From AMC 8 to the International Mathematical Olympiad.
A complete English guide to AMC 8, AMC 10/12, AIME and USA(J)MO — eligibility, formats, exam dates, past papers and preparation.
Built for students in China and at international schools worldwide. Twenty-five problems. Forty to seventy-five minutes. One pathway that starts here.
The competitions, from AMC 8 to the Olympiad
The AMC is a ladder. Each rung is a real examination administered by the Mathematical Association of America, and a strong score opens the next.
AMC 8
AMC 10 / 12
AIME & beyond
The China region runs on its own schedule
If you study at a school in mainland China, you register through the China-region channel, sit bilingual (Chinese / English) papers, and follow a local calendar. One rule matters most: students enrolled at American or Canadian schools cannot sit the exam in the China region. We help you register on time and choose the right paper.
Practise with real papers, prepare with a plan
The surest preparation for the AMC is the AMC itself — worked through honestly, one problem at a time.
Past papers
Authentic AMC 8, 10, 12, AIME and USA(J)MO papers with answer keys — the single most valuable preparation resource, organised by competition and year.
Browse past papersPreparation
Recommended textbooks, topic guides and coaching for every level, from a first AMC 8 to AIME qualification — matched to where a student is now.
See preparation resourcesLatest guides & updates
Frequently asked questions
What is the AMC?
The American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) are a series of examinations administered by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) since 1950. They begin with the AMC 8 for middle-school students and continue through the AMC 10, AMC 12, the AIME, and the USA (Junior) Mathematical Olympiad — the pathway by which the United States selects its International Mathematical Olympiad team. Each year more than 300,000 students in over 30 countries take part.
Who can take the AMC 8, 10 and 12?
The AMC 8 is open to students in grade 8 or below who are under 15.5 years old on exam day. The AMC 10 is for students in grade 10 or below, under 17.5; the AMC 12 is for grade 12 or below, under 19.5. A younger student may sit a higher exam if they meet its grade and age limits.
How is the AMC scored, and how do I qualify for the AIME?
The AMC 8 awards 1 point per correct answer (maximum 25). The AMC 10 and 12 award 6 points for a correct answer and 1.5 points for a blank, with a maximum of 150. Students with a high enough AMC 10 or AMC 12 score are invited to the AIME, the next stage on the road to the USA(J)MO and the IMO.
How is the China region different?
Students at schools in mainland China register through the China-region channel rather than directly with the MAA, sit bilingual Chinese / English papers, and follow a local exam calendar (AMC 8 in January; AMC 10/12 in November). Students enrolled at American or Canadian schools cannot take the exam in the China region. See our China region guide for full details.
Are calculators allowed?
No. Calculators are not permitted on the AMC 8, AMC 10 or AMC 12. The problems are designed to reward mathematical insight rather than computation.
How should my child prepare?
The most effective preparation is working through authentic past papers under timed conditions, then carefully studying the solutions. Pair this with targeted study of the core topics — counting and probability, number theory, algebra and geometry — at a level matched to the student. Our preparation resources and past papers are organised for exactly this.