectations: Remind yourself that AMC problems are designed to be challenging, and it’s normal to skip some questions.
  • Visualize success: Picture yourself confidently reading problems, working carefully, and managing time effectively. Visualization reduces anxiety and helps reinforce a positive mindset.
• The day before and morning of:
  • Practice positive self-talk: Use affirmations like “I’m prepared and capable” or “I can solve challenging problems if I stay calm.”
  • Stay calm and avoid last-minute cramming: Cramming can increase stress, and it’s better to feel relaxed and confident. Remind yourself that you’ve done your preparation.

• Arrive Early: Give yourself enough time to settle in without feeling rushed.
• Breathe: Take some deep breaths, slow down, focus, center yourself.
• Mentally Prepare: Mentally set the gaol, bring to your attention how you will be taking the test. Feel confident and focused.
• Stay Focused: You have prepared. You will do the best you can. Don’t let one difficult problem shake your confidence. Focus on the next question and keep a steady pace.