What does AMC 8 stand for?

AMC stands for American Mathematics Competitions. The AMC 8 is the MAA competition designed for students in grade 8 and below.

Is AMC 8 only for eighth graders?

No. Students in lower grades may participate if they meet both the grade and age requirements. For 2026–27, the MAA specifies grade 8 or below and under 15.5 years old on competition day.

Can a student take the AMC 8 more than once a year?

No. A student may take the AMC 8 once during that year’s Competition Week. The host chooses one day within the official window.

Is the AMC 8 multiple choice?

Yes. The MAA’s 2026–27 guide describes 25 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 40 minutes.

Does the AMC 8 qualify students for AIME?

No. AMC 8 results do not directly qualify students for AIME. AIME qualification is based on AMC 10 or AMC 12 performance under the applicable rules.

Do students need advanced algebra for the AMC 8?

The MAA describes the AMC 8 as a middle school mathematics competition. Some later questions may touch on beginning algebra, including linear or quadratic functions and coordinate geometry. The MAA overview does not give a fixed algebra question count.

A clear starting point for students and families

What is the AMC 8?

The AMC 8 is an annual math competition for students in grade 8 and below, organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). It gives students a chance to explore mathematical problem solving beyond a typical classroom worksheet.

Understand the contest

ORGANIZER

MAA

Mathematical Association of America

QUESTIONS

25

One competition

TIME

40 mins

Work at your own pace

WHO

Grade 8 or below

Age rule also applies

FREQUENCY

Yearly

Typically in January

01 / THE BASICS

What is the AMC 8?

AMC stands for American Mathematics Competitions. The AMC 8 introduces younger students to interesting problems that ask them to reason, organize information, and try different approaches. It is a standalone competition within the wider MAA AMC program.

1

Think beyond a formula

Some questions reward spotting a pattern or choosing a clever first step.

2

Explore several topics

Questions draw from a broad range of middle school mathematics.

3

Keep learning

Students interested in math may later explore the AMC 10 or AMC 12.

Good to know: An AMC 8 score does not directly qualify a student for AIME. AIME qualification is based on AMC 10 or AMC 12 performance.

See MAA's AIME explanation ↗

02 / ELIGIBILITY

Who can take the AMC 8?

Grade and age

Students must be in grade 8 or below and under 15.5 years old on the day they take the competition. Both requirements matter.

Check the MAA description ↗

Location and Area

In the United States and Canada, families usually ask their school whether it hosts the AMC 8. Other eligible institutions may also administer it. Students and parents do not register directly with the MAA.

03 / FORMAT

How does the competition work?

The MAA describes a 25-question, 40-minute competition, held once each year during a January window. An official past paper shows what the multiple-choice questions look like.

Students solve a mix of shorter and more demanding problems.
They take the AMC 8 only once in a given year.
Check the current year's rules for scoring and permitted materials.

** The 2026–27 AMC 8 window is January 21–27, 2027. This is a current-cycle detail, not a permanent feature of the overview page.

An official sample paper

View the MAA's 2023 AMC 8 problems and solutions to see the question style. Past papers illustrate the format; current rules should be checked separately.

View Test Sample

source from MAA

04 / MATH CONTENT

What math is on the AMC 8?

The MAA describes broad middle school topics. These are examples of the areas it names, not a fixed number of questions or an official percentage breakdown.

Counting & probability

Organize possibilities and think about chance.

Spatial visualization

Picture how figures fit together or change.

Counting & probability

Compare quantities and check whether an answer makes sense.

Graphs & tables

Interpret information shown in data displays.

Elementary geometry

Reason about shapes, including the Pythagorean theorem.

Beginning algebra

Some later questions may touch on functions and coordinate geometry.

Source: MAA American Mathematics Competitions overview. Topic descriptions here are plain-language summaries of the areas it lists.

05 / TRY IT

What does an AMC 8-style problem feel like?

Try a short original example. Choose an answer, then reveal the reasoning. It is a practice illustration, not a question from an official contest.

1

Think

2

Choose

3

Explain

06 / WHAT COMES NEXT

Scores, recognition, and next steps

Understanding a score

A score reflects performance on the paper. For exact scoring rules, consult the current MAA instructions rather than assuming a past year's instructions still apply.

Recognition

Official award categories and their conditions should be checked for the relevant competition year. Avoid treating an old cutoff as a permanent target.

Continuing the journey

AMC 8 is a standalone experience. Older students who meet the rules may later explore AMC 10 and AMC 12; AIME qualification is based on those competitions.

For current rules, see the MAA competitions policies.

Frequently asked questions

AMC 8 Essentials

About AMC-8.org

Study and Practice

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CONTINUE EXPLORE

Choose what you want to learn next.

Use this overview as a starting point, then follow the topic that matters to you.