American Mathematical Competitions
The American Mathematics Competitions are a series of nationally syndicated math contests, sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America. The AMC 8, 10, and 12 are for middle and high school students, and are the first tier of competitions leading to the USA Mathematical Olympiad. From the AMC website:
- "The mission of the MAA's American Mathematics Competitions is to increase interest in mathematics and to develop problem solving through a fun competition. Teachers and schools benefit from the chance to challenge students with interesting mathematical questions that are aligned with curriculum standards at all levels of difficulty. In addition, students gain the opportunity to learn and achieve through competition with students in their school and around the world."
Check the dates carefully! The AMC 10/12 will be in the fall (November) and the AMC 8 will be in the spring (January).
Fall 2025 AMC 10/12
Exam dates:
AMC 10/12A Competition Date: Wednesday, November 5th, 2025.
AMC 10/12B Competition Date: Thursday, November 13th, 2025.
Time: 6:30 pm - 8 pm
Please arrive around 6:15 PM to pick up your answer sheet, fill in your contestant information, sharpen pencils, and so forth. Competition instructions will start at 6:40 PM, and the competition will end around 7:55 PM (the testing period is 75 minutes). Everyone will be ready to leave around 8:05 PM.
Location: TBA
Rules: No aids are permitted during the exam other than pencils, scratch paper, and erasers, rulers, compasses. NO CALCULATORS ARE ALLOWED. Phones, smartwatches, protractors, and graph paper are also prohibited. Scratch paper will be provided but students must bring number 2 pencils.
Registration: To register for the AMC 10/12, please fill out the form found here. Deadline: September 28th, 2025. (Please note this is earlier than the MAA deadline!)
Spring 2026 AMC 8
Exam date: Tuesday, January 27th, 2026.
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:20 pm
Please arrive around 6:15 PM to pick up your answer sheet, fill in your contestant information, sharpen pencils, and so forth. Competition instructions will start at 6:40 PM, and the competition will end around 7:20 PM (the testing period is 40 minutes). Everyone will be ready to leave by 7:30 PM.
Location: TBA
Rules: No aids are permitted during the exam other than pencils, scratch paper, and erasers. NO CALCULATORS ARE ALLOWED. Phones, smartwatches, protractors, and graph paper are also prohibited. Scratch paper will be provided but students must bring number 2 pencils.
Registration: To register for the AMC 8, please fill out the form found here. Deadline: October 26th, 2025. (Please note this is earlier than the MAA deadline!)
FAQ
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Where can I find out detailed information about the AMC exams?
Visit the AMC website. They have an extensive FAQ section and will be able to answer most questions.
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Can I see any past exams or sample questions?
Yes: The AMC website also has an archive of sample problems and past exams, which you can find if you poke around on their site. We also have a practice exam available for download here.
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Is my student eligible for the exam?
It depends on your current grade in school. The AMC 12 is for students in high school who are under 19.5 years of age. The AMC 10 covers mathematics normally associated with grades 9 and 10 and is for students under 17.5 years of age who are not enrolled in grades 11, 12 or equivalent. The AMC 8 is for middle-school students in grades 8 and below. There is no minimum age requirement for these exams.
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How long is the exam?
The AMC 8 is 25 questions long and takes 40 minutes. The AMC 12 and AMC 10 contests are 25 questions long, with approximately 12 questions in common to both contests, and take 75 minutes.
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Will I have to pay a $60 registration fee? Do I have to buy a test?
The host (that's SMMG!) pays the registration fee and buys exams for the whole group. You do not need to worry about ordering exams: as the hosting organization, SMMG is responsible for ordering exams and administering the competition.
