What Is AMC 8?
American Mathematics Competitions 8
About the Competition
A Flagship Competition from the MAA
The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice math exam held annually by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). It's open to any student in grade 8 or below, making it an excellent first competition for students who are new to contest math.
It's designed to test logical reasoning and creative problem-solving rather than raw calculation speed, and since there's no penalty for wrong answers, students can approach every question without fear of losing points.
Exam Format
25 Questions, 40 Minutes
25
Questions
25 multiple-choice questions covering middle-school-level math topics.
40
Minutes
Students have 40 minutes to work through all 25 questions.
0
Penalty for Wrong Answers
There is no penalty for incorrect or blank answers, so it's worth attempting every question.
Eligibility
Who Can Take the AMC 8?
- Open to any student in grade 8 or below who is under 15.5 years old on the day of the competition.
- Younger students (K–6) are welcome to try it — there is no minimum grade or age requirement.
- Students register through a school or organization that serves as an official testing center — individual students cannot register directly with the MAA.
Try It Yourself
Try Real AMC 8 Problems
These are real past AMC 8 exams, hosted free of charge with official permission from the MAA — the same format students see on test day.
Schedule & Registration
2026–2027 Season Schedule
| Item | Date |
|---|---|
| Competition Window | January 21 – 27, 2027 (exact day set by the school) |
| Regular Registration Deadline | January 5, 2027 |
| Late Registration Deadline | January 14, 2027 (late fee applies) |
For exact dates, registration fees, and testing centers, check the official AMC website and the registration page.
Test-Day Rules
How Test Day Works
- No calculators, phones, or other electronic aids are permitted — only pencils, scratch paper, a ruler, and an eraser.
- For digital administration, students may use a laptop or tablet with a single tab open to the competition.
- No problem requires a calculator — the AMC 8 is designed to test reasoning and creative problem-solving, not computational speed.
- The exact test date and location within the window are set by the school's AMC Competition Manager.
Scoring
1 Point per Correct Answer
- One point for each correct answer; no points are subtracted for wrong or blank answers.
- Final score ranges from 0 to 25.
Awards
What Students Earn
- All students receive an official certificate of participation.
- Honor Roll recognizes roughly the top 5% of scorers (historically around 17–19 points).
- Distinguished Honor Roll (Distinction) recognizes roughly the top 1% of scorers (historically around 21–23 points).
- Achievement Honor Roll recognizes students below grade 6 who score 15 or higher — special recognition for young problem solvers.
- A perfect score of 25 is recognized separately each year.
What Comes Next
The First Step Toward Higher Competitions
AMC 10 / AMC 12
Students in grade 9 and up move on to the AMC 10 or AMC 12, which lead to AIME and, for top scorers, the USAMO.
MATHCOUNTS
Many AMC 8 participants also compete in MATHCOUNTS, a middle-school competition with a similar problem-solving style.
How to Prepare
Consistent Practice Is Key
The best way to prepare for the AMC 8 is steady practice with past exams. These resources are a great place to start:
- Past AMC 8 exams with solutions, freely archived by Art of Problem Solving
- Topic-by-topic review of algebra, geometry, number theory, and combinatorics
- Timed 40-minute mock exams to build pacing and time-management skills
Prepare for AMC 8 with Daniel Math Academy
From problem-solving strategies to contest-day readiness, we help students prepare for the AMC 8 at their own level.