AMC Information
Latest AMC dates and key guidance for students preparing this season.
Latest AMC Updates
Exam Guidelines
- Register for the exam through your school or an authorized testing center before the official deadline.
- Bring a photo ID on exam day.
- DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOKLET UNTIL YOUR COMPETITION MANAGER TELLS YOU TO BEGIN.
- This is a 25-question multiple-choice competition. For each question, only one answer choice is correct.
- Mark your answer to each problem on the answer sheet with a #2 pencil. Check blackened answers for accuracy and erase errors completely. Only answers that are properly marked on the answer sheet will be scored.
- AMC 8 SCORING: You will receive 1 points for each correct answer, and 0 points for each incorrect answer or unanswered.
- Only blank scratch paper, blank graph paper, rulers, compasses, protractors, and erasers are allowed as aids. No calculators, smartwatches, phones, or computing devices are allowed. No problems on the competition will require the use of a calculator.
- AMC 10/12 SCORING: You will receive 6 points for each correct answer, 1.5 points for each problem left unanswered, and 0 points for each incorrect answer.
- Only blank scratch paper, blank graph paper, rulers, compasses, protractors, and erasers are allowed as aids. No calculators, smartwatches, phones, or computing devices are allowed. No problems on the competition will require the use of a calculator.
- Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
- Before beginning the competition, your competition manager will ask you to record your name on the answer sheet.
- You will have the official time limit for your specific AMC exam once your competition manager tells you to begin.
- When you finish the competition, sign your name in the space provided on the answer sheet.
High Score Strategies
A high AMC score starts with understanding the exam requirements and scoring incentives. You have 25 multiple-choice questions and the official time limit for your level, so the test rewards steady accuracy, not rushing. There is no calculator, so mental arithmetic, estimation, and clean algebraic setup matter as much as advanced techniques. Because unanswered questions still earn partial credit while wrong answers do not, smart skipping can protect your score.
Build a coverage map of core knowledge points: number theory (divisibility, primes, modular arithmetic), algebra (equations, inequalities, functions), geometry (triangles, circles, similarity, coordinates), and counting/probability (cases, permutations, combinations). Aim for fluency in standard tools—factoring, ratios, area relationships, and combinatorial counting—before chasing rare tricks. Balanced mastery beats niche depth.
Train with full-length, timed sets to develop pacing. Only consistent practice lets you solve more problems correctly within the limited time. Create a three-pass strategy: first answer the sure wins, then tackle medium problems, and finally spend remaining time on the hardest. Mark any problem that requires long computation or heavy casework and return later. This keeps momentum and preserves time for higher-value questions you can solve.
After each practice, do a structured review: re-solve mistakes without a timer, write a one-line takeaway, and catalog the topic. Over a few weeks, patterns will emerge. Target those weak areas with focused drills, then re-take mixed sets to confirm transfer. Consistent review and pacing discipline are the fastest route to a higher AMC score.