2026-2027 AMC 10A/12A Registration Now Open: Everything You Need to Know

Official Registration Announcement

The MAA has confirmed that the 2026-2027 AMC competition season is now underway, with registration portals open for both the AMC 10A/12A (November) and AMC 10B/12B sittings. This marks another year of the world's most recognized pre-collegiate mathematics competition, attracting over 300,000 participants globally from more than 6,000 schools.

For students in China, registration is conducted through MAA-authorized test centers. Early registration is strongly recommended, as popular test centers in major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen tend to fill quickly.

2026-2027 AMC 10/12 Exam Schedule

The complete schedule for the AMC 10 and AMC 12 examinations this season is as follows:

Exam	Date	Day	Registration Deadline
AMC 10A	November 5, 2026	Thursday	October 30, 2026
AMC 12A	November 5, 2026	Thursday	October 30, 2026
AMC 10B	November 11, 2026	Wednesday	November 5, 2026
AMC 12B	November 11, 2026	Wednesday	November 5, 2026

Important: Students may register for both the A and B sittings of the same exam level. Taking both sittings provides two opportunities to achieve a qualifying score for AIME. Your best score across both sittings will be used for AIME qualification purposes.

Who Should Take AMC 10 vs. AMC 12?

Understanding which exam to register for is essential. Here is a quick guide:

• AMC 10: Open to students in grade 10 and below, under 17.5 years of age on the day of the exam. Covers algebra, geometry, number theory, and combinatorics up to a 10th-grade level. Top 2.5% of scorers qualify for AIME.
• AMC 12: Open to students in grade 12 and below, under 19.5 years of age on the day of the exam. Covers the full high school curriculum including precalculus, trigonometry, and advanced algebra. Top 5% of scorers qualify for AIME.

Students eligible for AMC 10 may also choose to take AMC 12 if they feel prepared for the more advanced content. In fact, some students register for AMC 10A and AMC 12B (or vice versa) to maximize their chances across both difficulty levels.

Step-by-Step Registration Guide

Follow these steps to complete your AMC 10A/12A registration:

1. Determine eligibility: Confirm the student's grade level and age meet the requirements for AMC 10 or AMC 12.
2. Choose your exam sitting: Decide between the A sitting (November 5), B sitting (November 11), or both. Each sitting features a different set of problems at the same difficulty level.
3. Select a test center: Choose an MAA-authorized test center near you. In China, major cities have multiple authorized centers. Scan the QR code on this page for assistance finding your nearest center.
4. Complete registration: Submit the student's personal information, school details, and contact information through the registration portal.
5. Payment and confirmation: Complete the registration fee payment and save your confirmation email. You will receive your admission ticket with venue details approximately two weeks before the exam.

Important Deadlines to Remember

Missing a deadline means missing the exam. Mark these dates on your calendar:

• October 30, 2026: Registration deadline for AMC 10A and AMC 12A
• November 5, 2026: AMC 10A/12A exam day; also the registration deadline for AMC 10B/12B
• November 11, 2026: AMC 10B/12B exam day
• Late November 2026: Scores released (approximately 2-3 weeks after each exam)
• December 2026: AIME qualification notifications sent to eligible students

Exam Day: What to Expect

Both AMC 10 and AMC 12 follow the same format:

• Duration: 75 minutes
• Questions: 30 multiple-choice questions (A through E)
• Scoring: 6 points for each correct answer, 1.5 points for each blank, 0 points for each incorrect answer. Maximum score: 150 points.
• Permitted items: Pencils, erasers, and scratch paper (provided). No calculators, phones, or electronic devices of any kind.
• Arrival: Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time for check-in and seating.

Preparation Reminders for November

With the exam just weeks away, here are targeted preparation strategies:

• Practice with past papers: Work through AMC 10/12 papers from the past 5 years. Focus on understanding solution methods rather than memorizing answers.
• Time management drills: Practice completing 30 questions in 75 minutes. Aim for 2-2.5 minutes per question, leaving extra time for the harder final problems.
• Review key topics: For AMC 10, prioritize algebra, coordinate geometry, and counting/probability. For AMC 12, add trigonometry, logarithms, and sequences/series.
• Strategic guessing: Unlike AMC 8, there is a penalty for wrong answers on AMC 10/12. If you cannot eliminate at least one answer choice, leaving the question blank earns you 1.5 points versus 0 for a wrong answer.
• Build endurance: Simulate full exam conditions with timed practice sessions. Mental stamina over 75 minutes is a real factor in performance.

Tip: Students aiming for AIME qualification typically need a score of 100+ on AMC 10 or 100+ on AMC 12. Set your target score and work backward to determine how many questions you need to answer correctly.

AIME Qualification: The Next Step

The top performers on AMC 10 and AMC 12 earn invitations to the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). Historically, the qualifying thresholds are approximately:

• AMC 10: Top 2.5% of scorers (typically around 100-103 points)
• AMC 12: Top 5% of scorers (typically around 100 points)

AIME qualification is a prestigious achievement that significantly strengthens university applications, particularly for STEM programs at top institutions. For the 2026-2027 season, AIME I is scheduled for February 4, 2027, and AIME II for February 10, 2027.