AMC 8
The entry point to America's premier math competition pipeline. 25 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes for students in grades 6-8.
Grade Levels
Grades 6-8 (Ages 10-14)
Format
Multiple Choice · 25 questions · 40 minutes
Scoring
1 point per correct answer, no penalty for wrong answers. Maximum 25.
Participants
150,000+
Established
1985
January
Competition held in January
Registration
Schools register through MAA
Prizes & Recognition
Certificates of Achievement and Honor Roll. Top scorers recognized nationally.
About This Competition
AMC 8 is the first competition in the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) series, organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). Designed for middle school students in grades 6-8, it features 25 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 40 minutes.
The AMC 8 tests mathematical problem-solving with questions that increase in difficulty. Problems cover a range of middle school topics, with no penalty for wrong answers. With over 150,000 participants annually, AMC 8 is one of the largest school-level math competitions in the United States.
While AMC 8 does not directly qualify students for later rounds (AIME/USAMO), it builds the problem-solving skills and competition experience needed for AMC 10/12.
How to Prepare
Build Strong Arithmetic and Geometry Skills
AMC 8 tests middle school math fundamentals. Ensure comfort with fractions, percentages, basic geometry, and counting principles before moving to harder topics.
Pace Yourself: 40 Minutes, 25 Questions
That's less than 2 minutes per question. Answer easy ones quickly, mark difficult ones, and return to them. There's no penalty for guessing, so never leave a question blank.
Use Art of Problem Solving Resources
AoPS hosts all past AMC 8 papers with solutions. Their 'Introduction' series textbooks (Intro to Algebra, Intro to Counting & Probability) align perfectly with AMC 8 content.
Aim for the AMC 8 Award Levels
A score of 15+ earns an Honor Roll certificate, and 19+ earns the Distinguished Honor Roll. Set a personal target and track your progress across practice tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AMC 8?
AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice exam for students in grades 6-8 (and younger). It is the entry point to the AMC competition series, organized by the Mathematical Association of America.
What topics does AMC 8 cover?
AMC 8 covers topics from the middle school mathematics curriculum including counting, probability, estimation, proportional reasoning, elementary geometry, spatial visualization, and reading/interpreting graphs and tables.
Related Competitions
Math Kangaroo
The world's largest mathematics competition with 6 million+ participants in 90+ countries. Multiple-choice format across 6 difficulty levels, emphasizing fun and accessible problem-solving.
AMC 10
The intermediate level of America's AMC series for students in grade 10 and below. Top scorers (~5%) qualify for the AIME invitational.
AMC 12
The senior level of America's AMC series for high school students. One of the oldest math competitions in the US, dating back to 1950.
AIME
The American Invitational Mathematics Examination, by invitation for top AMC 10/12 scorers. 15 problems with integer answers in 3 hours.
USAMO
The USA Mathematical Olympiad, the final national selection stage for the US IMO team. Proof-based problems in IMO format for ~250-500 invited students.
MATHCOUNTS
The premier US middle school math competition. Free to enter, with a four-level structure from school to national. Features Sprint, Target, Team, and Countdown rounds.