2025 AMC10 Score Analysis! AMC10 A vs B: How to Choose?

01 Focus and Difficulty Differences

AMC10 A
Basic points are key: Questions are mostly "direct applications of core knowledge points," without obscure or weird questions.
Features:
The first 15 questions are basic (accounting for 60% of the total score), suitable for test-takers who want to "secure basic points and aim for medium-level points."
Questions 16-20 are medium difficulty.
Only a few advanced questions among 21-25.

AMC10 B
Advanced questions determine the gap: Places more emphasis on "higher-order thinking and comprehensive problem-solving strategies," with a higher proportion of difficult questions (19-25), requiring unconventional methods to solve.
Features:
Reduced proportion of basic questions, with a tighter connection between medium and difficult questions.
Suitable for test-takers with "solid fundamentals aiming for top 5%/top 1%."

02 Score Differences

A and B versions have similar difficulty levels, but some questions in B are more challenging.
Historical data shows that the qualification cutoff for B is generally higher than that for A, but the overall fluctuation is small.

03 How to Choose?

Exam Time: A is usually one week earlier than B (expected to be November 6 and November 14, 2026).
Difficulty and Focus:
A focuses more on the application of mathematics in real scenarios and computational solving.
B emphasizes a balanced examination across different areas, with some questions being more flexible and requiring higher mathematical literacy.
Strategic Advice:
If conditions permit, it is recommended to take both exams and use the higher score.
If only one can be taken, you can first refer to A's past papers to familiarize yourself with the question types before making a choice.

1. Foundation Phase (6 months in advance)

Core Goal: Focus on Algebra (main scoring subject) + Number Theory (advantageous for scoring), thoroughly understand medium-level Geometry problems, and grasp basic Combinatorics question types.
Specific Steps:
Practice questions 1-22 of past papers from the last 10 years by module, summarizing quick problem-solving techniques for each module (e.g., substitution in algebra, auxiliary lines in geometry, congruence simplification in number theory).
Keep the error rate per module ≤5%, ensuring immediate idea generation for medium-level questions (11-20).

2. Advanced Phase (3 months in advance)

Core Goal: Full-length timed mock exams (75 minutes) to practice time allocation and answering strategies.
Golden Rhythm:
Questions 1-10: ≤18 minutes (get all correct)
Questions 11-20: ≤32 minutes (≤1 error)
Questions 21-25: ≤20 minutes (aim for 2-3 correct)
Last 5 minutes: review
Study Plan:
Complete 3 sets of A/B past papers from the last 5 years per week, review errors on the same day, and fill in high-frequency gaps.

3. Sprint Phase (1 month before the exam)

Core Goal: Abandon obscure and weird questions, return to high-frequency topics and core formulas.
Specific Steps:
Review error notebooks + high-frequency questions from the last 3 years of past papers, memorize quick calculation formulas for Geometry/Number Theory, and practice classic question types from questions 21-25.
Establish consistent answering habits, circle keywords in questions, and avoid reading/computation errors.