Speed Drill — 30 × 60s
Why this drill?
Q1-Q5 on AIMO are the guaranteed points. Strong students miss them not because the maths is hard, but because they rush, misread, or freeze. This drill forges the reflex: see → solve → write → next, in under a minute, every time.
1 · Timer is brutal
60 seconds. When it hits zero, the page auto-advances and locks your answer as a timeout. No going back.
2 · Integer answers only
Every problem in this drill has a verified integer answer (0-999 typical). Type the number, press Enter, move on.
3 · Skip is allowed
If you have no idea in 10 seconds, skip. Banking 30 seconds on a hard one is worse than locking 4 easy ones.
4 · Two rounds
Round 1 = diagnostic. After results, Round 2 reshuffles same problems for improvement focus. Track your delta.
Scoring & breakdown
After 30 problems you get:
- Total score — X/30 correct
- Per-category breakdown — Number Theory · Algebra · Geometry · Combinatorics
- Average solve time — average seconds-per-correct (the lower the better)
- Re-do list — every problem you missed, with the correct answer
Composition of the 30
Q1-Q2 · easy · 12 problems
2-mark warmups. These should be reflex answers — single concept, one or two steps. If you miss more than 1 of these, your fundamentals need a Week 1-5 review.
Q3-Q4 · medium · 12 problems
3-4 mark working problems. These need a strategy choice plus 2-4 steps of execution. Target: 10/12. This is where speed gains live.
Q5 · harder · 6 problems
4-mark bridge problems between Easy and Hard halves. Often a clever observation unlocks a 30-second solution. Target: 4/6.
Category mix
Problems are drawn from Number Theory, Algebra, Geometry, and Combinatorics in roughly even proportion. The mix is randomised per drill so two runs aren't identical even on Round 1.
The 60-second decision tree
The single biggest gain from this drill is learning when to not spend a minute. Use this tree on every problem:
- 0-10s · Read & recognise. Read the whole problem once. What category is it? Have you seen something like it before? If yes — go. If no — go to step 2.
- 10-20s · Pick a tool. NT → modular arithmetic / factorisation / digit-sum. ALG → substitute / factorise / Vieta's. GEO → coordinates / similar triangles / power of a point. COMB → casework / complement / pigeonhole.
- 20-40s · Execute. One direction only. If your tool isn't working after 20 seconds of honest work, abandon — don't switch tools mid-problem.
- 40-55s · Verify or skip. If you have an answer, sanity-check it once (units, sign, parity). If you don't, type your best integer guess and move on.
- 55-60s · Lock it. Press Save. Don't second-guess. The next problem might be a free 4 marks waiting for you.
Common time-traps to watch for
The "almost there" trap
You've spent 50 seconds, the answer is "just one more step away." It almost never is. If you're not done at 50s, lock your best guess and move. The opportunity cost is the next problem you won't get to.
The arithmetic trap
You picked the right method but botched 14 × 17. Slow your final arithmetic step by 5 seconds — that's the highest-leverage time in the whole minute.
The over-reading trap
Reading the problem three times "to be safe" costs you 25 seconds. Read once with focus. If you misread, the auto-advance will punish you exactly once and you'll stop doing it.
The category-mismatch trap
You're attacking a NT problem with algebra, or a geo problem with brute coordinates. If 20 seconds in you've made zero progress, the most likely cause is wrong-tool. Restart the diagnosis, don't push harder.
Round 1 vs Round 2 — what to track
Round 1 is your diagnostic photo. Don't game it. Don't pre-study the bank. The number that comes out is your honest current state.
Round 2 (same 30 problems, reshuffled) measures two things:
- Learning rate — how many missed problems did you internalise in the re-do gap between rounds?
- Reflex consistency — for problems you got right in Round 1, did Round 2 get faster, or did pressure undo you?
The target Round-2 delta is +3 to +5. Anything less means you didn't actually re-do the misses; anything more means Round 1 was nerves, not knowledge.
Category cheat sheet — recall before you start
Skim this list once before pressing Start. The point isn't to memorise it now — it's to tag the categories so your brain can route a problem in 3 seconds instead of 15.
Number Theory · NT
Digits & digit sums
If the problem mentions digits, think: sum of digits mod 9 = number mod 9. Last-digit problems usually reduce to mod 10. Trailing zeros of $n!$ = number of 5s in its factorisation.
Divisibility & factors
Number of divisors of $n = p_1^{a_1} p_2^{a_2} \cdots$ is $(a_1+1)(a_2+1)\cdots$. Sum of divisors is multiplicative. For "smallest $n$ such that…" problems, factorise the target first.
