For many students, math class is about memorizing formulas, repeating patterns, and following steps. But for one student competitor in this year’s American Mathematics Competition (AMC), math became a creative challenge that required persistence, strategy, and curiosity.
Michael Feng, a senior at Lexington High School, took the AMC 12 this year. He first learned about the competition while hanging out with his friends.
“I heard about the AMC from some friends who tried it last year, and I thought it sounded pretty cool. I’ve always enjoyed math, but felt traditional math curricula [were] repetitive and dull. Competition math was different, as it focused on problem solving and creative thinking, and that appealed to me,” said Feng.
Preparation for the AMC may seem daunting, but for Feng, success came down to using his study time efficiently to familiarize himself with the test.
“I didn’t do anything super fancy, just practiced old AMC problems online whenever I had time. Getting used to the question style helped a lot. I also learned from friends to skip questions that were taking too long and come back later if I had time,” Feng said.
One problem in particular stood out during the test: a challenging geometry question.
“There were so many words that it was intimidating, but once I drew it out properly, everything made sense. It was a good reminder that slowing down and visualizing the problem is often the smartest move,” Feng mentioned.
Having participated in the competition last year, Feng noticed a difference in difficulty this time around.
“This one definitely felt harder. Some of the questions were worded weirdly, and I had to reread them to figure out what they were asking. Plus, I didn’t prepare as much this year,” Feng said.
Balancing AMC preparations with school and other activities wasn’t easy, but Feng managed by keeping things flexible.
“I just fit it in when I can. If I finish homework early or have a quiet weekend, I’ll do a few problems. I don’t stress too much, just stay consistent,” Feng said.
Feng found that collaborating with his friends who were also studying for the AMC was an extremely helpful studying strategy.
“It helped a lot because we all got stuck on different parts, and talking it out usually led someone to figure it out,” Feng added.
Reflecting on what math competitions have taught him over the years, Feng noted that he himself has developed an increase in patience and problem-solving resilience.
“You can’t just give up when something doesn’t make sense right away. It forces you to step back and look at things from a new angle,” Feng said.
When asked for advice to students thinking about joining next year’s competition, his message was clear: “Don’t overthink it. Try a few past tests and learn from your mistakes. The more you practice, the more familiar the problems feel. And most importantly, don’t panic, just move on and come back later.”
