American Mathematics Competitions — A Guide for IP Maths & Physics Students

Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)

25 Jul 2025, 00:00 Z

TL;DR
The American Mathematics Competitions (AMC)—run by the Mathematical Association of America—start with the AMC 8, 10 & 12, feed into the AIME and ultimately the USA(J)MO, the gateway to the US IMO team.
Each paper is multiple-choice, no calculators, and invites top scorers (≈ 2 - 5 %) to the next round.
Singapore IP students use the AMC to benchmark against global peers and to support—not secure—DSA Math portfolios.

1 Contest Family in 60 s

Level	Eligibility (US Grades)	Questions	Time	Scorin	Typical window
AMC 8	≤ 8	25 MCQ	40 min	+1 / 0	mid-January
AMC 10	≤ 10	25 MCQ	75 min	+6 / +1.5 blank / 0 wrong	early-November (A/B)
AMC 12	≤ 12	25 MCQ	75 min	+6 / +1.5 blank / 0 wrong	early-November (A/B)
AIME	By invitation	15 integer 000-999	3 h	+1 correct / 0 else	mid-February
USA(J)MO	By invitation	6 proofs/2 days	9 h total	7 pts/Q	April

Exact dates shift each cycle; check the current MAA AMC calendar.

2 Why IP Students Care

2.1 Olympiad pathway

AMC 10/12 → AIME → USA(J)MO is the only official route to the U.S. International Mathematical Olympiad team. AIME scores are combined with AMC scores (weighted index) to pick ≈ 250 USA(J)MO qualifiers.

2.2 Global yard-stick

More than 300 000 students worldwide sit an AMC each year, giving Singapore IP students a percentile they can't get from local exams.

2.3 DSA portfolios: supportive, not decisive

MOE lists external math competitions as admissible evidence for Direct-School-Admission but does not mandate any specific contest. Many schools welcome strong AMC results as supporting documents, yet panels still weigh interviews and in-house tests heavily.

3 Core Rules Parents Should Know

One sitting per cycle A- and B-dates are mirrors; you choose one.
No calculators or smart devices—bring pencils, scratch paper only.
25 % guessing penalty myth? False. Leaving a question blank on AMC 10/12 nets +1.5 pts, so wild guessing is mathematically worse than calculated skips.
Eligibility is by school grade, not age—a JC1 IP student equals US 11th grade and may only attempt AMC 12.

4 Benchmark Scores & Invitations

Year (recent)	AMC 10 A cut-off	AMC 10 B cut-off	AMC 12 A cut-off	AMC 12 B cut-off
2024	100.5	108	88.5	96
2023	94.5	103.5	87	93
2022	96	96	85	91.5

Scorers at or above the cut-off earned an AIME invite that year.

5 How to Register from Singapore

Through your IP school - Many (e.g. HCI, RGS, NUS High) are registered AMC centres.
Independent proctor - MAA allows overseas “open” centres or teacher-led sessions.
Fees - 2025 cycle: US$20 per AMC 8 seat, US$28 per AMC 10/12 seat; shipping & proctor add-ons vary.

6 Prep Timeline for IP Calendars

Month	AMC milestone	IP-WA alignment	Suggested action
Jul-Sep	Content sprint (algebra, NT, geo)	WA 1/WA 2 season	Weekly 25-Q mini-mocks
Oct	Full timed papers (75 min)	WA 3 lull	Alternate A- and B-years
Nov	AMC 10/12 live	Post-WA breather	Sleep buffer; print bubble sheet
Dec	AIME drill (if likely)	WA drought	15-Q integer practice
Jan	AMC 8 live	Sec 1-2 WA 1 prep	Focus on speed; no penalty format
Feb	AIME	JC orientation	3-hr stamina runs
Apr	USA(J)MO proofs	JC Math tutorials	Long-form solution writing

7 Quick FAQ

Q: Can Primary-6 prodigies sit AMC 10?
A: Yes—eligibility is grade-based maximums, not minimums.

Q: Is the AMC recognised by MOE?
A: MOE does not accredit foreign contests but DSA panels commonly accept AMC certificates as supporting evidence.

Q: Do Singapore rounds use US times?
A: No—local proctors schedule within the official MAA window (usually 8 h) and submit scanned answer sheets.

8 Further Reading & Resources

*Last updated 25 Jul 2025 — will refresh when the MAA posts the 2026 schedule.