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Criteria for AMC Awards
The following awards have been awarded on a similar basis since the inception of the AMC.
BH Neumann and Peter O'Halloran Certificates
Irrespective of the Awards below, any student who achieves a perfect score until 2007 was awarded
a BH Neumann Certificate,
in honour of Professor BH Neumann AC, foundation Professor of Mathematics in the research School
of Mathematical and
Physical Sciences at the Australian National University.
From 2008 this Certicate is in the name of
Peter O'Halloran OAM FACE (1931-1994), foundation Executive
Director of the Australian Mathematics Trust.
AWARDS
All students will receive one of the awards listed below according to the criteria stated.
In the first instance each student is given a score based on different weightings for different
questions. The method for
calculating this score can be found here. This is different than using the
number of correct
responses out of 30.
It should also be noted that awards up to the level of cash prizes are decided by comparison only
within the
region and year level of the student. For example a student in a certain year in an Australian state
or another country
will only be compared for the purpose of a certificate or prize with other students in the same group.
As a result there
will be different cutoffs for awards between Australian states (which each have their own curriculum)
and various countries.
These cutoffs are not published because they may be prone to misleading interpretations.
PRIZE
A prize is awarded generally to no more that 1 student for every 300 students within their region
and year group, the
value of a prize depending on issues such as sponsorship money available.
HIGH DISTINCTION
A High Distinction Certificate is awarded to a student who has not received a higher award but
is in the top 2% of their
year and region (top 5% for Senior).
DISTINCTION
A Distinction Certificate is awarded to a student who has not received a higher award but is in the top
15% (25% for Senior)
of their year and region.
CREDIT
A Credit Certificate is awarded to a student who has not received a higher award but is in the top
50% (60% for Senior)
of their year and region.
PROFICIENCY IN MATHEMATICS SKILLS AND PROBLEM SOLVING
This Certificate is awarded to a student who has not received a Credit (or higher) certificate, but
who has nonetheless received a satisfactory score indicating satisfactory competence at mathematics
and problem solving with mathematics. Students who score 32 points are guaranteed at least this certificate,
but this might be lower if the exam has been deemed to be more difficult in their year level. The score as
determined in Australia becomes the benchmark score for awarding this certificate in other countries, and
is typically a recognition that they have reached a satisfactory level of mathematical
and problem solving skills by Australian standards.
This certificate is awarded for the first time in 2008.
PARTICIPATION
A Participation Certificate is awarded to a student who has not received a higher award but has participated
in the AMC.
PRUDENCE AWARD
This will be awarded to the student in each school with the highest number of consecutive correct
responses starting
from question 1. If there is a tie more than one such Award can be given within a school.
In order for the Award to be given the school needs to have an entry of at least 50
students and the winner must have
at least the first ten answers correct.
Note, this replaces the former Special Achievement Award.
MEDAL
Each year the AMF Committee awards a number of medals to students at Secondary levels.
The number allocated is about 1 for
every 10,000 students entered. These are awarded on the judgement of the committee to
students who are outstanding within their
region (Australian State or Territory or other country), within their year group and
internationally. Within a region and year group
is generally interpreted as meaning that no more than three such students can be
deemed to be outstanding. If it is necessary to
distinguish ties, including perfect scores, a second round of the competition shall be
held, generally within six weeks of the
main round. A prize, whose value will depend on such issues as sponsorship, is normally
awarded to a medallist.
Waiver
The AMF reserves the right not to give, or to vary, an award or
level of certificate if there
is reason to believe the student did not write the AMC under normal professional school supervision.
Competition Managers may open the package containg exam papers when they arrive at the school
for the purpose of checking that all are there, but the package should then be locked in a safe place until
the morning of the Competition.
Competition Managers, or anyone who might be seen to have access to sealed
envelopes are strongly advised to take special
precautions if they have family members writing the AMC, to ensure that they are,
and are seen to be, at arm's length from the
process in their school.
The above waivers also apply when it is found that papers are written at a time or date
outside those prescribed. On no
account should anyone write the paper before the scheduled date, and those writing after the
scheduled date will be subject to the
above waivers. Such students can become ineligible for prizes.
Because some questions appear on more than one paper, students writing more than one exam will be subject to the same waiver.
Students will be fully eligible for prizes or medals only for the first paper written.
The AMF also reserves the right to re-examine any student for any reason.
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