What is AMC?
AMC (American Mathematics Competitions) is an international mathematics competition sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). Its full name is the American Mathematics Competition. As one of the most popular high school competitions in North America, the AMC attracts over 300,000 students to participate in the North American competition each year. It is one of the most prestigious mathematics competitions, drawing a large number of participants.
About AMC12
AMC 12 is an intermediate-level exam in the AMC series, designed to challenge students in grade 12 and below who have a passion for mathematics. High scorers on the AMC 12 are invited to take the more challenging American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). The AMC12 exam consists of 25 multiple-choice questions and takes 75 minutes to complete. The content covers the entire high school curriculum, including trigonometry, advanced algebra, and advanced geometry, but does not include calculus.
Important AMC Updates
2025 AMC10/12 All Award Cutoff Scores Announced
| Competition | AIME Threshold | Honor Roll Distinction (Top 1%) |
|---|---|---|
| AMC 10 A | 105 | 136.5 |
| AMC 10 B | 99 | 133.5 |
| AMC 12 A | 96 | 150 |
| AMC 12 B | 100.5 | 145.5 |
| Distinction (Top 5%) | Top 10% | Top 25% |
|---|---|---|
| 112.5 | 94.5 | 69 |
| 105 | 87 | 66 |
| 127.5 | 106.5 | 78 |
| 127.5 | 109.5 | 81 |
AIME I Exam Date: February 2, 2026, 13:00–16:00
AIME II Exam Date: February 6, 2026, 13:00–16:00
Note: Domestic (Chinese) candidates can only register for AIME II (AIME I is not open to international candidates).
2025 AMC10/12 Award Changes
This year, the AMC10/12 award structure has seen new changes. Please take note!
New awards added:
New Top 10% Honor Roll (Global Top 10%)
New Top 25% Honor Roll (Global Top 25%)
Original awards remain unchanged: TOP 1%, TOP 5%, AIME cutoff, and the Lower Grade Achievement Award remain the same.
Perfect Score
Honor Roll of Distinction (Global Excellence Award)
Distinction (Global Outstanding Award)
Achievement Roll (Global Honor Award)
AIME Qualification Certificate
2026 AMC12 Exam Dates and Locations
U.S. Region (U.S. Time)
| AMC 12 A | AMC 12 B | |
|---|---|---|
| Early Bird Registration Deadline | September 30, 2026 | September 30, 2026 |
| Regular Registration Deadline | October 15, 2026 | October 15, 2026 |
| Late Registration Deadline | October 28, 2026 | October 28, 2026 |
| Exam Date | November 5, 2026 | November 13, 2026 |
China Region
AMC12 A Exam Date: November 5, 2026, 17:00–18:15
AMC12 B Exam Date: November 13, 2026, 17:00–18:15
Versions A and B of AMC 12 have the same number of questions, the same scoring system, and the same administration rules. The only difference is the competition date; each version has a different set of questions, and the difficulty level and topic distribution of the two exams are the same.
2026 AMC12 Exam Locations
Exam Venue: AMC12 has fully resumed in-person paper-based exams.
In-person exam: Students who register through their registration center will go to the exam venue on their own to take the test.
Score Release: Exam scores can be checked 6–8 weeks after the exam.
2024 AMC10/12 Cutoff Scores Major Adjustment!!!
Sudden change! As shown, the 2024 AMC10/12 cutoff scores have been adjusted in six places. According to the MAA committee's requirements, only the awards and advancement status of 12A candidates are affected; other students are unaffected.
| Competition | AIME Threshold | Honor Roll Distinction | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC 10 A | 94.5 | 132 | 105 |
| AMC 12 A | 76.5 | 133.5 | 108 |
| AMC 10 B | 105 | 138 | 114 |
| AMC 12 B | 88.5 | 139.5 | 118.5 |
Latest Updated AIME Cutoff Scores
| Competition | AIME Threshold | Honor Roll Distinction | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC 10 A | 94.5 | 132 | 105 |
| AMC 12 A | 85.5 | 135 | 111 |
| AMC 10 B | 105 | 135 | 112.5 |
| AMC 12 B | 88.5 | 139.5 | 114 |
Original AIME Cutoff Scores
| AIME cutoff | 1% DHR | 5% Distinction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC10A | 94.5 | 132 | 105 |
| AMC12A | ↓76.5 (was 85.5) | ↓133.5 (was 135) | ↓108 (was 111) |
| AMC10B | 105 | ↑138 (was 135) | ↑114 (was 112.5) |
| AMC12B | 88.5 | 139.5 | ↑118.5 (was 114) |
Why Take AMC12?
1. Improve Problem-Solving Skills
In the AMC12 exam, students encounter mathematical concepts and techniques that are deeper and broader than those in the regular high school curriculum. Students are required to apply what they have learned in complex and unique ways, which means that preparing for and taking the AMC will challenge students to push themselves to their limits. This extra learning not only deepens their understanding of existing mathematical knowledge but also helps students better tackle challenges in international curricula such as IB and AP.
2. Advance to Higher-Level Mathematics Competitions
Earning AIME qualification is a very significant achievement. If your score is in the top 5% of AMC 12, you will have the opportunity to advance to the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). Your scores on the AMC and AIME will earn you a place in the USA(J)MO (United States of America Mathematical Olympiad), and ultimately participation in the International Mathematical Olympiad. (Note: Chinese nationals can only compete up to AIME and are not eligible to participate in USA(J)MO. However, high scores on the AMC and AIME will help you stand out in university applications.)
3. Stand Out in University Admissions
Even if you do not qualify for AIME, a good score on the AMC 12 will attract the attention of universities. While universities also look at standardized tests such as the SAT, competitions like the AMC are not only more difficult but also self-selecting, as typically only students who are already strong in mathematics take the exam. This means that scoring in the top 10% of AMC participants is rarer than scoring in the top 1% of SAT participants. Many prestigious universities such as MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, and Caltech also ask about AMC participation scores.
How to Prepare for the AMC 12 Competition?
- Focus on your weak areas and strengthen your learning in those areas.
- Keep a record of the problems you cannot solve, and try to understand the solution approach or seek advice from your teacher.
- Avoid careless mistakes: pay attention to details in calculations, especially when not using a calculator, and double-check every step.
- Join your school's math club and learn from other peers. Seek advice on strategies for achieving good results on the test.
- Remember, you do not need a perfect score to qualify for AIME. You only need to outperform most other students to secure a top spot. Therefore, it is very important to develop a reasonable test-taking strategy.
AMC12 Cutoff Scores Over the Past Four Years
| AMC12 | Honor Roll of Distinction | Certificate of Distinction | AIME cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 AMC12 A | 150 | 127.5 | 96 |
| 2025 AMC12 B | 145.5 | 127.5 | 100.5 |
| 2024 AMC12 A | 133.5 | 108 | 76.5 |
| 2024 AMC12 B | 139.5 | 118.5 | 88.5 |
| 2023 AMC12 A | 136.5 | 112.5 | 85.5 |
| 2023 AMC12 B | 139.5 | 115.5 | 88.5 |
| 2022 AMC12 A | 126 | 106.5 | 93 |
| 2022 AMC12 B | 129 | 105 | 85.5 |
For more historical cutoff scores, please click here.
AIME (American Invitational Mathematics Examination)
AIME is a 15-question, 3-hour exam in which each answer is an integer from 0 to 999. AIME is an intermediate exam between the AMC 10 or AMC 12 and the USAMO. All students who take the AMC 12 and score 100 or above out of 150, or rank in the top 5%, are invited to take the AIME.
