The MAA's American Mathematics Competitions (MAA AMC) program is dedicated to improving the Mathematics skills of future problem-solvers across the country. Classroom materials and friendly competitions help educators in America recognize talent and encourage a passion for math among students. Exploring the AMC can help you improve your problem-solving skills and better understand Math. Whether you're a student aiming to do well in Math competitions or a teacher looking for resources to help your students, this article aims to provide helpful tips and inspiration.
Join us in exploring the mission of MAA's American Mathematics Competitions, aimed at fostering a love for Math and honing problem-solving skills through engaging competition. Discover how teachers and schools utilize intriguing mathematical challenges aligned with curriculum standards to stimulate student interest at various difficulty levels.
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.
Similarly, students who qualify for the USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAJMO) based on their performance on the AIME do not need to register separately. Qualifying students receive invitations to participate in the USAJMO.
Likewise, students who qualify for the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) based on their performance on the USAJMO automatically receive invitations to participate 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)