Let's Learn About the American Mathematics Competition (AMC)!

‍

What Qualifications Are Required to Participate in the AMC Math Competition?

AMC stands for the American Mathematics Competition, organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). It is the first step in the process that leads to the selection of the U.S. team for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), progressing through AMC, AIME, USAMO, MOSP, and IMO.

‍

The AMC is divided into three levels: AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12. Based on the test day, the eligibility criteria are as follows:

• AMC 8: Must be in 8th grade or below and under 14.5 years old.
• AMC 10: Must be in 10th grade or below and under 17.5 years old.
• AMC 12: Must be in 12th grade or below and under 19.5 years old.

It's important to note that there are no minimum grade or age requirements. For example, a 6th grader can take the AMC 8. As long as the grade and age criteria are met, students can participate regardless of their location or country of residence.

‍

The Path from AMC to IMO

While the AMC 8 does not contribute to awards, it is recommended as practice for the AMC 10. For students proficient in math, the key challenge often lies in reading English passages and avoiding minor calculation mistakes.

For AMC 12, students with a solid foundation in advanced math can usually solve the first 18 questions without much difficulty. The difficulty increases significantly after that, with the last three questions typically requiring more than 10 minutes each to solve.

‍

One crucial consideration is the scoring system of the AMC: 6 points for a correct answer, 0 points for a wrong answer, and 1.5 points for omitted questions. This means guessing can result in a higher penalty, so it is often better to leave a question unanswered if you are unsure.

The top 2.5% of AMC 10 participants and the top 5% of AMC 12 participants qualify for the AIME. The AIME consists of 15 questions with a 3-hour time limit. All answers are integers between 0 and 999.

‍

Scores from the AMC (up to 150 points) are combined with 10 times the AIME score (up to 150 points) for a total possible score of 300 points. Approximately the top 500 students based on this combined score advance to the USAMO. Students who qualify through AMC 10 proceed to USAJMO, while those who qualify through AMC 12 proceed to USAMO.

The MOSP is a math camp for about 100 students, where the top 6 are selected to represent the U.S. in the International Mathematical Olympiad.

‍

‍

The most effective path to a prestigious colleges!

Meet our Upgrade Tutors and get a free trial lesson.