The AMC 8 in China
In mainland China the AMC 8 is run by two recognized administrators — ASDAN (阿思丹) and the China Organizing Committee (中国区组委会). Both accept registration, and we are an authorized test centre under both — so you can register and sit the contest directly with us. This page explains who runs it, who can take it, the format, the schedule, how to register and the China award lines.
Two administrators, one contest
The AMC 8 is created by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), which has run the American Mathematics Competitions since 1950. In mainland China the contest is administered by two recognized bodies: ASDAN (阿思丹), which the MAA authorized as an International Group Leader in October 2020, and the China Organizing Committee (中国区组委会). Both organise national sittings, accept registration and publish their own schedules and award lines.
Whichever administrator you register through, it is the same MAA exam — the same 25 questions, in the same January window. The difference is the registration channel and a few administrative details, such as the exact award cut-offs each body confirms after the contest.
The chain of responsibility is simple: the MAA writes and owns the exam, an administrator (ASDAN or the China Organizing Committee) runs it nationally, and an authorized test centre or school hosts the sitting and handles registration locally.
What the China sitting looks like
The exam itself is the same worldwide; a few details are specific to the China administration.
Multiple choice. One point for each correct answer, zero for a blank or wrong answer — no penalty marking. Maximum score 25.
Calculators, smartwatches and other aids are not allowed. The contest rewards clear reasoning, not computation speed.
Students in China may take an English or a Chinese version of the paper — choose whichever lets the student read the questions most comfortably.
Open to students in grade 8 or below who are under 15.5 years old on the day of the contest.
Key dates for the China sitting
The AMC 8 runs once a year, in a single January window — the same window for both administrators. The 2026 sitting has concluded; the 2027 dates are confirmed each autumn.
| Milestone | 2026 season (completed) | 2027 season |
|---|---|---|
| Registration deadline | Jan 13, 2026 | To be announced |
| Admission ticket | Jan 17 – 23, 2026 | ≈ one week before the exam |
| Exam day | Jan 23, 2026 · 17:00–17:40 | Late January 2027 (TBA) |
| Scores released | ≈ 4 weeks after the exam | ≈ 4 weeks after the exam |
| Digital certificate | ≈ 6–8 weeks after the exam | ≈ 6–8 weeks after the exam |
Registering in China, step by step
The simplest route is to register with us — an authorized test centre under both administrators.
Check eligibility & pick a format
Confirm the student is in grade 8 or below and under 15.5 on exam day, and decide between the on-campus (offline) sitting or the home-based (online) sitting.
Register with us — or your chosen administrator
As an authorized test centre under both ASDAN and the China Organizing Committee, we can complete your registration and host the sitting. You may also register through ASDAN, the China Organizing Committee, or your school if it is a test venue.
Collect your admission ticket
In the week before the exam the admission ticket is issued by the administrator you registered through (for example, via ASDAN’s “ASEEDER LIMITED” WeChat mini-program). If you register with us, we make sure you have it.
Sit the paper, then track results
Take the 25-question, 40-minute paper in the January window. Scores follow in about four weeks, and digital certificates and award rolls in six to eight.
The China award lines
Recognition is based on score. The thresholds below are ASDAN’s 2026 lines; the China Organizing Committee publishes its own, and exact cut-offs are confirmed each year after the contest.
| Award | Score (out of 25) |
|---|---|
| Perfect Score | 25 |
| Honor Roll of Distinction | 24 |
| Distinction | 21 |
| Top 10% | 19 |
| Top 25% | 16 |
| Achievement Roll (grade 6 & below) | 15+ |
Recognition is broadly aligned across both administrators. Schools can also earn team recognition — an Honor Roll for the top three students’ combined score of 66 or above, and a Merit Roll for a combined 50–65. A strong AMC 8 result is a recognised signal for selective school admissions and a natural stepping stone toward the AMC 10/12 and the wider olympiad pathway.
China region questions
Who administers the AMC 8 in China?
Two recognized administrators: ASDAN (阿思丹), which the MAA authorized as an International Group Leader in October 2020, and the China Organizing Committee (中国区组委会). Both accept registration and publish their own schedules and award lines. We are an authorized test centre under both.
Can I register the AMC 8 through you?
Yes. We are an authorized AMC 8 test centre under both ASDAN and the China Organizing Committee, so you can register and sit the contest directly with us — we complete the registration and host the exam. Message our team to get started.
My child is enrolled in a US or Canadian school — can they sit it in China?
No. Students enrolled in a school in the United States or Canada are not permitted to take the AMC 8 in mainland China. They should register through their own school’s region instead.
Is the paper in English or Chinese?
Both are offered to students in China. You can choose the English paper or the Chinese paper — pick whichever the student reads most comfortably, since the mathematics is identical.
Can the AMC 8 be taken online in China?
Yes. There is both an on-campus (offline) sitting at test venues and a home-based (online) sitting. You choose the format during registration.
When is the 2027 AMC 8 in China?
The AMC 8 is always held in a single January window. The exact China dates are confirmed each autumn; historically the exam falls in the second half of January with registration closing about ten days earlier. We update this page as soon as the official dates are published.