AMC10/12 Competition Schedule
AMC10/12 Competition - Mainland China Region
Registration Deadline:
A Paper: Late October 2026
B Paper: Early November 2026
Exam Dates:
A Paper: First week of November 2026
B Paper: Second week of November 2026
Introduction to the AMC Competition
Basic Information
AMC stands for American Mathematics Competitions. It is currently the most credible mathematics competition worldwide and is widely recognized for university applications in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other countries.
The AMC series is divided into AMC8, AMC10, AMC12, AIME, USJMO, and USAMO. The AMC8 is designed for elementary and middle school students, while the AMC10 and AMC12 are tailored for high school students. Achieving high scores in the AMC10 or AMC12 qualifies students to advance to the AIME. Ultimately, combined AIME and AMC10/12 scores determine eligibility for the higher-level USJMO and USAMO competitions.
Benefits of Taking the AMC
Why choose the AMC series? Often referred to as a "passport to top universities," the AMC is internationally recognized. Participating in the AMC across different regions is a crucial way for students to gain international competition experience and enhance their college application competitiveness.
Notably, since 2021, the MAA has provided bilingual (Chinese-English) exam papers specifically for the Chinese mainland region, greatly facilitating domestic candidates.
Additionally, several top universities, including MIT, Caltech, Brown University, and Carnegie Mellon University, explicitly require applicants to report their AMC scores in their online application systems, highlighting the competition's importance. Increasing data shows that among applicants with similar standardized test scores, those with high AMC10/12 scores hold a significant advantage and enjoy higher admission rates in STEM and business programs.
AMC Exam Details
AMC10 Exam
Target Audience: Designed for students in Grade 10 and below, under 17.5 years old. It is highly recommended for students in Grades 8-10.
Exam Content: Covers the standard 9th and 10th-grade mathematics curriculum, including elementary algebra, basic geometry, elementary number theory, and probability. It does not include trigonometry, advanced algebra, or advanced geometry.
Awards & Advancement: Students ranking in the top 2.5% of all participants are invited to the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). The cutoff score is typically around 120 points.
Exam Format: 25 multiple-choice questions, 75 minutes, maximum score of 150 points. Scoring: +6 for a correct answer, +1.5 for a blank answer, 0 for an incorrect answer.
While the AMC10 is generally considered less difficult than the AMC12 and covers a narrower scope, its cutoff scores tend to be higher. It is also important to note the strict time limit: 25 questions in 75 minutes averages to just 3 minutes per question. Consequently, most candidates struggle to complete the entire exam within the allotted time.
AMC12 Exam
Target Audience: Designed for students in Grade 12 and below, under 19.5 years old. It is highly recommended for students starting from Grade 10.
Exam Content: Candidates will find the AMC12 questions highly challenging, but all problems remain within the standard high school curriculum. Students may choose to take either the A or B version.
Awards & Advancement: To qualify for the Honor Roll, students typically need a score above 100, or more accurately, rank in the top 5% globally. Honor Roll recipients are invited to the AIME.
Exam Format: 25 multiple-choice questions, 75 minutes, maximum score of 150 points. Scoring: +6 for a correct answer, +1.5 for a blank answer, 0 for an incorrect answer.
Based on this scoring system, answering 12 questions correctly yields 91.5 points, 13 correct yields 96 points, and 14 correct yields 100.5 points. Therefore, securing 13 correct answers guarantees a solid performance, while 14 correct answers is considered outstanding.
For historical cutoff scores, you can visit the official archive: https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/AMC_historical_results
Key Topics Covered in the AMC
AMC10/12 Core Knowledge Areas
The AMC exam syllabus is primarily divided into five core sections:
- Algebra & Functions: Covers sequences, equations, trigonometric functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, inequalities, and polynomials. Also includes coordinate geometry, transformations, absolute value functions, circle equations, and analytic geometry.
- Number Theory: Focuses on factors and multiples, digit properties, prime and composite numbers, and division with remainders. Key challenges include parity analysis, modular arithmetic, floor/ceiling functions, and custom operation definitions.
- Geometry: Involves solving triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, circles, and solid geometry. Key concepts include trigonometric ratios, similarity and congruence, triangle theorems, and various methods for calculating areas.
- Combinatorics & Probability: Covers the addition and multiplication principles, round-robin tournaments, permutations and combinations, and the inclusion-exclusion principle. Also includes statistical measures, classical probability, and geometric probability.
- Complex Numbers: Includes the complex plane, modulus-argument form, and De Moivre's Theorem.
The AMC10 primarily covers the first four sections, while the AMC12 encompasses all five. However, recent AMC10 exams have occasionally included questions from the fifth section (Complex Numbers), though these are relatively rare.
Students should note that questions in the fourth section (Combinatorics & Probability) often feature lengthy problem descriptions, requiring strong English reading comprehension and a solid grasp of combinatorial techniques. The fifth section (Complex Numbers) features highly challenging problems, which typically appear among the last 15 questions of the exam.
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