Frequently asked questions
Everything families and schools ask most often about the American Mathematics Competitions — what the AMC is, who is eligible, how the exams are scored, how AIME qualification works, and how to register and prepare in the China region.
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 are widely regarded as the preeminent mathematics competition for students in grades K-12. The pathway begins with the AMC 8 for middle-school students and continues through the AMC 10, AMC 12, the AIME, and the USA (Junior) Mathematical Olympiad — the route by which the United States selects its International Mathematical Olympiad team. Each year more than 300,000 students across all 50 US states and over 30 countries take part.
Who is eligible? What are the age and grade limits for 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 the day of the exam. The AMC 10 is for students in grade 10 or below who are under 17.5 on exam day, and the AMC 12 is for students in grade 12 or below who are under 19.5. A younger student may sit a higher exam if they meet that exam’s grade and age limits. The only requirement to take part is that the student is registered through a participating school or test centre.
What is the difference between the A and B versions?
The AMC 10 and AMC 12 are each offered as two separate papers, version A and version B, held on two different dates in the same season. They cover the same syllabus and format; the two sittings simply give schools and students a choice of date. A student may take either version, or both, and the better result is used for AIME qualification. The AMC 8 has a single version.
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 and reasoning rather than computation.
How is the AMC scored, and how does AIME qualification work?
The AMC 8 has 25 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes and awards 1 point for each correct answer, with nothing deducted for a wrong or blank answer, for a maximum of 25. The AMC 10 and AMC 12 each have 25 questions in 75 minutes and award 6 points for a correct answer, 1.5 points for a question left blank, and 0 for an incorrect answer, for a maximum of 150. Students who reach a high enough AMC 10 or AMC 12 score are invited to the AIME (15 questions, 180 minutes, integer answers from 0 to 999), the next stage on the road to the USA(J)MO and the International Mathematical Olympiad.
How is the China region different?
Students at schools in mainland China register through the China-region channel rather than directly with the MAA, may sit the papers in Chinese or English, and follow a local exam calendar — the AMC 8 in January and the AMC 10/12 in November — which differs from the United States dates. Exact dates and fees are confirmed each season, so please contact us for the current schedule. Students enrolled at American or Canadian schools are not eligible to take the exam in the China region. See our China region guide for the full picture.
How do I register for the AMC?
The AMC does not accept registrations directly from individual students or parents. Instead, students take the exam through a participating school, college, math circle or test centre, which acts as the registration point. If your school does not yet offer the AMC, you can encourage a teacher or coordinator to register it, or sit the exam through an authorised test centre. Our registration page explains the China-region options and how to get started.
How do results and honours work?
After each exam, results are released to the registering school or centre, typically a few weeks later. The AMC 10 and AMC 12 recognise top scorers with distinctions such as Honor Roll of Distinction, Distinction and Achievement Roll, and the highest scorers earn an invitation to the AIME. The AMC 8 awards several tiers of individual honours together with a school team award based on the leading students’ scores. Exact cut-off scores are set each season; see our historical score lines for recent benchmarks.
How should my child prepare?
The most effective preparation is working through authentic past papers under timed conditions and then studying the official solutions carefully. Pair this with targeted study of the core topics — counting and probability, number theory, algebra and geometry, extending to trigonometry and advanced algebra and geometry for the AMC 12 (which does not require calculus) — at a level matched to the student. Our preparation resources and past papers are organised for exactly this.
What is the pathway from the AMC 8 to the IMO?
The AMC is a ladder. The AMC 8 introduces competition mathematics to middle-school students and stands on its own, while also building the foundation for what follows. The AMC 10 and AMC 12 lead, for high scorers, to the AIME; results on the AIME together with the AMC 10/12 determine invitations to the USAJMO and USAMO; and the very strongest students go on to the United States team selection for the International Mathematical Olympiad. In short: AMC 8 to AMC 10/12 to AIME to USA(J)MO to IMO.