Attention parents and students planning to participate in the AMC 8 Math Competition! The 2027 AMC 8 season is now officially underway. If you are unsure how to start preparing, wonder which grades are suitable, or seek reliable AMC 8 study resources, this guide covers everything. From competition value and content to registration procedures and grade-based preparation plans, parents can gain a complete understanding and start preparation immediately.
What is AMC 8?
The AMC 8 Math Competition, organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), is an international competition designed for students in Grade 8 and below. Due to the competition’s high reliability and validity, AMC 8 results are widely used to assess applicants’ mathematical achievements.
The AMC series includes AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, AIME, USJMO, and USAMO. AMC 8 is considered the entry-level stage and is particularly popular among elementary school students. In China, top schools in Shanghai and Beijing have integrated AMC 8 performance into student evaluation, leading more Grade 4–6 students to participate. Participation numbers are approaching those of previous national math contests.
AMC 8 Competition Rules
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Eligibility: Grade 8 and below; students must not exceed 14.5 years of age on the exam day
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Exam Language: English and Chinese
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Registration Deadline: China region – January 13, 2026, 20:00; US region – January 15, 2026 (late registration)
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Exam Date: China region – January 23, 2026, 17:00–17:40; US region – January 22–28, 2026
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Duration: 40 minutes
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Scoring: 1 point per correct answer; no penalty for incorrect or unanswered questions; maximum score 25
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Allowed Materials: Pen, eraser, and blank scratch paper only; calculators, protractors, or compasses are prohibited. All questions are solvable manually, emphasizing problem-solving rather than speed of calculation.
AMC 8 Awards
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Perfect Score Award: Full score of 25 points (approximately 0.1% of students globally)
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Honor Roll of Distinction: Top 1% worldwide; 2025 cutoff was 23 points
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Honor Roll: Top 5% worldwide; 2025 cutoff was 19 points
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Achievement Roll (Global Honor): 15 points or above (for Grade 6 and below students)
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School Awards:
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School Honor Roll: Top 3 students in a school achieving a combined score of 66 or higher
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School Merit Roll: Top 3 students with a combined score between 50–65
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AMC 8 Exam Content
Core Modules
AMC 8 questions are drawn from elementary and early middle school mathematics, including four main topics:
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Algebra (35–52%): Integer, fraction, and percentage operations; ratios; linear equation solving; arithmetic and geometric sequences; quadratic function modeling; basic complex numbers. This is the exam’s key focus area.
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Geometry (20–32%): Plane geometry (triangles, Pythagorean theorem, similarity), area calculations for circles and quadrilaterals, volume calculations for solids, 3D nets analysis, irregular shapes.
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Number Theory (12–20%): Primes, divisibility, remainders, prime factorization, modular arithmetic, short division for GCD and LCM.
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Combinatorics (12–28%): Basic counting, permutations, probability, logical reasoning, data analysis, sets, and Venn diagrams.
Difficulty Levels
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Questions 1–15 (Basic): Aligned with Grade 4–6 classroom knowledge, e.g., fraction operations and simple geometry
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Questions 16–20 (Intermediate): Require cross-topic integration, such as combining algebraic equations with geometric symmetry
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Questions 21–25 (Advanced): Test abstract thinking and multi-step modeling, e.g., recursive sequences, multi-step probability, or challenging final problems
New Exam Topics for 2026–2027
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Quadratic function modeling
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Probability combined with real-world statistics
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Dynamic analysis of 3D nets
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Area calculation of irregular shapes
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Short division for GCD and LCM
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Summation of geometric sequences
How to Register for AMC 8 2027
AMC 8 does not allow individual registration. Registration must be completed through one of the following official channels:
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School Registration: If the student’s school is an authorized AMC center, registration is done through the school.
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Authorized Agency Registration: Parents can register through authorized organizations.
In China, official registration websites include:
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AMC China Committee: https://www.amc-china.com
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ASDAN: http://www.seedasdan.org/
Parents are advised to ensure registration through legitimate channels to avoid fraud.
AMC 8 Preparation Guide
Effective preparation should consider the student’s grade, foundation, and target level, and follow a phased approach:
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Grade 1–2 (Introduction Stage): Focus on cultivating mathematical thinking, not directly preparing for AMC 8. Competitions like the Kangaroo Math Contest can be used to build interest and foundational skills.
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Grade 3–4 (Transition Stage): Begin Pre-AMC 8 courses to familiarize students with competition problems and strategies. Students with solid foundations can start AMC 8 coursework to build confidence.
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Grade 5–6 (Golden Start Stage): Aligns with school curriculum; students have basic calculation, logic, and spatial skills. Focus on problem practice and systematic AMC 8 study for optimal results.
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Grade 7–8 (Competition Stage): Key period to target awards. Strengthen knowledge integration, increase problem-solving speed and accuracy, and conduct a diagnostic test with practice exams to identify weaknesses. Focus on reading questions quickly, eliminating distractors, and time management.
AMC 8 is more than an exam; it is a growth journey. Early planning, steady progress, and strategic methods help turn potential into achievement. With proper preparation, students can confidently enter the 2027 AMC 8 exam and achieve recognition.