AMC 8
American Mathematics Competition 8
A 40-minute, 25-question exam for middle schoolers and the natural first step into contest maths.
Run by Mathematical Association of America
Key facts
- Eligible grades
-
Grade 8 and below
There is no minimum grade. Younger students may sit it if they meet the age rule.Source, checked 2026-08-31
- Recommended
-
Grades 6 to 8
Why: The syllabus is middle school mathematics, so year of study tracks the content closely at this level.Based on the official syllabus and content covered.
- Recommended preparation
-
Arithmetic, introductory algebra and basic geometry
Why: The published content covers middle school mathematics through introductory algebra and geometry. There is no trigonometry and no calculus.Based on the official syllabus and content covered.This is Compete's reading of the competition's documented content, not a requirement stated by the organiser. You may enter without it.
- Compete guidance, not an eligibility restriction. Students outside this are still eligible if the official eligibility above allows them.
- Eligible ages
-
Under 15.5 years old on the day of the competition
The MAA publishes an explicit age limit alongside the grade limit and both must be met; age is checked on competition day, not at registration. Sources conflict: the current cycle's official materials give under 15.5, while an older MAA student guide still circulating online gives 14.5. The current-cycle figure is used here. Where organiser documents disagree, check the newest official version rather than the first search result.Source, checked 2026-08-31
- Individual or team
- Individual
- Where it runs
- In person · United States, Canada
- Entry cost
- Usually free to the studentThe MAA charges the competition manager a registration fee plus bundled student licences. What a student pays, if anything, is set by their school or testing centre and is not published by the MAA.
- Registration deadline
- Set locally, not published as a single national date The binding date is set by your school or testing centre, which must register with the MAA in advance. Ask your competition manager.
- Competition dates
- AMC 8: 21 to 27 January 2027.
- Difficulty
- Open to beginnersNo prior competition experience assumed. If you can do the school-level material, you can enter and score points.
- Prizes
- Certificates and honour roll recognitionRecognition is by certificate and roll designation; no cash prize schedule is published.
What AMC 8 is
The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice exam for students in grade 8 and below who are under 14.5 years old. It is deliberately accessible: no calculator, no trigonometry, no algebra beyond the basics. The paper starts with accessible questions and gets harder, which is why it is widely used as a first competition.
How the competition works
Your school, a math circle or an authorised testing centre administers the exam during a one-week window in January. Every correct answer is worth one point; there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so you should answer all 25 questions. Results feed into school and national honour rolls, and strong AMC 8 performers are often invited into more advanced programmes, but the AMC 8 itself does not qualify you for the AIME.
Eligibility notes
No minimum grade. Motivated grade 5 and 6 students sit it regularly and score well.
Is AMC 8 right for you?
- Experience needed
- None. This is designed as a first mathematics competition.
- Time commitment
- A few weeks of past papers.
- What you actually do
- 40 minutes, 25 multiple-choice questions, no calculator, taken at school. Solving 10 is a solid first result.
A good fit if
- You are in middle school and curious about competition maths
- You want something with no team and no travel
- You are heading toward MATHCOUNTS or AMC 10
Probably not for you if
- High school students, who should sit AMC 10 or 12
Common mistakes
- Expecting to finish. Very few students answer all 25 and the scoring assumes that.
- Skipping the free past papers, which are the entire preparation.
- Treating a low first score as a verdict rather than a baseline.
How to register
- Ask your maths teacher or head of maths whether the school hosts the AMC 8. Many middle schools do and simply do not advertise it.
- If not, search the MAA list of registered institutions for a nearby university, math circle or learning centre.
- Register through that competition manager. Students cannot enrol themselves with the MAA.
- Book your seat early. The contest window is only one week long, so testing sites reach capacity quickly.
What skills you need
- Arithmetic fluency
- Basic algebra
- Counting
- Plane geometry
- Logical reasoning
- Reading comprehension in word problems
Recommended resources
-
AoPS AMC 8 problem archive
Complete archive with community solutions, going back to 1985 when the contest was called AJHSME.
-
Alcumus
Free adaptive practice. Set topics to Prealgebra and Introduction to Counting.
-
MATHCOUNTS free handbook problems
The MATHCOUNTS School Handbook overlaps heavily with AMC 8 difficulty and is released free each year.
-
AoPS Prealgebra and Introduction to Counting and Probability
Covers the AMC 8 syllabus with contest-style exercises rather than school-style drill.
Past problems and materials
Only materials the organiser or an authorised archive publishes openly are listed here.
- AMC 8 problems and solutions, all years
Free, complete, with answer keys and multiple solution approaches per problem.
Helpful videos
- AoPS AMC 8 walkthroughs
Search the channel for the year you are practising.
Frequently asked questions
Can a fifth grader take the AMC 8?
Yes. There is no minimum grade or age. The only limits are being in grade 8 or below and under 14.5 years old on the contest day. Younger students often sit it for the experience without expecting a high score.
Does the AMC 8 qualify me for the AIME?
No. Only the AMC 10 and AMC 12 lead to AIME invitations. The AMC 8 is a standalone contest, though a strong score is often used by schools and enrichment programmes as a selection signal.
Should I guess on the AMC 8?
Yes, always. Unlike the AMC 10 and 12, the AMC 8 has no penalty for wrong answers and no partial credit for blanks. Leave nothing empty.
Reviews, tips and resources from other students
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Something out of date?
If a deadline, fee or eligibility rule on this page no longer matches the official site, flag it and it goes into the review queue.
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