Modular arithmetic
Squares mod 4 are only 0 or 1. Squares mod 8 are 0, 1, 4. Squares mod 9 are 0, 1, 4, 7. Fermat's little theorem: $a^{p-1} \equiv 1 \pmod{p}$ if $\gcd(a,p)=1$.
GCD & LCM
$\gcd(a,b) \cdot \text{lcm}(a,b) = ab$. Bezout: $\gcd(a,b) = ax+by$ for some integers $x,y$. Euclidean algorithm runs in $\log$ time — use it on any "find gcd" problem instantly.
Algebra · ALG
Vieta's & symmetric sums
For $x^2 + bx + c = 0$: sum of roots $= -b$, product $= c$. For cubic $x^3 + px^2 + qx + r$: sum $= -p$, sum-of-products-pairs $= q$, product $= -r$. Many AIMO Q3-Q5 algebra problems collapse the moment you write Vieta's.
Substitution tricks
Symmetric in $a$ and $b$? Try $s = a+b$, $p = ab$. Reciprocal-symmetric in $x$? Divide by $x^k$ and let $y = x + 1/x$. Square root in a denominator? Rationalise immediately.
AM-GM & Cauchy
AM-GM: $\frac{a+b}{2} \ge \sqrt{ab}$, equality at $a=b$. Useful for "minimum of $a+b$ given $ab = k$" or vice versa. Cauchy-Schwarz: $(a_1^2+a_2^2)(b_1^2+b_2^2) \ge (a_1 b_1 + a_2 b_2)^2$.
Telescoping sums
If the problem is a sum with $\frac{1}{k(k+1)}$ style terms, partial-fraction it: $\frac{1}{k(k+1)} = \frac{1}{k} - \frac{1}{k+1}$. Almost every "find the sum to 99 terms" problem telescopes.
Geometry · GEO
Angle chasing
Sum of angles in a triangle is 180°. Exterior angle = sum of two remote interior. Cyclic quadrilateral: opposite angles sum to 180°. If you see a circle, look for inscribed angles — half the central angle subtending the same arc.
Similar triangles
If two angles match, the triangles are similar; ratios of all sides are equal. The biggest source of Q3-Q5 geometry shortcuts is spotting two similar triangles sharing an angle or a side.
Area tools
Heron's: $A = \sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}$ where $s$ is the semi-perimeter. For a triangle with two sides $a, b$ and included angle $C$: $A = \frac{1}{2} ab \sin C$. Coordinates: shoelace formula for any polygon.
Power of a point
For a point $P$ and a circle, the product of signed lengths along any line through $P$ is constant. Great for chord/secant problems. Equivalent to similar triangles in disguise — but faster.
Combinatorics · COMB
Casework vs complement
If the problem asks "how many ways such that X", try the complement: count "ways such that not-X" and subtract from total. Often the complement is one clean count, while the direct version is five messy cases.
Stars and bars
Number of ways to put $n$ identical balls into $k$ distinct boxes = $\binom{n+k-1}{k-1}$. With "at least one per box" constraint: $\binom{n-1}{k-1}$. Memorise both; they cover most COMB Q3-Q4.
Pigeonhole
If $n+1$ pigeons are in $n$ holes, some hole has at least 2. Generalised: with $kn+1$ pigeons in $n$ holes, some hole has $\ge k+1$. The trigger phrase is "prove that at least…" or "must there exist…".
Probability shortcut
$P(\text{event}) = \frac{\text{favourable}}{\text{total}}$ — but in olympiad problems, both numerator and denominator are usually $\binom{n}{k}$ expressions. Reduce the fraction before multiplying out — the cancellations are the whole point.
Pre-flight checklist (30 seconds)
Before you press Start, do this once:
- Pen and paper ready. The drill is on screen, but your scratch work is on paper. Don't try to do this in your head.
- Phone away. Notification at 28s of a 60s window = lost problem.
- Calculator off. AIMO is no-calculator. Practising with one builds the wrong reflexes.
- Water within reach. 30 minutes of intense focus dehydrates you faster than you think.
- One deep breath. Tension on Q1 ripples to Q30. Start calm.
