Introduction to the AMC Math Competition | Generated by AI
Question: What is an introduction to the AMC math competition?
Answer:
The AMC (American Mathematics Competitions) is a series of prestigious mathematics competitions for middle and high school students in the United States (and also open to international participants). It serves as the first step in identifying and developing mathematical talent, and it is the main pathway to the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) and the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).
Main AMC Contests
| Contest | Full name | Target grades | Time | Problems | Scoring | Qualifying for next stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMC 8 | American Mathematics Competition 8 | Grade 8 and below | 40 min | 25 | 1 point each, no penalty | Top ~1–5% → AIME-level recognition (not required) |
| AMC 10 | American Mathematics Competition 10 | Grade 10 and below | 75 min | 25 | 6 / 1.5 / 0 (A/B/unanswered) | Top ~2.5–5% → AIME |
| AMC 12 | American Mathematics Competition 12 | Grade 12 and below | 75 min | 25 | 6 / 1.5 / 0 (A/B/unanswered) | Top ~2.5–5% → AIME |
Scoring system (AMC 10 & AMC 12 since 2000)
- Correct answer (A or B): 6 points
- Blank / unanswered: 1.5 points
- Incorrect answer: 0 points
- Maximum score: 150 points
This system rewards knowledge more than pure guessing (25 questions → random guessing expected score ≈ 37.5).
Typical difficulty curve
- AMC 8: roughly elementary to early middle-school topics + clever counting / geometry
- AMC 10: Algebra 1 & Geometry level + many competition-style problems
- AMC 12: Algebra 2, Geometry, Trigonometry, advanced counting & probability, number theory, some precalculus
Pathway to the IMO
AMC 10 / AMC 12
↓ (top ~2.5–5% score, cutoff usually ~100–120 depending on year)
AIME (15 problems, 3 hours, each 0–1 point integer answer)
↓ (top ~500–600 combined AMC+AIME score)
USAMO / USAJMO
↓ (top ~6–12 students)
USA IMO team
Key facts (recent years)
- Held once per year (usually early–mid November for AMC 10/12, January for AMC 8)
- Two versions exist in most years: AMC 10A/12A and AMC 10B/12B (different dates)
- Problems are multiple-choice (A–E) for AMC 8/10/12
- AIME answers are integers 0–999
- No calculators allowed on any stage
Who should participate?
- AMC 8: strong grade 6–8 students
- AMC 10: strong grade 8–10 students (grade 11/12 students usually take AMC 12 instead)
- AMC 12: strong grade 9–12 students who want to aim for AIME/USAMO
Preparation resources
- Past AMC 8/10/12 problems (official AoPS wiki + MAA website)
- Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) books and forums
- “The Art and Craft of Problem Solving” by Paul Zeitz
- “Problem-Solving Strategies” by Arthur Engel
- Mock contests and Alcumus on AoPS
The AMC is widely regarded as the most important school math competition in the United States and a key stepping stone for students interested in mathematics, computer science, or quantitative fields.
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