Category: Blog

I. AMC10/12 Award System and Award Percentages

AMC awards are mainly divided into three categories: global ranking awards, special awards for lower grades, and qualification for advancement:

Award Name	Award Percentage/Criteria	Difficulty and Significance
Perfect Score	Score of 150 (perfect score)	Extremely rare, only a handful globally, represents absolute mathematical mastery.
Distinguished Honor Roll (DHR)	Top 1% globally	Top academic signal. Highly competitive for applications to Top 20 US universities/Ivy League STEM programs.
Honor Roll (HR)	Top 5% globally	Strong academic proof. Usually a powerful plus for targeting Top 30 US universities.
Top 10% Honor Roll	Top 10% globally	Excellent level. Suitable as a stepping stone for applications to Top 50 US universities or quality international school summer programs.
Top 25% Honor Roll	Top 25% globally	Good level. Proves math ability above the global average, suitable for competition beginners to build confidence.
Achievement Roll (AR)	Grade 10 or below and score ≥ 90	Specifically for talented younger students, proving cross-grade mathematical talent.
AIME Qualification	Approximately Top 2.5%–5% globally	The ticket to advanced competitions, an important milestone for the value of the AMC.

(Note: Specific cutoff scores fluctuate each year based on the difficulty of the A/B exams and the overall performance of global participants.)

II. 8-Week Summer Efficient Preparation Plan

We can break down the preparation into four stages to maximize the use of the holiday and achieve rapid progress:

Stage 1: Accurate Diagnosis, Identify Weaknesses (Weeks 1-2)
Core Task: Find a set of AMC10/12 past papers from the last 3 years and take a diagnostic test strictly within the 75-minute time limit.
Implementation Details: Only attempt questions you know, leave blank ones as 0 points. After the test, calculate your score and analyze the distribution of mistakes. Identify whether your issues are "knowledge gaps" (completely can't do), "speed weaknesses" (know how but too slow), or "strategy flaws" (wasting time on a single problem). This will help you understand your true starting point and avoid ineffective problem-cramming.

Stage 2: Solidify Foundation, Breakthrough by Topic (Weeks 3-6)
Core Task: Systematically build a knowledge map by module. It is recommended to proceed in the order "Algebra → Geometry → Number Theory → Combinatorics," maintaining 2-3 hours of study daily.
Implementation Details: Focus on conquering the Number Theory and Combinatorics modules, which are rarely covered in domestic school curricula (e.g., modular arithmetic, congruences, inclusion-exclusion principle, recursive counting). These are the core differentiating factors for scoring high. You can use the "AOPS Introduction" textbook series or related topic-specific handouts for targeted reinforcement.

Stage 3: Comprehensive Speed-Up, Timed Practice (Weeks 4-6, overlapping with the later part of Stage 2)
Core Task: Enter a training cycle centered on real past papers, completing at least 3 full sets of real exams per week.
Implementation Details: Must strictly time yourself to 75 minutes. After each set, create an error log, mark the reasons for mistakes (e.g., calculation error, confusion of formulas, stuck thinking), and redo all the incorrect questions.

Stage 4: Mock Exam Sprint, Mental Preparation (Weeks 7-8)
Core Task: Full simulation mock exams and breakthrough on challenging final problems.
Implementation Details: Increase the intensity of full simulation mocks to 2-3 times per week, strictly simulating real exam conditions. After the mocks, perform a "debriefing analysis," comparing the scoring rate and time spent on each module, identifying the types of "stuck" problems and addressing them specifically. At the same time, you can appropriately practice innovative solution methods for the final challenging problems (questions 21-25), but only on the premise of ensuring a very high accuracy rate on the first 20 questions.

III. Exclusive Score-Boosting Tips

Leave-Blank Strategy:
The AMC scoring rule is: +6 points for a correct answer, +1.5 points for leaving a question blank, and 0 points for an incorrect answer. When encountering a problem you have no idea how to solve, leaving it blank is more advantageous than guessing blindly!

1-Minute Quick Assessment Method:
For each problem, give yourself a 60-second rapid assessment period. If the basic concept is clear, solve it decisively. If it involves unfamiliar knowledge points or your thinking gets stuck for more than 2 minutes, mark it to skip immediately—establish a "loss-cutting mechanism".