What "good" looks like at each level
| Round-1 score | Verdict | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| 27-30 | Elite reflex | Spend the rest of Week 21 on Q6-Q10 (Part 3 Hard Half). |
| 25-26 | Target hit | Re-do misses cold tonight; run Round 2 tomorrow morning for stickiness. |
| 20-24 | Strong but leaky | Pattern-spot the misses by category. The category with worst accuracy is your week's drill focus. |
| 15-19 | Foundations wobbly | Re-do all misses slowly (no clock). Re-run drill in 48 hours. |
| < 15 | Slow down | Drop back to Week 1-5 fundamentals. Come back to this drill when you can do AIMO Q1-Q2 untimed at 95%+. |
Three worked walkthroughs — what a 60-second solve actually looks like
Before you start, watch what the "60-second decision tree" looks like in practice on three sample problems. These aren't in the drill — they're illustrative.
Walkthrough 1 · NT · easy (Q1-Q2 style)
Problem
Find the smallest positive integer $n$ such that $n^2 + n$ is divisible by 12.
60-second solve
0-5s · Read. Category: NT, divisibility. Recognise: $n^2 + n = n(n+1)$ is a product of consecutive integers.
5-20s · Pick the tool. $12 = 4 \times 3$. Product of two consecutive integers is always even (one of them is even). For divisibility by 4, need one of $n, n+1$ to be divisible by 4. For divisibility by 3, need one of $n, n+1$ to be a multiple of 3.
20-35s · Execute. Try $n=1$: $1 \cdot 2 = 2$, no. $n=2$: $2 \cdot 3 = 6$, no. $n=3$: $3 \cdot 4 = 12$, yes! Divisible by 12.
35-40s · Verify. $12 / 12 = 1$. Check. Answer: $n = 3$.
Total: 40s. Margin: 20s. Lock and move on. Don't waste the buffer.
Walkthrough 2 · GEO · medium (Q3-Q4 style)
Problem
In triangle $ABC$, $AB = 13$, $BC = 14$, $CA = 15$. Find the area.
60-second solve
0-5s · Read. Category: GEO, area of triangle with three sides given. Trigger: Heron's formula.
5-15s · Pick the tool. Semi-perimeter $s = (13 + 14 + 15) / 2 = 21$.
15-40s · Execute. $A = \sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)} = \sqrt{21 \cdot 8 \cdot 7 \cdot 6}$. Group cleverly: $21 \cdot 6 = 126$ and $8 \cdot 7 = 56$. So $A = \sqrt{126 \cdot 56}$. Better: $21 \cdot 8 \cdot 7 \cdot 6 = (21 \cdot 7) \cdot (8 \cdot 6) = 147 \cdot 48$. Better still: $\sqrt{21 \cdot 8 \cdot 7 \cdot 6} = \sqrt{(3 \cdot 7) \cdot (2^3) \cdot 7 \cdot (2 \cdot 3)} = \sqrt{2^4 \cdot 3^2 \cdot 7^2} = 4 \cdot 3 \cdot 7 = 84$.
40-50s · Verify. 13-14-15 is a famous triangle. Area 84. Check.
Total: 50s. Margin: 10s. Lock. The "verify" step was 5 seconds well-spent — Heron's is arithmetic-heavy.
Walkthrough 3 · ALG · harder (Q5 style)
Problem
Let $x, y$ be positive real numbers with $x + y = 10$ and $xy = 21$. Find $x^3 + y^3$.
60-second solve
0-5s · Read. Category: ALG, symmetric in $x$ and $y$. Trigger: Newton's identities / symmetric-sum identity for $x^3 + y^3$.
5-15s · Pick the tool. Identity: $x^3 + y^3 = (x+y)^3 - 3xy(x+y)$.
15-35s · Execute. $(x+y)^3 = 10^3 = 1000$. $3xy(x+y) = 3 \cdot 21 \cdot 10 = 630$. So $x^3 + y^3 = 1000 - 630 = 370$.
35-45s · Verify. Solve quadratic: $t^2 - 10t + 21 = 0 \Rightarrow t = 3, 7$. So $\{x, y\} = \{3, 7\}$. Then $3^3 + 7^3 = 27 + 343 = 370$. Check.
Total: 45s. Margin: 15s. The verification by solving the quadratic was insurance — on a Q5 you can afford 10 seconds to double-check.
The single most important habit
If you only take one thing from this drill brief, take this:
Write the answer in the box at 40 seconds, even if you're not sure. Use the last 20 seconds to either improve it or move on. Never enter the final 5 seconds with an empty box.
This one rule alone typically lifts a student's score by 2-4 problems out of 30, because timeouts with an empty box are zero, whereas timeouts with even a roughly-guessed answer have a non-zero chance of being right.
FAQ
What if I finish in 20 seconds — should I move on early?
