I. AMC8 Competition Related Issues
1. What is the AMC 8 Math Competition?
The full name of the AMC 8 competition is American Mathematics Competitions 8. The "8" represents the level. There are also AMC 10 and AMC 12, which are similar competitions; the numbers after the digits indicate the level (meaning the competition content, format, and age requirements differ).
2. Who organizes the AMC 8 Math Competition?
The AMC 8 Math Competition originates in the United States and is organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). There is an organizing committee in China, which authorizes several institutions to conduct the exams.
3. Who can participate in the AMC 8 Math Competition?
In China, any student in the second year of junior high school or below can participate. Specifically, on the day of the competition, anyone under 14.5 years old can participate in the AMC 8. Below that, first and second graders are also eligible; there are no restrictions.
4. What is the format of the AMC 8 Math Competition?
The AMC 8 Math Contest is primarily an online competition, with a few organizations and test centers organizing in-person competitions.
5. How much does the AMC 8 Math Contest cost?
The registration fee for the AMC 8 is relatively low, around 120 RMB. If you pass the exam, you will receive an official certificate.
6. What does the AMC 8 include?
A. The AMC 8 covers materials from typical high school math curricula. Possible topics include, but are not limited to: counting and probability, estimation, proportional reasoning, elementary geometry (including the Pythagorean theorem), spatial visualization, everyday applications, and reading and interpreting graphs and tables. Additionally, some later questions may involve linear or quadratic functions and equations, coordinate geometry, and other topics traditionally covered in elementary algebra courses.
7. Will poor English skills affect my performance on the AMC 8 Math Contest?
The AMC 8 exam is bilingual (Chinese and English), so your English proficiency does not affect your performance.
8. When is the best time to start preparing for the AMC 8 Math Contest?
Generally, it's not recommended for students below grade 3 to prepare for the AMC 8 competition. Starting in grade 3, after establishing a certain mathematical foundation, students can begin preparing for the AMC 8. Of course, the actual start date depends on the individual student's situation. Some students may demonstrate strong mathematical interest and talent at an earlier stage, in which case they can also consider preparing for the AMC 8.
9. Does the AMC 8 math competition conflict with school math?
The AMC 8 competition and school math do not conflict; on the contrary, they can complement each other. School math focuses on foundational knowledge, providing a necessary foundation for the AMC 8. The AMC 8, in turn, expands and deepens upon the knowledge learned in school, helping students better understand and apply mathematical concepts.
10. What is the relationship between the AMC 8 and the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)?
No, the AMC 8 and the IMO are two different things. The AMC 8 assesses basic math knowledge for students below grade 8, with only multiple-choice questions, focusing on assessing students' mathematical thinking abilities and excluding complex calculations. Olympiad math problems come in a variety of forms and often appear in complex formats, focusing on testing calculation skills and mental arithmetic.
II. AMC8 Exam Related Issues
1. How do I retrieve my exam system login account and password?
After the organizing committee opens the exam information inquiry, students can go to the official website, click on 【My Registration】 in the upper right corner, and then 【Exam Information Inquiry】 to retrieve their account and password.
2. Where is the exam system login portal? How do I log in to the exam system?
Go to the official website - click on 【Exam Portal】 in the upper right corner of the page, enter your "candidate account and password" from the exam information inquiry to log in to the exam system, and take the mock exam and the official exam.
3. Is participation in the mock exam mandatory? Will not participating affect my exam score?
It is recommended that candidates participate in person, mainly to adjust the monitoring equipment in advance and familiarize themselves with the online exam system operation process. This will not affect the exam score.
4. How early should I enter the official exam? Can I still take the exam if I am late?
Before the official exam, there are identity verification and exam rule reading procedures. You need to enter the exam system 30 minutes in advance, follow the instructions of the invigilator, and wait for the exam to begin. You will not be allowed to participate in the exam 15 minutes after the start of the exam; this will be considered as abandoning the exam.
5. What if I don't have my ID with me? If you do not have your original ID card with you, you can use a digital photo of it instead.
6. Is it mandatory to use a computer to answer the questions during the exam? Can I use a tablet or mobile phone?
You must use a computer to log in to the exam system. Prepare another mobile device (phone/tablet) for invigilation.
