<p>I assume this still exists, but I may be out of date…</p>
<p>Ever hear of the USAMTS? Stands for USA Math Talent Search. It’s a different kind of contest. Too late for this year, but it usually starts in August. You can get the questions on-line or by mail. (So you don’t have to lose your “cool” image, 'cause nobody needs to know unless you do so well that you get your name published in the next report.) You get a certain amount of time to do a set of problems. It used to be about three weeks or a month. So, the emphasis isn’t on speed. They keep track of points and send out copies of the best solutions submitted to the last set in each new one, with the name of the kids who did them. It’s an alternative method of qualifying for the AIME–at least it used to be. </p>
<p>It works for some kids–you can just challenge yourself by doing problems and sending them off to be scored and comparing your answers to the best ones submitted. But in an odd way it’s not as competitive because you aren’t sitting there in a room with lots of kids competing. Some kids who don’t do well in stress situations enjoy them and some kids who’d rather not spend time with the “geeks” at school do too. It might work well for your son–hope so ;)!</p>