Well... That's kind of a vague question, but I'll tell you what it'll take to become competative: practice. You can get practice tests out the wazoo from www.texasmath.org. If you take a timed test once everyday, you'll get awesome. It should take about a month to see competative improvements. If you compliment this with going through the stuff on the math-magic website, you'll be that much better. Its important that you understand the logic behind each "trick", so that you'll develop your own unique approach to each test. Always be on the lookout for faster ways to do things. Look for ways to manipulate the numbers so that the math is easier. Take a few tests, and then post the questions you have. We'll be complete in how to do each problem, so dont be afraid that people will call you dumb because we've all had to start at sometime or another. Just remember that we can't help unless you ask about specific types of problems. You keep posting and we'll keep posting.

Zack

I went to the Seven Lakes Comp Sci meet on the 7th, but I havent been able to go to a math/science meet yet. I am going to the Oconner meet this weekend, and it should be awesome. I've been practicing in NS, and my score fluctuates from about a 150 to a 220, depending on the difficulty of the test. I've also seen pretty good improvements in calc and math as well. My science score is usally around 150, so I actually have a chance at Top Gun... SWEET! I should be able to do well in CS as well, so I'm looking forward to this tourney. Anyone else been to a meet?

       CS Meets are fun if you have a good group of buddies and good computer games, then they're great. If you go in a little too ambitious and you don't place (which is very possible at meets where 200+ scores dont place in written or 70+ scores dont place in hands-on), then they're not that fun. I've only been to the Seven Lakes meet so I can't really speak from too much experience, but I had fun. I kind of wanted to do more that day, though... I missed the math/science events. I wouldn't suggest going to one on a weekend when you could be going to a math/science meet instead... but if you're really serious about CS, then I'd try to make an effort to go to the Midloathian meet on the 18th of November. I think I'm going, but I'm not sure...

Well, I'm gonna go study some for the contest this weekend. I'll post my results as soon as I get them, no matter how embarrassing my scores are!

Zack