As Germantown Academy hosts the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) once more this year, dozens of students take their shot at qualifying for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). Among the test-takers, Audrey Yu ‘26 and Eliza Yu ‘28’s dedication to the math exam stand out, from the countless hours of studying concepts and taking practice tests to balance AMC preparation with regular academics.
Both qualified for the AIME by scoring in the top 2.5-5% on the AMC12 and AMC10, respectively. AIME is one of the most distinguished mathematics exams in the United States, and both sisters will take their designated test this February.
Taking the AMC requires a passion for mathematics and a talent for solving difficult problems, which both Yu’s have demonstrated throughout their academic careers.
“I’ve always liked math throughout Lower School and Middle School, and math is usually one of my favorite classes,” Audrey Yu said. “I found out about the AMC my freshman year right before I came to school. So that’s when I decided that I wanted to maybe do that because math as an extracurricular isn’t very common for Upper School.”
Eliza first took one of the AMC exams in GA when the test was introduced to GA’s Middle School Math Club during the 2023-2024 school year.
“In eighth grade, I started the AMC8 at GA, and I took it, and that was my first step towards math competitions,” Eliza Yu said. “I’m just trying to continue that and see how far I can go.”
The AMC10 and AMC12 are different from typical tests at school. While the material on them varies yearly, the general concepts remain the same. The AMC10 typically covers topics such as algebra, geometry, number theory, and probability while the AMC 12 highlights skills in arithmetic algebra, counting, geometry, number theory, and probability. The 25 questions on both tests are typically ordered from the most rudimentary questions to extremely complex problems requiring advanced mathematical skills and intuitive thinking.
“It’s a lot of strategy,” Audrey Yu said. “There’s a lot of concepts like number theory that normal people, if you just take a math course, won’t really know.”
While succeeding in most math curriculums mainly relies on knowing the required material, the AMC often requires participants to think critically and creatively.
Due to the notorious difficulty of the test, the Yu sisters spend much of their time after school preparing for the AMC by utilizing online resources to review concepts and strategies while practicing from past years’ exams posted on the American Math Competition’s website.
Audrey and Eliza Yu’s dedication to academic achievement has not gone unnoticed throughout the GA community, as many praise the sisters for their accomplishments and talent.
“I think it shows hard work, dedication and talent and just what Eliza can accomplish,” Jessica Ma ‘28 said. “It’s just an example of one of the many things she can achieve.”
Both sisters worked strenuously for their accomplishments, and their efforts are demonstrated through their scores as they seek to continue to work to showcase their talent and capabilities on these exams.