A Step-by-Step Roadmap from Fundamentals to the Top 1%
The 2026 AMC 8 Mathematics Competition has concluded. For many students, the next natural goal is the AMC 10. After AMC 8, parents and students often ask the same questions:
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Which grade levels are eligible for AMC 10?
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What topics are tested in AMC 10?
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How difficult is AMC 10 compared to AMC 8?
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How should students at different grade levels plan their preparation?
Today, AMC 10 has become a must-participate mathematics competition for students in international schools worldwide.
Introduction to the AMC Mathematics Competitions
The American Mathematics Competition (AMC) is organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). Established in 1950, the AMC series now attracts over 300,000 students from more than 6,000 schools globally each year.
The AMC program consists of a progression of contests: AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME, designed to identify top-performing students who may advance to the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO). From there, elite students are selected to attend the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP), where six team members are ultimately chosen to represent the United States at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).
This system is comparable to China’s National High School Mathematics League in terms of structure and academic prestige.
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High scorers in AMC 12 + AIME are invited to USAMO
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High scorers in AMC 10 + AIME are invited to USAJMO
The AIME is significantly more challenging than AMC 10 or AMC 12, and only students with outstanding AMC scores can qualify.
AMC 10 Competition Overview
Target Participants
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Students in Grade 10 or below
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Must be no older than 17.5 years old on the exam date
Exam Schedule
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Held annually in November
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Two versions: AMC 10A and AMC 10B
Format
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Online examination
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Bilingual (English & Chinese)
Duration
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75 minutes
Question Type
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25 multiple-choice questions (5 options)
Scoring Rules
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Correct answer: 6 points
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Unanswered: 1.5 points
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Incorrect answer: 0 points
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Calculators are not permitted
AMC 10 Awards & Score Benchmarks
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Honor Roll of Distinction: Top 1% worldwide
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Certificate of Distinction: Top 5% worldwide
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Certificate of Achievement: Students in Grade 8 or below scoring 90+
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AIME Qualification Certificate: Awarded to students who meet the AIME cutoff score
Why Is AMC 10 So Valuable?
As standardized test scores become increasingly similar among applicants, high-level academic competitions play a critical role in differentiating students.
AMC results are widely recognized by top universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and beyond. Institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon University explicitly allow applicants to submit AMC and AIME scores on their application portals, highlighting the competition’s academic credibility.
Chinese students, who traditionally excel in mathematics, are especially well-positioned to leverage AMC competitions as a direct pathway to elite universities.
Additionally, AMC competitions help schools identify students with genuine mathematical reasoning ability—not just those skilled in memorization or formula application. The carefully structured difficulty range allows students of different levels to be distributed naturally across score bands, providing admissions committees with meaningful data.
AMC content also overlaps significantly with IB, A-Level, and other international curricula, making it academically efficient for students.
AMC 10 Registration Channels
Students from international schools, international divisions of public schools, or U.S. middle and high schools usually register through their schools or authorized testing partners.
Common Registration Platforms
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ASDAN (China)
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AMC China Official Platform (math-table.com)
While exam content and timing are identical across platforms, result release dates and cutoff announcements may vary slightly.
AMC 10 Content Coverage
AMC 10 generally covers material from Grade 9 to early Grade 10, including:
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Elementary Algebra
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Plane Geometry
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Number Theory
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Probability
Topics not included: trigonometry, advanced algebra, advanced geometry, or calculus.
Topic Weight Distribution
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Algebra & Geometry: Over 60% of the exam
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Algebra: 8–10 questions (core focus)
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Geometry: 6–8 questions
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Number Theory: 4–6 questions
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Probability & Combinatorics: 3–5 questions
For students following international curricula, number theory and geometry often feel less familiar and require targeted preparation.
How to Prepare Effectively for AMC 10
Given the strong mathematical foundation of most Chinese students, it is possible to solve some AMC problems without preparation. However, AMC success is not about passing—it is about scoring high.
To achieve top results, students must develop:
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Deep conceptual understanding
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Advanced problem-solving techniques
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Efficient time management strategies
1. Practice with Past Papers Strategically
Completing at least 5 years of official AMC 10 past papers is highly recommended. Based on historical performance data:
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Questions 1–15: ≥90% accuracy
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Questions 16–20: ≥60% accuracy
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Questions 21–25: ≥40% accuracy
2. Build a Structured Study Plan
Set weekly goals for problem-solving volume and topic focus. Always practice without calculators or external tools to simulate real exam conditions and build speed and accuracy.
3. Identify Weaknesses and Final-Stage Optimization
In the final month before the exam, time is limited. Focus on reviewing mistake logs, reinforcing weak topics, and consolidating proven strategies. Targeted revision during this phase often leads to rapid score improvement and more reliable award outcomes.