Category: Blog

I. AMC10 Registration and Exam Timeline

The AMC10 is typically held in November each year, with the registration window for the Chinese region generally opening in September. Based on the rhythm of previous years, the key dates for the 2026 season are as follows (subject to official final notice):

Registration Time: Usually from September to October. In previous years, the registration deadline for the A version was around October 27, and for the B version around November 3.

Exam Time: Typically in early November. The AMC10 is divided into the A and B versions, with comparable difficulty. Students can choose either or both exams, and their highest score will be used for ranking.

Exam Format: 75 minutes, 25 multiple-choice questions, maximum score of 150 points (6 points for a correct answer, 1.5 points for no answer, 0 points for an incorrect answer).

II. Why Do Top Math Students at School Often "Fail" in the AMC10?

Many parents find that their children, who consistently get full marks in school math, frequently fail when they first encounter the AMC10. This is not due to a weak foundation, but rather falling into two major "high-score traps":

1. Over-reliance on "Routine Thinking"
Domestic in-school training often focuses on identifying question types and applying fixed solution templates (for example, drawing auxiliary lines for geometry problems first, or directly solving equations simultaneously). However, the AMC10's question design is extremely flexible, and even intentionally avoids conventional routines. Many problems that appear to be geometry are actually easier to solve using algebra or number theory methods. If a child relies on "routine thinking," they can easily go down the wrong path, leading to significantly reduced efficiency and accuracy.

2. Ignoring Details and Traps in Question Reading
The AMC10 has 25 questions to be solved in only 75 minutes, giving an average of less than 3 minutes per question. The questions often incorporate real-life scenarios, with relatively long problem statements that hide detailed traps. Children accustomed to the generous time limits of domestic math exams often struggle to adapt to the high-pressure rhythm of "quick problem comprehension, logical sorting, and decisive decision-making," making them prone to losing points by overlooking key conditions.

III. Comprehensive 2026 AMC10 Preparation Plan

As it is now May 2026, there are only about 6 months left until the November exam. This is a golden preparation period – not too long, not too short, just enough for systematic breakthroughs.

Stage 1: Foundation Building (May – July)
Systematically review the four core modules of the AMC10: Algebra, Geometry, Number Theory, and Combinatorics. Focus on clearing knowledge blind spots, especially number theory (such as modular arithmetic, congruences, base conversion) and combinatorics, which are less covered in the school curriculum.

Stage 2: Intensive Breakthrough (July – September)
Start working on AMC10 past papers from the last 10 years. It is recommended to practice by topic and maintain a dedicated notebook for mistakes. The goal is not just to practice problems, but to train your thinking. After completing each set of past papers, it is suggested to spend three times as long reviewing: analyze the root cause of each mistake – was it a lack of knowledge, a deviation in thinking, or a calculation error?

Stage 3: Sprint and Mock Exams (September – November)
Enter the full simulation phase. Complete at least one set of past papers per week, strictly within the 75-minute time limit, to adapt to the exam rhythm and adjust your test-taking mentality.

Core Score-Boosting Strategies
Conquer Key Modules: Geometry is the foundation for scoring, while Number Theory is often the key to widening the gap. For many students, number theory is a new area, but it is tested with high frequency in the AMC10, so it requires dedicated effort.
Optimize Exam Strategy: The AIME qualification line is usually around 99-105 points, which means you only need to get about 70% of the questions correct. Therefore, do not stubbornly focus on difficult problems. The strategy should be: aim for a perfect score on the first 15 questions, try to solve the medium-difficulty ones, and attempt only the difficult problems from modules you are good at – skip those you cannot do.

We are an authorized AMC test center and can assist with registration for free!

I. Your Foundation Determines Your Starting Point

The first step in preparation is to objectively assess your own mathematical foundation to formulate a differentiated sprint plan:

Solid Foundation Type (Have experience with Olympiads or have taken AMC8): These students do not need to learn knowledge points from scratch. It is recommended to directly work on 2-3 sets of AMC10 past papers for positioning, accurately identify weak areas, use the 3 months of summer to solidify the foundation, and dedicate the remaining 2 months to connecting knowledge points, correcting difficult problems, and taking full-length mock exams. This is more than enough to sprint for AIME.

Excellent In-School Performance but Zero-Base Type (No exposure to competition system): If your in-school math performance is good but you lack competition logic and knowledge system, it is recommended to first take a professional level test and formulate a scientific preparation plan. Be sure to seize the summer's block of time for intensive learning to quickly build a competition thinking framework.

The two most taboo things in preparation: first, procrastinating and waiting until one or two months before the exam to hastily start; second, blindly tackling difficult problems while neglecting basic consolidation, leading to "losing points on easy questions and not solving difficult ones."

II. Key Summer Preparation Tips for the AMC10

To maximize the use of this six-month golden period, it is recommended to reject "fragmented learning" and steadily advance according to the following three stages:

Stage 1: Build the Knowledge Framework (Early to Mid-July)
Core Task: Systematically organize the four major modules and clear knowledge blind spots.
The knowledge points of the AMC10 are scattered and highly interconnected. Blindly doing practice problems will only lead to losing focus. Before formally tackling practice problems, you must systematically master the core test points: In Algebra, focus on breaking through factorization and Vieta's theorem; In Geometry, master high-frequency models like Stewart's theorem and cyclic quadrilaterals; In Number Theory, thoroughly understand congruence equations and modular arithmetic; In Combinatorics, strengthen inclusion-exclusion principle and recursive counting.
Pitfall Avoidance Guide: Practicing past papers without a solid foundation will only lead to an accumulation of mistakes and severely damage your confidence.

Stage 2: Phased Targeted Breakthrough (Late July - Early August)
Core Task: Focus on conquering "medium-difficulty questions" to improve problem-solving speed and accuracy.
The AMC10 has 25 questions in total. Questions 1-10 are basic questions, 11-20 are medium-difficulty questions, and 21-25 are final challenge questions. The key to winning awards is to steadily secure basic points and strive to conquer questions 11-20. It is recommended to do timed practice of 3-5 algebra or geometry questions daily, alternating number theory and combinatorics, focusing on the medium-difficulty questions from past 5 years' exams, and summarizing problem-solving patterns for high-frequency question types.
Pitfall Avoidance Guide: When your foundation is weak, stubbornly tackling final challenge questions has very low cost-effectiveness. Instead, you might lose precious points on medium-difficulty questions.

Stage 3: Refuse to "Go It Alone" (Throughout the Process)
Core Task: Use professional guidance and peer support to avoid detours.
The competition-oriented knowledge points of the AMC10 are rarely covered in school curricula. Learning purely by yourself can easily lead to deviation or omission of key points. Seeking professional teachers to organize the knowledge system, explain difficult problem-solving techniques, and correct thinking errors is far more efficient than exploring on your own. At the same time, joining small classes to exchange problem-solving ideas with peers and supervise each other's learning can effectively avoid procrastination and maintain your preparation rhythm.

We are an authorized AMC test center and can assist with registration for free!