Yes. Press Save & Next. The timer is a maximum, not a target. Banking 40 seconds gives you a buffer for a harder problem later. Many top scorers finish the easy 12 in under 4 minutes total, leaving ~26 minutes for the medium and hard problems.
What if I'm completely stuck at 30 seconds?
Skip. Don't burn the full minute. Skipping costs you potential marks on that one problem, but burning the minute costs you marks on a problem you might've solved instead.
What if the integer answer is huge — like 12345?
It can be. AIMO Q1-Q5 answers are typically 0-999, but some go higher. The input field accepts up to 6 digits. Don't worry about the size; type what you get.
What if I make an arithmetic mistake?
You'll see it in the re-do list. Tag it as "(c) arithmetic slip" during your 20-minute review. If you have more than 3 of these in one drill, your scratch-work discipline needs work — write bigger, write neater, verify products before moving on.
How often should I run this drill?
During final-sprint weeks (Weeks 20-22): 3-4 times per week, ideally Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun. Track the trend, not any single score. Look for the Round-1 baseline rising week-on-week — that's the only metric that matters.
Mental math micro-drills (do these once before pressing Start)
The single largest source of avoidable misses on Q1-Q5 is slow mental arithmetic. Run through these 30 prompts quickly — they'll warm up the same circuits the drill will hammer. Aim for under 2 seconds each. If any one takes more than 5 seconds, circle it for slow practice this week.
Multiplication reflexes
| Prompt | Answer | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| $13 \times 17$ | 221 | $(15-2)(15+2) = 225-4$ trick — every AIMO student should own this. |
| $14 \times 16$ | 224 | Same trick: $(15-1)(15+1) = 225 - 1$. |
| $24 \times 25$ | 600 | $25 \cdot n = n \cdot 100 / 4$. So $24 \cdot 25 = 2400/4 = 600$. |
| $19 \times 21$ | 399 | $(20-1)(20+1) = 400 - 1$. |
| $27 \times 33$ | 891 | $(30-3)(30+3) = 900 - 9$. |
| $11 \times 13$ | 143 | Memorise this — it shows up in $11 \cdot 13 = 143$ factorisations constantly. |
| $12 \times 17$ | 204 | $12 \cdot 17 = 12 \cdot 16 + 12 = 192 + 12 = 204$. |
| $15 \times 18$ | 270 | $15 \cdot 18 = 15 \cdot 20 - 15 \cdot 2 = 300 - 30 = 270$. |
Squares and cubes to memorise
| Squares | Cubes |
|---|---|
| $11^2 = 121$ | $2^3 = 8$, $3^3 = 27$ |
| $12^2 = 144$ | $4^3 = 64$, $5^3 = 125$ |
| $13^2 = 169$ | $6^3 = 216$, $7^3 = 343$ |
| $14^2 = 196$ | $8^3 = 512$, $9^3 = 729$ |
| $15^2 = 225$ | $10^3 = 1000$, $11^3 = 1331$ |
| $16^2 = 256$ | $12^3 = 1728$, $13^3 = 2197$ |
| $17^2 = 289$ | $2^4 = 16$, $2^5 = 32$ |
| $18^2 = 324$ | $2^{10} = 1024$, $2^{16} = 65536$ |
| $19^2 = 361$ | $3^4 = 81$, $3^5 = 243$ |
| $20^2 = 400$, $25^2 = 625$ | $5^4 = 625$, $6^4 = 1296$ |
Primes to know cold (under 100)
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97
If a number under 100 isn't in this list, it's composite. Test for primality of $n$ up to 200 by checking divisibility against primes up to $\sqrt{n}$ — for $n < 200$, that means primes up to 14, so just 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13. Six divisions max.
Famous Pythagorean triples
If a problem gives two sides of a right triangle, the third is often in this list. Recognising a triple saves 20 seconds of computation.
| Triple | Multiples that appear |
|---|---|
| 3-4-5 | 6-8-10, 9-12-15, 12-16-20, 15-20-25 |
| 5-12-13 | 10-24-26, 15-36-39 |
| 8-15-17 | 16-30-34 |
| 7-24-25 | 14-48-50 |
| 20-21-29 | — |
| 9-40-41 | — |
Common AIMO problem patterns by question slot
Across 30+ years of AIMO papers, each question slot has a characteristic flavour. Pattern-spotting these saves you 5-10 seconds of "what kind of problem is this?" thinking at the top of each minute.
