In the process of applying to prestigious overseas universities, mathematics competitions undoubtedly serve as a highly valuable asset. Students who hold awards from such competitions are more likely to capture the attention of admissions officers during the school selection and application stages—particularly within an increasingly competitive landscape. These competitions serve not only as a recognition of mathematical aptitude but also as a crucial platform for showcasing a student's comprehensive capabilities.
Recommended Competitions Related to the AMC 12
I. American Mathematics Competitions (AMC)
The AMC—short for the American Mathematics Competitions—is a long-standing mathematics competition organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). Since its inception, the AMC has spanned a history of over 70 years, attracting more than 300,000 student participants from around the globe annually; it stands as one of the most influential and renowned mathematics competitions for students pursuing a U.S.-oriented academic path.
AMC 10
Eligibility: Students in Grade 10 or below
Exam Period: November (annually)
Exam Format: 25 multiple-choice questions; 75-minute time limit
Exam Content: The AMC 10 covers mathematical topics typically associated with the 9th and 10th grades, including—but not limited to—basic algebra, basic geometry, area and volume, elementary number theory, and basic probability.
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II. Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC)
The Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) is fully organized and administered by the Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT).
1. Difficulty Levels
The competition is divided into five levels:
Level A – Middle Primary: Grades 3–4
Level B – Upper Primary: Grades 5–6
Level C – Junior: Grades 7–8
Level D – Intermediate: Grades 9–10
Level E – Senior: Grades 11–12
2. Exam Format
For Levels D and E of the AMC, the exam duration is 75 minutes. It consists of 25 multiple-choice questions and 5 fill-in-the-blank questions (where the answers are integers ranging from 0 to 999). The total maximum score is 135 points.
Generally, the first 20 questions are quite straightforward; the organizers have stated that these questions cover fundamental concepts typically taught in school curricula. Questions 21 through 25 increase in difficulty and carry higher point values. Finally, questions 26 through 30—the five fill-in-the-blank questions—feature a significantly higher difficulty level and serve as the key differentiator for identifying students with exceptional mathematical aptitude.
III. Euclid Mathematics Contest
The Euclid Mathematics Contest is a mathematics competition organized by the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Waterloo, Canada, and is open to high school students worldwide. It is Canada's most widely recognized mathematics competition and serves as a key benchmark for assessing the mathematical proficiency of high school students globally. Attracting over 20,000 participants annually, the contest holds immense prestige and is often hailed as the "TOEFL of the mathematics world."
1. Eligibility:
Grades 9–12
2. Exam Schedule:
Held annually in April
3. Exam Format:
The exam duration is 150 minutes, with a maximum score of 100 points. It consists of 10 major problems, each worth 10 points; each major problem is further divided into 2–3 sub-questions. There are no multiple-choice questions. The exam is administered in a traditional paper-and-pencil format at designated physical locations, and all paper materials are collected and returned for grading upon completion of the exam.
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IV. Math Kangaroo Competition
The Math Kangaroo competition was founded in 1980 by the renowned Australian mathematician Peter O'Halloran. It is a large-scale global mathematics competition for students in Grades 1 through 12. The competition first entered China in 2019, at which time a dedicated organizing committee for the China region was established.
1. Target Audience:
Grades 1–12 (G1–G12)
2. Difficulty Levels:
Math Kangaroo is divided into six difficulty levels corresponding to Grades 1 through 12:
Level A (Level 1): Primary School Grades 1–2
Level B (Level 2): Primary School Grades 3–4
Level C (Level 3): Primary School Grades 5–6
Level D (Level 4): Middle School Grades 7–8
Level E (Level 5): Middle School Grades 9–10
Level F (Level 6): Middle School Grades 11–12
3. Exam Format:
Multiple-choice questions. The specific questions in the Math Kangaroo competition vary according to the student's grade level.
For Grades 1–4 (Levels 1–2), the exam consists of 24 questions; for Grades 5 and above (Levels 3–6), it consists of 30 questions.
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V. SASMO Competition
The SASMO Competition (Singapore & Asian Schools Math Olympiad)—formally known as the Singapore Advanced Schools Math Olympiad—was established in 2006 by the Singapore International Math Contests Centre (SIMCC). It is one of the largest-scale mathematics competitions in Asia, open to students in Grades 1 through 12.
1. Eligibility:
Grades 1–12 (G1–G12)
2. Competition Format:
Online examination; bilingual (Chinese and English); the exam consists of a total of 25 questions.
3. Exam Content:
The exam paper is divided into two sections: a Multiple-Choice Section and a Short-Answer Section.
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions
Total: 30 points. 2 points awarded for a correct answer; 0 points for an unanswered question; 1 point deducted for an incorrect answer.
Section B: Short-Answer Questions
Total: 40 points. 4 points awarded for a correct answer; 0 points for an unanswered question; 0 points for an incorrect answer.
Note: The maximum raw score for the paper is 85 points. To prevent candidates from receiving a negative final score, an initial base score of 15 points is awarded to each candidate. (Calculators are strictly prohibited throughout the entire duration of the exam.)
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VI. UKMT-SMC Mathematics Competition
The UKMT (United Kingdom Mathematics Trust) organizes the largest-scale mathematics competitions in the UK. Students from around the world are eligible to register and participate. The three levels of individual mathematics competitions organized by the UKMT—Junior, Intermediate, and Senior—attract over 600,000 students from more than 4,000 schools annually, making it the largest and most influential national mathematics competition in the UK.
The UKMT offers mathematics competitions at various levels designed for students aged 11 to 18, with a primary focus on assessing students' mathematical proficiency and logical reasoning skills.
1. Eligible Grade Levels:
JMC (Junior Mathematical Challenge):
Students in Year 7 (Grade 7) or below
IMC (Intermediate Mathematical Challenge):
Students in Year 10 (Grade 10) or below
SMC (Senior Mathematical Challenge):
Students in Year 12 (Grade 12) or below
2. Exam Format:
Paper-based or online examination; individual participation; consists of 25 multiple-choice questions.
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VII. British Mathematical Olympiad (BMO)
The BMO—short for the British Mathematical Olympiad—is a high-level mathematics competition organized by the UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT). It stands as one of the most prestigious and competitive mathematics contests in the United Kingdom.
The BMO consists of two rounds: BMO Round 1 and BMO Round 2. Only the top 10% of participants from BMO Round 1 qualify to advance to Round 2. From this second round, the UKMT selects the nation's top-performing students to attend the British National Mathematics Olympiad Training Camp, where they are groomed to represent the national team in future competitions.
In previous years, participation in the BMO required first passing the selection stage of the Senior Maths Challenge (SMC). However, in recent years, students from China have been able to register directly for BMO Round 1!
1. BMO Round 1
Target Audience: Grades 10–12
Exam Date: November (Annually)
Exam Format: 6 major problems; 3.5-hour time limit
Exam Content: Covers topics such as Number Theory, Algebra, Geometry, and Combinatorics. These areas involve concepts such as the properties of numbers, methods for solving algebraic equations, spatial geometry, and graph theory.
2. BMO Round 2
Target Audience: Students who have qualified from BMO Round 1
Exam Date: January (Annually)
Exam Format: 4 major problems; 3.5-hour time limit
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