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 homepage.
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.
