AIME
The AIME (or American Invitational Mathematics Examination) is a 15-question test given since 1983 to the top 5% of scorers on the AMC high school mathematics contest (formerly known as the AHSME). The exam consists of 15 questions, where each answer is an integer between 000 and 999 inclusive. Thus the test effectively removes the element of chance afforded by a multiple-choice test while preserving the ease of automated grading; answers are entered onto an OMR sheet, similarly to the grid-in math questions on the SAT.
The scoring of the test is fairly simple: one point is earned for each correct answer, and no points are deducted for incorrect answers. No partial credit is given. Thus valid AIME scores are integers from 0 to 15 inclusive.
The AIME began in 1983. It was given once per year on a Tuesday in late March. Beginning in 2000, the AIME is given twice per year, the second date being an "alternate" test given to accommodate those students who are unable to sit for the first test because of Spring Break, illness, or any other reason. However, under no circumstances may a student take both exams. The alternate test, commonly called the "AIME2" or "AIME-II," is usually given exactly two weeks after the first test, on a Tuesday in early April.
The AIME is a very difficult test, and simply participating is usually viewed as a significant achievement. In 2004, 11945 students sat for the AIME. The mean score was 2.195, and the median score was 2. There were only 4 perfect scores of 15 points. In 2003, 13444 students sat for the AIME. The mean score was 3.059, and the median score was 3.
The AIME is the second of two tests used to determine qualification for the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), the first being the AMC.
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