Pengi Editor's Note: This article was originally published by Think Academy. We're sharing it here for educational value. Think Academy is a leading K-12 math education provider.
How to Prepare for AMC 10 Math Competition
What Is AMC 10?
- Format: 25 multiple-choice questions, online or on paper
- Duration: 75 minutes
- Scoring: Maximum 150 points — 6 pts correct, 1.5 pts blank, 0 pts incorrect
- Awards:
- Achievement Roll: Grade 8 or below who score 90+
- Honor Roll (HR): Top 5% (typically 115+)
- Distinguished Honor Roll (DHR): Top 1% (typically 130+)
- AIME Qualifier: Typically 105+ is a safe score
What Grade Is AMC 10 For?
The AMC 10 is open to students in Grade 10 or below, under 17.5 years old. Students can begin attempting as early as Grade 6, with different goals at different grade levels.
How to Participate in AMC 10
The AMC 10 is administered on-site at official test centers — students cannot register individually. Find a test center at maa.org/student-programs/amc/.
What Math Content Is Covered?
- Algebra: operations, linear and quadratic equations, functions, factoring
- Geometry: similarity, congruence, polygons, circles, coordinate geometry, 3D geometry
- Number Theory: divisibility, modular arithmetic, Diophantine equations
- Counting & Probability: permutations, combinations, probability, combinatorics
How to Achieve a High Score
- Diagnose and set goals — start with a full-length mock exam
- Understand the difficulty structure — questions 1–10 easier, 21–25 very hard
- Bridge school math and competition math — AMC tests familiar topics differently
- Focus on application, not memorization — multi-step, unfamiliar contexts
- Review mistakes regularly — "make it right" beats "make it more"
- Practice under timed conditions — accuracy is often more valuable than speed
5-Month AMC 10 Study Plan
| Month | Focus |
|---|---|
| June–August | Foundation building with structured long-term course + mock exams |
| September | Register for AMC 10; fill in knowledge gaps |
| October | Wrap up new content; review past mistakes |
| November | Take AMC 10A and 10B; analyze performance |
Recommended Time Allocation on Exam Day
| Questions | Time per Question | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Q1–10 | 2 minutes | Solve quickly and confidently |
| Q11–15 | 4 minutes | Accuracy is key |
| Q16–20 | Flexible | Selectively solve 1–2 you're confident in |
| Q21–25 | Minimal | Leave blank unless extremely confident |
After AMC 10
AMC 10 is the gateway to AIME, USA(J)MO, and ultimately IMO. Students who excel can advance through the official American Mathematics Competitions pathway, highly recognized by elite universities.
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