Q1 (2 marks) — usually a single-step computation
Q1 is the warm-up. It tests one concept, executed cleanly. Examples of typical Q1 templates:
- "Find the smallest multiple of 15 such that…" → digit constraint, simple search.
- "Evaluate $\frac{a}{b} + \frac{c}{d}$ where…" → fraction arithmetic, no twist.
- "How many positive integers $n \le 100$ satisfy…" → divisibility count, inclusion-exclusion of two conditions.
- "If $f(x) = ax+b$ and $f(1)=3, f(2)=5$, find $f(10)$." → linear function recovery.
Speed target: under 30 seconds.
Q2 (2 marks) — single concept with one twist
Q2 is Q1 with one extra layer of substitution or reframing. Examples:
- "In a sequence $a_1, a_2, \ldots$ with $a_{n+1} = 2a_n - 1$ and $a_1 = 3$, find $a_5$." → recursion, just plug in.
- "A square has area 144. What is the perimeter of a regular hexagon with the same area?" → reverse the area formula twice.
- "Find the units digit of $7^{100}$." → modular arithmetic, cycle length 4.
- "How many positive integer pairs $(a,b)$ satisfy $a+b=20$ with $a \le b$?" → simple counting with order constraint.
Speed target: under 40 seconds.
Q3 (3 marks) — two concepts combined
Q3 is where the drill starts biting. You need to spot two things: the right setup, and the right execution path. Typical templates:
- "A regular polygon has each interior angle equal to 144°. How many sides?" → interior angle formula + linear solve.
- "Find the sum of all positive divisors of 360." → factorise + sum-of-divisors formula.
- "In triangle $ABC$ with $AB=AC$ and $\angle A = 40°$, point $D$ on $BC$ with $AD = BD$. Find $\angle DAC$." → isosceles + angle chase.
- "How many ways to arrange the letters of MATHS so no two vowels are adjacent?" → casework with placement.
Speed target: under 50 seconds.
Q4 (3-4 marks) — multi-step execution
Q4 requires three or more steps from setup to answer. You should still be at the recognise → execute level, but the execution itself is longer. Examples:
- "The roots of $x^3 - 6x^2 + 11x - 6 = 0$ are $a, b, c$. Find $a^2 + b^2 + c^2$." → Vieta's + identity $(a+b+c)^2 - 2(ab+bc+ca)$.
- "How many four-digit numbers have digits in strictly increasing order?" → $\binom{9}{4}$ once you spot the bijection.
- "In quadrilateral $ABCD$, diagonals meet at $E$, with given lengths… Find area." → similar triangles + area ratios.
- "Find the largest $n$ such that $n^2 + 20n + 100$ is divisible by $n+5$." → polynomial division + bound.
Speed target: full 60 seconds is reasonable. Don't panic if you use the whole minute.
Q5 (4 marks) — bridge problem
Q5 is the boundary between the "easy half" and the "hard half" of AIMO. Sometimes it's a clean Q3-style problem with one harder twist; sometimes it's almost Q6-difficulty. The 60-second window is tight. If at 30 seconds you're nowhere, skip and come back if time permits in a real exam. In this drill, you can't come back — so make your best guess at 55s.
- "Find all positive integers $n$ such that $n^2 + n + 1$ is a perfect square." → bound between consecutive squares.
- "In the figure, three circles of radius 1 are mutually tangent. Find the area of the curvilinear triangle between them." → equilateral triangle area minus three sectors.
- "How many positive integers less than 1000 have digit-sum exactly 12?" → stars and bars with cap, inclusion-exclusion.
- "Real numbers $a, b, c$ satisfy $a+b+c=0$ and $a^2+b^2+c^2=6$. Find $a^4+b^4+c^4$." → Newton's identities.
What the timer ring tells you
The yellow countdown ring at the top-left of each problem isn't decorative — use it as a decision signal.
Ring at 75%+ (60-45s left)
You're in the comfort zone. Read carefully, plan deliberately. If the problem feels easy, don't rush — careful is faster than fast-and-wrong.
Ring at 50% (30s left)
Decision point. If you have a clear path, execute. If you don't have a clear path, you have 25 seconds — pick a tool and commit, or skip now.
Ring at 25% (15s left)
Lock something in the box. Even a rough estimate beats an empty box. Your job now is "least bad answer", not "perfect answer".
Ring turns red (10s left)
Press Save now if there's anything in the box. The auto-advance will trigger your locked value as a timeout — fine, but voluntary save is cleaner.
Six sample problems with timed solutions
These six examples cover the range of difficulty and category you'll see in the drill. Each is presented with a full 60-second walkthrough so you can calibrate your own pace before pressing Start.
