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Explainers and prep playbooks for AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME. What's on each test, how scoring works, and study plans that produce real score gains.
Explainers
The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice math contest for students in grade 8 and below. Here's exactly what's on it, how it's scored, and what 'a good score' actually looks like.
AIME is the bridge between the AMC 10/12 and the USAMO/USAJMO. It's 15 problems, 3 hours, integer answers from 000–999, and one point each — no partial credit, no penalty for wrong answers. Here's the full scoring picture.
Many capable 10th graders ask: AMC 10 or AMC 12? The honest answer depends on whether your goal is a high score, an AIME qualification, or building toward USAMO. Here's how to decide.
Playbooks
Three months is enough time to gain 6–10 points on the AMC 8 if you spend it well. The plan: 30 days of topic foundations, 30 days of mixed mocks, 30 days of weakness-focused drills.
5 well-chosen AIME problems a day, 6 days a week, beats one giant Saturday session. Here's the cadence that works, the problem-selection rules, and the stuck-on-a-problem protocol that saves you from spinning.
These aren't "don't be nervous" tips. They're specific, recurring failure modes that cost real points on real tests — and the concrete countermeasure for each.