American Mathematics Competition 8 (AMC 8)
An international mathematics competition where students solve 25 multiple-choice problems in middle-school mathematics and problem-solving. Open to students in Grade 8 or below who are under 15.5 years old, through an approved competition centre. Rated Intermediate Level, with difficulty mainly coming from non-routine questions, broad topic coverage and time pressure.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗OVERALL COMPETITION LEVEL
Intermediate Level
3 evaluation dimensions have source-backed automatic scores; 0 dimensions need conflict review.
Competition overview
Key information
Eligible ages
Up to 15
School level
Grade 8 and below
Registration method
School Only
Competition stages
Single-round, 25-question, 40-minute AMC 8
Fee
Not yet announced by the organiser
Online / in-person
Hybrid
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
Not yet announced by the organiser
Registration closes
5 Jan 2027
Competition starts
21 Jan 2027
Competition ends
27 Jan 2027
Editorial perspective
Our Take
AMC 8 is the youngest of the main MAA American Mathematics Competitions and one of the most recognisable entry points into contest mathematics. It is designed for middle-school students and younger eligible pupils, with a 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice paper. The problems are not simply school exercises with larger numbers: they ask students to combine ideas, notice a shortcut or interpret a familiar topic in an unfamiliar way. The MAA describes AMC as a programme intended to build confidence and problem-solving ability. AMC 8 plays that introductory role. It is not an automatic qualification for AMC 10; a strong result is evidence of promise, not a guaranteed pathway. Students normally participate through a school, maths circle, learning centre or other approved competition manager. Families outside the United States should check local hosting arrangements before assuming that individual online entry is available. We rate AMC 8 at Intermediate Level. The entry point is broad, but the strongest questions demand flexible reasoning for the age group. Good preparation is a balance of past papers, topic familiarity and calm decision making. Parent perspective: AMC 8 should help a student discover how they like to solve problems, not become an early ranking exercise. ---
Read full guide →Preparation support
Recommended resources
MAA Sample Competition: 2023 AMC 8
Open resource ↗Complete official paper and worked solutions for a 40-minute benchmark test.
Official · Free · Sample paper & solutions · Essential
MAA Math Club AMC 8 Problem Sets
Open resource ↗Solution-backed practice grouped by problem-solving strategy and topic.
Official · Free · Strategy and topic problem sets · Recommended
Po-Shen Loh AMC Past Contest Archive
Open resource ↗Legally licensed printable AMC 8 papers with concept and difficulty browsing.
Third-party · Free · Past-paper archive · Essential
AMC Trainer: AMC 8 Contests
Open resource ↗Browser-based contests and solutions for question-by-question practice.
Third-party · Free · Interactive practice archive · Recommended