Today the American Mathematics Competitions announced changes to the AMC10/12 - AIME - USA(J)MO series of contests for high school students.

There are two major changes:

1. The cutoff score to advance from the AMC10 to the AIME is still 120, but in the event that fewer than 2.5% of all students score 120 or higher, they will lower the cutoff score so that the top 2.5% of students advance. (In previous years this percentage was 1%.) (Also, no changes for advancement from AMC12 to AIME: it's still 100 or the top 5%.)

2. Students can qualify for the USAMO only by taking the AMC12. Students can qualify for the USAJMO only by taking the AMC10. If a student takes both the AMC10 and AMC12 and qualifies for both olympiads, he or she must take the USAMO.

Official rules are on the AMC's website. Discussion continues on our AMC forum.