AMC 10 and AMC 12 Guide: Format, 2026 Dates, Scoring, 2027 AIME Cut-offs and a Study Plan

The AMC 10 and AMC 12 are the main high school maths contests in the USA and Canada. A strong score can lead to the AIME and, later, to the USA Math Olympiad. This guide explains the format, the 2026 dates, how scoring works, the new fixed AIME cut-offs for 2027, the maths you need, three worked problems and a simple study plan.

Key takeaways

• Both contests have 25 multiple-choice questions in 75 minutes. Calculators are not allowed.
• Scoring: 6 points for a right answer, 1.5 for a blank, 0 for a wrong answer. The top score is 150.
• 2026 dates: AMC 10 A and AMC 12 A on Thursday 5 November. AMC 10 B and AMC 12 B on Friday 13 November.
• New for 2027: the MAA has replaced percentage cut-offs with fixed scores. You need 100 or more on the AMC 10, or 85 or more on the AMC 12, to be eligible for the AIME.
• Students do not sign up alone. A school, maths circle or centre registers and buys student licences.

What are the AMC 10 and AMC 12?

Quick answer: The AMC 10 and AMC 12 are 75-minute maths contests run by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). Each has 25 multiple-choice questions and no calculator. The AMC 10 is for students in Grade 10 and below. The AMC 12 is for students in Grade 12 and below. High scorers can go on to the AIME.

The contests are part of the American Mathematics Competitions. The series starts with the AMC 8 for middle school. Then come the AMC 10 and AMC 12, the AIME, and finally the USAMO and USAJMO. The very best students are chosen from this path for the International Mathematical Olympiad team.

The questions are not like school tests. They use school maths, but in new ways. Early questions are quick. The last ten are hard puzzles that need careful thinking.

Who can take the AMC 10 or AMC 12?

The MAA sets grade and age rules:

Contest	Grade	Age on the contest day
AMC 10	Grade 10 or below	Under 17.5 years
AMC 12	Grade 12 or below	Under 19.5 years

A student in Grade 9 or 10 can choose either contest. A student may not sit the AMC 10 and the AMC 12 on the same day. But a student can take the A contest and the B contest, as long as the school offers both. That gives two chances.

Should my child take the AMC 10 or the AMC 12?

Most students in Grade 10 or below take the AMC 10. It has no trigonometry and fewer advanced algebra questions. The AMC 12 adds topics like trigonometry, logarithms and harder algebra.

A strong Grade 10 student may still choose the AMC 12. The new AIME rule needs only 85 on the AMC 12, against 100 on the AMC 10. But the AMC 12 questions are harder. Choose the contest where your child can show their best work. A tutor or maths teacher can help you decide after one timed past paper of each.

When are the AMC 10 and AMC 12 in 2026?

Date	Event
15 October 2026	Regular school registration deadline ($75)
28 October 2026	Late deadline for returning competition managers ($115)
4 November 2026	Last day to buy student bundles for the A contest
Thursday 5 November 2026	AMC 10 A and AMC 12 A
12 November 2026	Last day to buy student bundles for the B contest
Friday 13 November 2026	AMC 10 B and AMC 12 B
5-6 February 2027	AIME at Pearson test centres in the USA and Canada

A student bundle costs $30 and includes 10 student licences. A student who sits both A and B needs two licences.

How do you register for the AMC 10 or AMC 12?

Parents and students cannot register with the MAA directly. A competition manager at a school, university, maths circle or learning centre registers the site and orders licences. So:

1. Ask your child's maths teacher if the school runs the AMC.
2. If not, look for a nearby maths circle, university or centre that hosts it.
3. Ask which date it offers: A, B or both.
4. Do this early. The late deadline is only for returning managers.

How is the AMC 10 and AMC 12 scored?

Each question has five answer choices.

Answer	Points
Correct	6
Left blank	1.5
Wrong	0

The highest score is 150. Because a blank earns 1.5 points, random guessing is a poor idea. A blind guess has a 1 in 5 chance of 6 points. That is worth 1.2 points on average, which is less than 1.5.

But if your child can rule out two wrong choices, a guess among the last three is worth 2 points on average. That is more than 1.5. So the rule is simple: leave it blank unless you can cut it down to three choices or fewer.

What score does my child need for the AIME in 2027?

The MAA announced in August 2026 that AIME qualification no longer uses a percentage cut-off. Eligible students who score 100 or more on the AMC 10, or 85 or more on the AMC 12, can register for the 2027 AIME. Other eligibility rules still apply, so check the MAA AIME page.

What does 100 on the AMC 10 look like?

• 15 correct, 7 blank, 3 wrong = 90 + 10.5 = 100.5
• 16 correct, 4 blank, 5 wrong = 96 + 6 = 102

And 85 on the AMC 12?

• 12 correct, 9 blank, 4 wrong = 72 + 13.5 = 85.5

So your child does not need to solve the hardest questions. They need to be accurate on the first 15 to 18 questions and to leave real blanks rather than guess.

What is the AIME, and what changes in 2027?

The AIME (American Invitational Mathematics Examination) is the next round. The MAA says the 2027 AIME will run on 5 and 6 February 2027 at Pearson test centres across the USA and Canada. Students book a time at a centre of their choice. The fee is $85, and the MAA says financial help is available.

What maths is on the AMC 10 and AMC 12?

