AMC 10
The American Mathematics Contest 10 (AMC 10), along with the AMC 12, are the first exams in the series of exams used to challenge bright students on the path towards choosing the team that represents the United States at the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO).
High scoring AMC 10 and AMC 12 students are invited to take the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME).
The AMC 10 is administered by the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC). Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) is a proud sponsor of the AMC.
The AMC 12 used to be the American High School Mathematics Examination from 1950 to 1999.
AMC 10 |
Region: USA |
Type: Multiple Choice |
Difficulty: 1-3 |
Difficulty Breakdown:
Problem 1-5: 1 |
Format
The AMC 10 is a 25-question, 75-minute multiple-choice test. Problems generally increase in difficulty as the exam progresses. Calculators were permitted on old AMC tests; however, as of 2006 and later, calculators are not permitted for use.
The AMC 10 is scored in a way that penalizes guesses. Correct answers are worth 6 points, incorrect questions are worth 0 points, and unanswered questions are worth 1.5 points, to give a total score out of 150 points. From 2002 to 2006, unanswered questions were awarded 2.5 points. In 2006 and 2007, unanswered questions were awarded 2 points. Students that are in the top ~6% of the AMC 10 are invited to take the AIME.
Curriculum
The AMC 10 tests mathematical problem solving with arithmetic, algebra, counting, geometry, number theory, probability, and other secondary school mathematical topics. Problems are designed to be solved by students without any background in calculus or trigonometry.
Resources
Links
- The MAA's official webpage for the AMC
- The AoPS Wiki's AMC 10 Problems and Solutions page
- The AoPS Contest's AMC 10 Problems folder
- Statistics for the past AMC and AIME exams
- The AoPS Contests & Programs Forum for contest related discussions
- AoPS User created mock AMCs, an abundance of mocks designed to mimic real AMC tests, also compiled in the AoPS Mock Contests Compilation folder
- Evan Chen's Math Contest Platitudes blog, a guide to contest preparation, and Math Contest FAQs
Books
- The Art of Problem Solving Volume 1 by Sandor Lehoczky and Richard Rusczyk
- The Art of Problem Solving Volume 2 by Richard Rusczyk and Sandor Lehoczky
- Introduction to Algebra by Richard Rusczyk
- Introduction to Counting & Probability by Dr. David Patrick
- Introduction to Geometry by Richard Rusczyk
- Introduction to Number Theory by Mathew Crawford
- ACE The AMC 10 and 12 book (free) by Ritvik Rustagi
Classes
- The AoPS Online School, with AMC 10 preparation classes and other classes on AMC 10 topics
- The AoPS Math Jams, some of which are devoted to discussing problems of the AMC 10
- EPGY offers an AMC 10 preparation class