Sample 1 · Q1 · NT
Problem
What is the units digit of $2024^{2024}$?
Solution (target 30s)
Units digit of $2024^k$ depends only on units digit of $4^k$. The cycle of units digits of $4^k$ is $4, 6, 4, 6, \ldots$ — period 2. Since 2024 is even, units digit is $6$.
Answer: 6.
Sample 2 · Q2 · ALG
Problem
If $x + \frac{1}{x} = 5$, find $x^2 + \frac{1}{x^2}$.
Solution (target 30s)
Square both sides: $\left(x + \frac{1}{x}\right)^2 = x^2 + 2 + \frac{1}{x^2} = 25$. So $x^2 + \frac{1}{x^2} = 25 - 2 = 23$.
Answer: 23.
Sample 3 · Q3 · COMB
Problem
How many three-digit positive integers have all distinct digits?
Solution (target 45s)
First digit: 9 choices (1-9). Second digit: 9 choices (0-9 minus first). Third digit: 8 choices. Total: $9 \cdot 9 \cdot 8 = 648$.
Answer: 648.
Sample 4 · Q4 · GEO
Problem
A circle is inscribed in a right triangle with legs 6 and 8. Find the radius of the inscribed circle.
Solution (target 50s)
Hypotenuse: $\sqrt{36+64} = 10$ (Pythagorean triple 6-8-10). For a right triangle with legs $a, b$ and hypotenuse $c$, inradius $r = \frac{a+b-c}{2} = \frac{6+8-10}{2} = 2$.
Verification by area: $A = \frac{1}{2} \cdot 6 \cdot 8 = 24$. Semi-perimeter $s = (6+8+10)/2 = 12$. $r = A/s = 24/12 = 2$. Check.
Answer: 2.
Sample 5 · Q4 · NT
Problem
How many positive integer divisors does $720$ have?
Solution (target 45s)
Factorise: $720 = 2^4 \cdot 3^2 \cdot 5$. Number of divisors: $(4+1)(2+1)(1+1) = 5 \cdot 3 \cdot 2 = 30$.
Answer: 30.
Sample 6 · Q5 · ALG
Problem
Find the sum of all positive integer values of $n$ such that $\frac{n+12}{n-3}$ is a positive integer.
Solution (target 60s)
Rewrite: $\frac{n+12}{n-3} = \frac{(n-3) + 15}{n-3} = 1 + \frac{15}{n-3}$. For the expression to be a positive integer, $n-3$ must be a positive divisor of 15.
Positive divisors of 15: $1, 3, 5, 15$. So $n - 3 \in \{1, 3, 5, 15\}$, giving $n \in \{4, 6, 8, 18\}$.
Sum: $4 + 6 + 8 + 18 = 36$.
Answer: 36.
One last thing — your physical setup
This isn't a software drill. It's a habits drill that uses software as the metronome. Before you press Start, set up your physical environment like an exam:
- Desk clear except: this screen, pen, scratch paper, water. Nothing else.
- Chair height: elbows at 90°, screen at eye level. Bad posture kills focus in 10 minutes.
- Lighting: overhead or behind-you light. Not in front of you (screen glare).
- Noise: total silence or white noise. Music with lyrics steals working memory.
- Time of day: ideally the same time you'll sit AIMO — typically 9-11am on a Thursday. Train your nervous system on the right schedule.
- Breakfast: protein + complex carbs 60-90 min before. No sugar spikes. No empty stomach.
If even one of these is off, fix it before starting. The 30 minutes you'll spend on the drill is too valuable to waste on a setup you wouldn't accept on exam day.
After the drill — the 20-minute review
Don't close this page when results show. Spend exactly 20 minutes on this protocol:
- 5 min · Misses by category. Look at the per-category table. Which category had the worst accuracy? Write it at the top of your scratch paper.
- 10 min · Cold re-do of misses. Re-do every missed problem on paper, without a clock. Don't peek at the answer until you've genuinely tried for 2-3 minutes per problem.
- 3 min · Tag the cause. For each miss, tag it: (a) didn't know the method, (b) knew method but slow, (c) arithmetic slip, (d) misread the problem. The tag tells you what to fix.
- 2 min · Errorbook check. Your misses are auto-saved to localStorage under
aimoErrors_W21_SpeedDrillwith their tags ready for the Week 21 Part 5 errorbook review.
Speed Drill Results
By category
| Category | Score | Accuracy | Avg time |
|---|