Master the AMC 10. Unlock the Path to AIME.
XNEW Academy’s AMC 10 program is built on a curriculum developed by our own research team and a teaching philosophy that prioritizes conceptual mastery over memorized tricks—helping students build the foundation for AIME, USAJMO, and long-term success in mathematics.
In-person classes in Los Altos · Online classes available · Group and 1-on-1 instruction · Serving LASD, MVWSD, and PAUSD families
What Is the AMC 10?
The AMC 10 is a national mathematics competition administered by the Mathematical Association of America. It is the entry point to the pathway leading to AIME, USAJMO, and ultimately the International Mathematical Olympiad.
Unlike a school test, AMC 10 questions reward insight rather than routine calculation. Successful students recognize structure, choose an effective approach, and reason through unfamiliar problems.
Why the AMC 10 Matters
For Bay Area families, AMC 10 is both a national benchmark and a powerful way to develop mathematical ability.
A National Benchmark
AMC and AIME results are nationally standardized indicators of mathematical talent. Selective STEM programs understand what AIME qualification represents because the standard is consistent across schools.
A Gateway, Not an Endpoint
AMC 10 opens the path to AIME, USAJMO, advanced summer programs, research opportunities, and a broader mathematical community.
Skills That Transfer
Students develop sustained attention, comfort with difficult problems, and the discipline to verify their reasoning—habits that also support honors and AP coursework.
Why Families Choose XNEW Academy
Our program is built on four commitments that shape every lesson.
Depth Over Speed
One well-chosen problem examined from several angles teaches more than many problems solved mechanically.
Our Own Curriculum
Our research team authors, reviews, and continually refines every lecture, handout, and problem set.
Honest Assessment
We recommend the level where a student will genuinely learn most, rather than placing by grade or ambition alone.
Understanding First
Students learn why a method works so they can adapt it when a problem is phrased differently.
The XNEW AMC 10 Pathway
AMC 10 is a continuous course across multiple semesters. Students enter through assessment and progress through three connected stages.
Foundation
Secure problems 1–10.
Build dependable algebra, geometry, number theory, and counting foundations. Ideal for students new to competition math and AMC 8 students moving to AMC 10 material.
Advanced
Reach problems 11–25.
Study multi-step problems, structural patterns, analytic geometry, recursion, advanced counting, and Diophantine equations.
Sprint
Perform under real conditions.
Use full-length timed practice, problem-selection strategy, scoring decisions, and accuracy habits during the run-up to the November contest.
Complete Content Coverage
Algebra
- Equations and systems
- Functions and graph transformations
- Exponents and radicals
- Vieta’s formulas
- Advanced factorization
Geometry
- Congruence and similarity
- Circle properties
- Area methods
- Analytic geometry
- Coordinate techniques
Number Theory
- Divisibility and primes
- Modular arithmetic
- Diophantine equations
- Digit and base problems
Counting & Probability
- Counting principles
- Combinations and permutations
- Stars and bars
- Casework and complements
- Recursion
How We Teach
Our lecture-and-workshop format combines concept development, guided practice, and independent problem solving with instructor support.
We show where formulas come from.
Students learn the reasoning behind each tool so they can reconstruct or adapt it under contest pressure.
Students articulate their reasoning.
Explaining an approach aloud and in writing reveals the difference between obtaining an answer and understanding why it is correct.
Wrong answers become instructional material.
We examine exactly where reasoning broke down instead of immediately moving to another solution.
We flag uncertainty honestly.
Students learn to distinguish what they know from what they guessed correctly and whether a method will generalize.
Common Questions from Parents
My child has never done competition math. Is AMC 10 too advanced?
No. Foundation is designed for students entering competition math for the first time. Comfort with current school mathematics and willingness to stay with a hard problem matter more than prior contest experience.
My child has taken AMC 8. What changes at AMC 10?
AMC 10 is a substantial step up in content and reasoning. It draws on material through Grade 10 and often requires several linked steps. Most AMC 8 students benefit from Foundation before advancing.
What grade should my child be in to start?
Students in Grades 6–10 may be appropriate candidates. Readiness matters more than grade, while beginning in middle school provides more contest cycles for development.
How is this different from school mathematics?
School mathematics develops procedural fluency across a broad curriculum. Competition mathematics develops the ability to choose a method when a problem does not announce which method to use.
What is the placement assessment?
It is free and carries no obligation. We evaluate the four AMC 10 content areas and the student’s problem-solving approach, then recommend a specific starting stage and explain why.
Do you offer private tutoring?
Yes. Group classes and 1-on-1 instruction are available, and some families combine the two. We recommend an arrangement after the placement assessment.
Start With an Honest Assessment
The most important decision in competition mathematics is where a student begins. Our free placement assessment removes the guesswork and provides a specific recommendation about the right path forward.
Contact Us Back to Math Pathways
Book a Free Placement Assessment
4984 El Camino Real #102, Los Altos, CA 94022
XNEW Academy · After-school mathematics enrichment serving Los Altos, Mountain View, and Palo Alto families.