Targeting Weaknesses for Students from Different Curricula:
AP System: Calculus is not tested in the AMC at all; need to supplement Number Theory, Combinatorics, and Geometric Proofs.
IB System: Broad knowledge but lacks depth; need to specifically supplement high-frequency topics like "congruences" and "recursive counting" during the summer.
A-Level System: Although it covers some knowledge points, it lacks training in competition skills and cross-module integration problems; needs targeted reinforcement.

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I. AMC10 A vs B: Core Differences and How to Choose

The A and B exams are usually held about a week apart, with completely different questions, but rankings are separate for each. Looking at data from previous years, the overall style of the A exam is more "stable," focusing on basic application; the B exam is more "flexible," focusing on depth of thinking.

Exam A: Steady and Solid, Foundation is Key
The questions in Exam A are relatively "standardized." The proportion of basic questions (the first 15) is slightly higher, staying closer to textbooks and regular test points. The computational load is moderate, and the final problems are relatively conventional. This makes Exam A very suitable for students with a solid foundation, first-time participants, or those with limited preparation time. For students seeking stability, Exam A has a higher margin for error.

Exam B: Flexible and Variable, A Test of Thinking
The questions in Exam B are often more flexible and comprehensively integrated. It tends to feature innovative question types in areas like number theory and combinatorics. Some problems require "ingenious thinking" or reasoning across different modules. Exam B demands higher computational proficiency and sustained reasoning ability, making it ideal for students with competition experience, flexible thinking, and aspirations for high scores (DHR, top 1% globally).

Three Key Strategies for Choosing Your Exam:
Goal: Securely Qualify for AIME:
It is highly recommended to register for both Exam A and Exam B. The competition will take your best score from the two exams as your final result, significantly increasing your chances of qualification. If you can only choose one, prioritize Exam A, as the basic questions are more direct and points are easier to secure.
Goal: Achieve a High Score/DHR:
Prioritize Exam B. The highly discriminative questions in Exam B are better for creating distance between scores. If you are strong in number theory and combinatorics, Exam B makes it easier to stand out in the high-score bracket.
Goal: Transition to AMC12 / Long-term Competition Preparation:
You can try the strategy of "taking AMC10 for Exam A and AMC12 for Exam B." Using the one-week interval between the two exams, you can first consolidate your AMC10 foundation with Exam A to secure an award, then challenge the difficulty of AMC12 with Exam B, getting an early feel for the pace of higher-level competitions.

II. AMC10 Core Topics and Trends

The difficulty of AMC10 questions increases in a step-like manner. The knowledge points align with the junior high and high school math syllabus but are extended further. Four major high-frequency topics cover the vast majority of questions:

Algebra (Highest Proportion):
Includes linear/quadratic functions, polynomials, sequences, inequalities, etc. This is the foundational section for scoring points. It involves significant calculation and flexible question types, requiring mastery of computational skills.
Geometry (Where difficulties cluster):
Primarily plane geometry, involving triangles, circles, polygons, similarity/congruence, and area/perimeter calculations. Geometric constructions are often complex, and the ability to think about auxiliary lines is key to solving problems.
Number Theory (Core for Differentiation):
Covers divisibility, remainders, prime factorization, parity, etc. This section is less encountered in regular school curricula, making it a weak area for many students. It is the core for differentiation between medium and high score ranges.
Combinatorics (Flexible and Variable):
Includes permutations, combinations, probability, logical reasoning, and counting principles. These questions have no fixed solution templates, focus on testing mathematical thinking, and difficult problems are often concentrated in the last 5 challenging questions.

III. 2026 AMC10 Preparation Plan (Targeting the November Exam)

For students planning to take the AMC10 in November 2026 and aiming to successfully qualify for AIME, it is essential to seize the golden summer preparation period:

Master all knowledge points comprehensively (June - July):
Use the free time before summer vacation to solidify your foundation. This is especially crucial for students in grades 7-9 or lower, as there is a significant gap between their current knowledge and competition requirements in number theory and probability. Systematic learning is needed to fill these knowledge gaps.
Connect knowledge points (August - September):
After mastering the basics, practice simple problems first, then gradually tackle medium-difficulty problems. Focus on learning how to solve problems integrating multiple knowledge points, or delve deeply into a single difficult knowledge point to learn how to apply concepts flexibly.
Intensive problem-solving and mock tests (October - pre-exam in November):
Focus intensively on past AMC10 exams. It's recommended to do them multiple times. While solving problems, promptly summarize mistakes, become familiar with the question styles and patterns, and develop your own time allocation strategy for the exam.

We are an authorized AMC test center and can assist with registration for free! Scan the QR code to inquire about registration for the 2026 AMC10 season.