If you are consistently scoring between 75 and 95, your goal is not a perfect score, the DHR, or the USAMO. Your singular objective is crossing the AIME qualification threshold. To do that, you must ruthlessly manage your 75 minutes.
The First 10 Problems: Evading the Trolls
The 2-Minute Rule: MAA intentionally places highly difficult "troll" problems early in the test (often between questions 4 and 9). They are testing to see if you will stubbornly waste time on a question just because it is a single-digit number. If you are stuck in the middle of an early problem and have no idea how to proceed after 2 minutes, drop it immediately.
Move Fast: Do not panic thinking, "If I can't do number 7, how will I do 17?" Problem 17 might actually be easier for you. Solve the straightforward questions in the first 10 quickly and get out.
The 11–20 Block: The Linear Ramp
The 15-Minute Mark: By minute 10 or 15, you should be transitioning into the 11–20 block.
The Core Concepts: This section is a linear ramp of difficulty. There are rarely trolls here. The problems progressively synthesize algebra, number theory, combinatorics, and geometry, requiring creative thinking rather than standard textbook formulas.
Strategic Finishing: Work through these one by one up to question 16 or 17. If you are making solid progress on a problem, finish it. However, if you hit a wall, move on immediately—unless you scan ahead and see that the remaining problems do not feature your strongest subjects. Never let a hard question eat the time you need for an easier problem waiting in your best subject.
The Last 5 Problems: Strict Containment
The 20-Minute Budget: Do not waste time blindly staring at questions 21–25. Only attempt this section if you have completely exhausted all viable problems in the 1–20 range.
Target Selection: If you have time left, allocate exactly 20 minutes to deeply attack just two questions in the final five that you actually have a chance at solving.
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