The contests test five big areas:

• Algebra: equations, functions, sequences, word problems, inequalities.
• Geometry: triangles, circles, areas, similar shapes, coordinates.
• Counting and probability: cases, arrangements, choosing, simple probability.
• Number theory: factors, primes, remainders, digits.
• Extra on the AMC 12: trigonometry, logarithms and harder functions.

There is no calculus on either contest. All of this is school maths up to about Grade 10 or 12. The skill is using it in a smart way, quickly and without a calculator.

Worked example 1: remainders (number theory)

Question: What is the remainder when 2¹⁰⁰ is divided by 7?

1. Find small powers: 2¹ = 2, 2² = 4, 2³ = 8.
2. 8 = 7 + 1, so 2³ leaves a remainder of 1 when divided by 7.
3. Write 100 = 3 × 33 + 1.
4. So 2¹⁰⁰ = (2³)³³ × 2.
5. The remainder is 1³³ × 2 = 2.

Lesson: look for a pattern that repeats. Contest questions with huge numbers almost always have one.

Worked example 2: counting with digits

Question: How many three-digit numbers have digits that add up to 5?

1. Call the digits a, b and c. We need a + b + c = 5, and a must be at least 1.
2. Let a = 1 + d. Then d + b + c = 4, with every letter 0 or more.
3. This is "4 identical items into 3 boxes". The count is the number of ways to choose 2 dividers from 6 places: 6 × 5 ÷ 2 = 15.
4. The answer is 15.

You can check by listing: 104, 113, 122, 131, 140, 203, 212, 221, 230, 302, 311, 320, 401, 410, 500. That is 15.

Worked example 3: probability with two dice

Question: Two fair dice are rolled. What is the probability that the total is a prime number?

1. There are 6 × 6 = 36 equally likely results.
2. The prime totals are 2, 3, 5, 7 and 11.
3. Count the ways: 2 (1 way), 3 (2 ways), 5 (4 ways), 7 (6 ways), 11 (2 ways). That is 15 ways.
4. Probability = 15/36 = 5/12.

Lesson: make a short, clear list. Most counting mistakes come from skipping a case.

What are the most common AMC mistakes?

• Rushing the first ten questions. These are the easiest points. One silly slip costs 6 points.
• Guessing blindly. A blank is worth 1.5. Only guess when you can rule out two choices.
• Getting stuck on one hard question. Skip it, then come back at the end.
• Not reading the last line. Many wrong answers solve for x when the question asked for 2x.
• Practising only untimed. Speed matters. 75 minutes for 25 questions is 3 minutes each.
• Starting too late. Contest skills grow over months, not days.

How should my child prepare for the AMC 10 or AMC 12?

If the contest is only weeks away, use this plan. For next year, stretch each step to a month.

Week	Focus	What to do
1	Baseline	One past paper in 75 minutes. Mark it and list mistakes by topic.
2	Algebra	20 past problems from questions 1-15. Write full working.
3	Counting and probability	Cases, complementary counting, "dividers" problems.
4	Number theory	Divisibility, remainders, primes, digit problems.
5	Geometry	Similar triangles, areas, circles, Pythagoras.
6	Timed practice	Two full papers. Practise skipping and smart blanks.

The MAA and many maths circles share past problems. Practise with real past papers when you can. For younger students, start with the AMC 8. Students in Canada can also try the CEMC Pascal, Cayley and Fermat contests in February.

Want a plan built around your child's level? Book a free demo class with an Asymptode mentor.

How 1-on-1 tutoring helps with the AMC 10 and AMC 12

Contest maths is about thinking, not just knowing. In a class, students often copy a method without seeing why it works. In 1-on-1 lessons at Asymptode, one dedicated mentor works with one student:

• The mentor first checks your child's level with a short assessment, then plans backwards from the contest date.
• In each live lesson the mentor watches every step of the working. If your child gets stuck, the mentor finds the small missing idea, such as a remainder pattern or a counting rule.
• Homework is set on the topics taught, at your child's level, and marked with feedback.
• Every class is recorded and can be rewatched by topic before the contest.
• Parents get regular updates on what improved and what needs more practice.

Contest skills also help with school maths and with tests like the PSAT/NMSQT and the digital SAT. Talk to an advisor or see our fees.

FAQ

How many questions are on the AMC 10 and AMC 12?

Each contest has 25 multiple-choice questions. Students have 75 minutes. Each question has five answer choices.

Can you use a calculator on the AMC 10 or AMC 12?

No. Calculators are not allowed. All questions are designed to be solved by hand.

What score do you need on the AMC 10 to qualify for the AIME in 2027?

The MAA says students who score 100 or more on the AMC 10, or 85 or more on the AMC 12, can register for the 2027 AIME, if they meet the other eligibility rules.

When is the AMC 10 in 2026?

The AMC 10 A and AMC 12 A are on Thursday 5 November 2026. The AMC 10 B and AMC 12 B are on Friday 13 November 2026.

Can my child take both the AMC 10 A and AMC 10 B?

Yes, if their school or centre offers both dates. Each sitting needs its own student licence. A student cannot take the AMC 10 and the AMC 12 on the same day.

Is it better to guess or leave a question blank on the AMC?

A blank earns 1.5 points and a wrong answer earns 0. A blind guess is worth less than a blank on average. Guess only when you can rule out at least two choices.

Sources

1. MAA American Mathematics Competitions
2. MAA AMC registration and information
3. MAA announces official testing centers for the 2027 AIME