Highly Popular Competition! 2026 AMC8 Syllabus, Registration, Schedule, High-Score Strategies & Free Study Materials

Exam Date: January 23, 2026, 17:00–17:40 (Beijing Time)

Registration Deadline: January 13, 2026 (China region)

Eligibility: Students in grade 8 or below, and not exceeding 14.5 years of age on the day of the exam.

Exam Format: 25 multiple-choice questions. Total score: 25 points (1 point for each correct answer, no deduction for incorrect answers).

Exam Language: Bilingual (Chinese-English) test papers.

II. Detailed Registration Process

The AMC8 does not accept direct individual registration. Applications must be submitted through one of the following three channels:

School Group Registration: Applicable to students from official partner test centers (typically international schools or key secondary schools). Registration is organized centrally by the school.

ASDAN Platform Registration: Search for the "ASDAN International STEM Assessment" mini-program on WeChat → Register an account → Search for "AMC8" → Fill in the required information → Upload ID card or passport → Pay the registration fee of 120 RMB.

Institutional Proxy Registration: Suitable for students from non-partner schools. Students must submit materials (including ID number, grade certificate, etc.) through officially authorized agencies.

Registration Notes:

Each mobile phone number can only be used to register one student.

A recent (within 6 months) 1-inch bareheaded ID photo on a white background must be uploaded.

Once the registration deadline has passed, no refunds will be issued.

III. 2026 Syllabus Changes and Key Points Analysis

The 2026 AMC8 syllabus has undergone significant adjustments, with changes in the proportion and difficulty of each module:

2026 AMC8 Syllabus Changes and Key Points

Knowledge Module	Percentage	Core Changes and Key Points
Algebra & Probability	40%–45%	Enhanced quadratic function modeling (e.g., carbon emission optimization), integration of probability and statistics with real-world scenarios (e.g., supermarket promotion models), ratio and fraction calculations, equations, and word problems.
Geometry	25%–30%	New: Dynamic analysis of 3D nets, problems combining the Pythagorean theorem with building structural stability, emphasis on calculating irregular shapes.
Number Theory & Combinatorics	20%–25%	Increased difficulty in prime factorization, use of short division to quickly find LCM and GCD, new addition of geometric sequence summation, more constraints in permutation and combination problems.

New Scoring Standards:

The weight of process points has increased to 30%. Students are required to label key theorem numbers (e.g., "Pythagorean Theorem TH 1.2.3"), and missing steps will result in a 30% point deduction.

Calculation results must be rounded to three significant digits. Unit errors (e.g., writing kilometers as meters) may result in a zero for the entire problem.

IV. Difficulty Gradient Distribution

The difficulty of AMC8 questions shows a clear gradient. Reasonable time allocation is crucial:

AMC8 Difficulty Gradient Distribution

Question Range	Difficulty Level	Characteristics	Recommended Time Allocation
Questions 1–10	Basic	Covers grades 3-4 school knowledge; requires quick and accurate completion.	8–10 minutes
Questions 11–15	Intermediate	Involves extended knowledge from grades 6-8, such as sequences, permutations, and combinations.	5–7 minutes
Questions 16–20	High Difficulty .=Advanced school-level content, reaching the level of basic Olympiad math; this is the key differentiator.	8–10 minutes
Questions 21–25	Very High Difficulty .=Determines the top 1% ranking, reaching the level of advanced Olympiad math; typically involves the integration of multiple knowledge points.	7–10 minutes

Reference Score Cutoffs for Awards (based on past years):

Perfect Score Award: 25 points

Distinguished Honor Roll (Top 1%): 21–23 points

Honor Roll (Top 5%): 17–19 points

Achievement Roll (Grade 6 or below): 15 points or above

V. High-Score Sprint Preparation Strategies

Phase 1: Foundation Consolidation (2–3 months before the exam)

Systematically review the basic concepts of the four major modules: Algebra, Geometry, Number Theory, and Combinatorics.

Daily 15–20 minute timed calculation exercises to master mental math techniques.

Practice with questions 1–15 from past papers to become familiar with question types.

Phase 2: Skill Enhancement (1 month before the exam)

Practice by module, focusing on high-frequency topics and weak areas.

Train on questions 11–20, trying multiple methods for each problem.

Maintain a mistake notebook, note the causes of errors, and review regularly.

Phase 3: Sprint Stage (2–3 weeks before the exam)

Conduct 2–3 full-length mock exams per week, strictly timed to 40 minutes.

Time allocation target: 8 minutes for questions 1–10 (aim for 100% correct), 15 minutes for questions 11–20, 12 minutes for questions 21–25.