Complete Guide with AMC 10 Preparation Resources
Pre-registration for the 2026 AMC 10/12 is now open. Hanlin is an officially authorized AMC-China test center.
The AMC 10 is one of the most prestigious and widely recognized mathematics competitions for middle school students. As an intermediate-level math contest, it attracts a large number of students worldwide and is especially popular among international school students. It is also a key stepping stone for students aiming to qualify for AIME.
For many students preparing for AMC 10, the most common and unavoidable questions are:
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What score is required to qualify for AIME?
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How many questions do you need to answer correctly to reach the top 5% or top 1%?
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the AMC 10, scoring strategies, recent score cutoffs, and a practical preparation roadmap.
Understanding the AMC 10 Competition
1. Scoring Rules
The AMC 10 consists of 25 multiple-choice questions with a total testing time of 75 minutes.
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Questions 1–10: Basic level
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Questions 11–20: Medium difficulty
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Questions 21–25: High difficulty, significant score separators
Scoring system:
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Correct answer: 6 points
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Unanswered question: 1.5 points
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Incorrect answer: 0 points
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Maximum score: 150 points
There are two critical takeaways from this scoring rule:
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Leaving a question blank is better than guessing incorrectly.
Skipping a question earns 1.5 points, while an incorrect answer earns zero. -
Total score is determined by the combination of correct and unanswered questions, not simply by how many questions you attempt.
2. Recent AMC 10 Score Cutoffs
AMC 10A
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AIME Qualification Cutoff
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2025: 105
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2024: 94.5
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Change: +10.5
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Honor Roll (Top 1%)
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2025: 136.5
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2024: 132
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Change: +4.5
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Distinction
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2025: 112.5
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2024: 105
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Change: +7.5
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AMC 10B
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AIME Qualification Cutoff
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2025: 99
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2024: 105
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Change: −6
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Honor Roll (Top 1%)
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2025: 133.5
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2024: 135
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Change: −1.5
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Distinction
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2025: 105
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2024: 112.5
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Score Strategies for Different Goals
Goal 1: Qualify for AIME
Target score: 100+
A highly reliable strategy is:
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15 correct answers + 10 unanswered
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Score calculation: 6 × 15 + 1.5 × 10 = 105 points
This score comfortably exceeds the AIME qualification cutoff for most years.
Key strategy:
Focus on ensuring high accuracy in the first 15 questions, which are mostly foundational and manageable with solid preparation. Even answering just 1–2 additional questions correctly in the remaining section can boost the score by another 6–12 points.
Goal 2: Reach the Top 5%
Target score: 110+
Recommended strategy:
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18 correct answers + 7 unanswered
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Score calculation: 6 × 18 + 1.5 × 7 = 118.5 points
This score meets the top 5% cutoff for most AMC 10 exams in the past three years.
Key strategy:
Success at this level depends heavily on Questions 16–20, which typically require combining two or three concepts. During preparation, students should aim to answer at least 3 of these 5 questions correctly, in addition to getting the first 15 questions right.
Goal 3: Reach the Top 1%
Target score: 130+
Recommended strategy:
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21 correct answers + 4 unanswered
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Score calculation: 6 × 21 + 1.5 × 4 = 132 points
This score satisfies the Top 1% requirement for recent AMC 10A exams.
Key strategy:
The main challenge lies in Questions 21–25, which are designed as high-difficulty differentiators. These problems often involve creative reasoning and are not limited to a single topic. Advanced problem-solving skills and deep conceptual understanding are essential.
AMC 10 Preparation Plan by Grade Level
Grades 6–7
At this stage, the primary goal is to build interest and strengthen mathematical foundations. Unless students have already mastered advanced high school–level content, AMC 10 is generally a more appropriate and cost-effective choice than AMC 12.
Grades 8–10
If the goal is AIME qualification, AMC 10 is often the safer and more strategic option. The syllabus is more focused, and with systematic training, students are more likely to achieve a high score efficiently.
Pre-registration for the 2026 AMC 10/12 is now open. Hanlin is an officially authorized AMC-China test center.