The American Mathematics Competitions (MAA AMC) program by MAA is devoted to enhancing the Mathematics acumen of future problem-solvers nationwide. Classroom resources and friendly competitions assist America's educators in identifying talent and inspiring a love of math in students. Discovering the AMC can assist you in enhancing your problem-solving abilities and understanding Math better. Whether you are a student wanting to perform well in Math competitions or a teacher seeking resources to assist your students, this article seeks to offer useful tips and motivation.
Come and learn about the mission of MAA's American Mathematics Competitions to develop a love of Math and improve problem-solving abilities through stimulating competition. Learn how teachers and schools use interesting math challenges tied to curriculum standards to generate student enthusiasm at multiple levels of difficulty.
The first-ever Mathematical Contest was organized by the New York Metropolitan Section of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) in 1950. It started small, with about 6,000 students from around 200 New York schools participating. But now, the competition has grown! Every year, over 300,000 students from more than 4,000 schools nationwide participate.
The MAA's American Mathematics Competitions aims to make math more interesting and improve problem-solving skills through fun contests.
The AMC series consists of various competition levels:
AMC 8: Designed for students in grade 6-8 and below.
AMC 10: Intended for students in grade 10 and below.
AMC 12: Targeted for students in grade 12 and below.
AIME: For top performers of AMC 10/12 students.
USAMO and USAJMO: Selected participants are determined by their performance in AMC 10/12 and AIME.
The purpose of these competitions is to promote interest and excellence in Mathematics. Below, we have provided the exam dates for all the levels of competitions within the AMC Math series:
Here is a brief idea about the paper pattern and the latest exam pattern:
Understanding the eligibility requirements is crucial for students, teachers, and parents to determine which level of the AMC Exam most suits the participant's current mathematical abilities and goals. Below are the eligibility criteria for each level of the AMC Exam.
AMC 8:
AMC 10:
AMC 12:
AIME (American Invitational Mathematics Examination):
USA(J)MO (USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad):.
USAMO (USA Mathematical Olympiad):
Schools typically handle registration for the AMC series competitions for the AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12 exams. At the same time, invitations to the AIME, USAJMO, and USAMO are sent directly to qualifying students based on their performance in previous exams.
The registration process for the various competitions within the AMC Mathematics series typically involves several steps. Here's a general overview:
Schools typically register their students for the AMC 8 exam. Teachers or administrators at participating schools must register with the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) to receive the necessary materials and instructions for administering the exam.
Students who qualify for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) based on their performance on the AMC 10 or AMC 12 exams do not need to register separately for the AIME. Qualifying students automatically receive an invitation and registration information for the AIME by MAA.
In the same vein, students qualifying for the USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAJMO) on the basis of their scores on the AIME are not required to sign up separately. Qualifying candidates are invited to take part in the USAJMO.
Also, students qualifying for the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) based on their scores on the USAJMO automatically get invitations to take part in the USAMO.
The procedure for receiving results for the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) series exams varies slightly depending on the specific exam. Usually, after completing an exam within the AMC series, answer forms are collected and forwarded to the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) for grading.
Subsequently, the MAA processes the results and provides score reports to the schools for AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12. In the case of the AIME, USA(J)MO, and USAMO exams, the MAA sends score reports directly to the students.
The American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) offer various awards and recognition to participants who excel in the competitions. Here's an overview of the awards and recognition:
(Session 2025 - 26)