7. What are the requirements for background programs on the computer during the exam?
Before the official exam, you must close all background programs, leaving only the Google Chrome browser used for the exam open, to prevent the exam system from detecting screen switching as cheating.
8. If my internet connection drops during the exam, can I reconnect?
You can reconnect. Online exams rely on a network. You should test your network and device in advance through a mock exam. Address any problems beforehand to avoid affecting the official exam due to network or device issues.
9. Can I bring scratch paper and a calculator to the exam?
Calculators are not allowed. You may only bring a valid ID, blank scratch paper, an eraser, a ruler, a compass, a pen, and blank graph paper to the exam. Other items are not allowed.
10. Can I skip questions I don't know during the exam? Yes, the exam consists of 25 multiple-choice questions. Candidates can choose not to answer some questions. For AMC 8, no points are deducted for unanswered questions; for AMC 10/12, 1.5 points are added for unanswered questions.
11. Can I submit my paper early? Can I drink water during the exam? Can I ask to go to the restroom?
Early submission is not allowed. During the exam, candidates must not leave the monitoring area, drink water, or eat; otherwise, their exam results will be invalid.
12. What should I do if my answering device loses power or I accidentally close the interface during the exam?
Please immediately connect the power and log back into the exam system. The countdown will resume after logging back in, and the previously entered answers will be automatically saved.
13. What does the "screen switching" prompt on the exam system page mean?
The online exam system has anti-cheating settings such as forced screen domination and anti-screen switching. During the exam, the system will automatically identify and prohibit suspected violations such as copying, pasting, and screenshotting. During the exam, candidates are strictly prohibited from leaving the page or switching to other software pages to use query or communication functions before the exam ends. If the system detects screen switching, a warning will be issued and the exam will be forcibly submitted, invalidating the score for this session.
14. How should the mobile phone/Pad used for invigilation be placed?
During the exam, mobile devices (phones or tablets) with cameras need to be positioned in a fixed location to take pictures. The frame must show the examinee, the desktop where the questions are being answered, a blank draft paper, and the computer screen. The examinee's hands and chest-to-upper body must be visible in the frame, and backlighting should be avoided. All books and other items related to the exam should be cleared from the exam desktop.
15. What if I didn't receive the mock exam notification email?
This may be due to an incorrect email address. The email content includes documents such as the "Online Exam Instructions," "Pre-Exam Preparation Checklist," and "Examinee Conduct Guidelines," as well as pre-exam reminders. You can contact the competition advisor in your school's area to obtain these documents. This will not affect your normal exam.
16. When will I know my results and awards?
All award information will be published on the official ASDAN China Science Competition WeChat service account. Follow the "ASDAN ASDAN International Science and Engineering Competition" service account and pay attention to push notifications. At that time, candidates can also log in to the competition's official website, click on 【My Registration】-【Results Inquiry】 in the upper right corner of the page to check their exam results.
III. Other AMC8 Issues
1. Are AMC 8/10/12 related in terms of advancement?
No, AMC 8/10/12 are not related in terms of advancement. AMC 10/12 can advance to AIME.
2. Is the AMC only helpful for students going to the US?
The AMC 8 math competition is recognized for middle school entrance exams in China; AMC 10/12/AIME are highly recognized for studying in countries like the UK, US, Australia, and Canada.
3. How do I request a rescore for my answer sheet?
Use the AMC 8 Rescore application form. A fee of $35.00 will be charged for each rescore. The official answers will be the answers marked in black on the answer sheet. All returned answer sheets for scoring will be collected 80 days after the AMC 8 competition date.
4. Who can proctor the competition?
Only competition managers are allowed to proctor. Parents or guardians cannot proctor students. Starting in 2022-2023, students will be proctored by their competition managers. Any suspected cheating or unauthorized resources will be reported to the competition manager. Click here for the cheating and disqualification policy. For further questions regarding the AMC 8 proctoring policy, please contact MAA AMC at amcinfo@maa.org.
5. Can different math classes be scheduled for different time slots on the official managed dates for the AMC 8 competition, or must all students participate simultaneously?
The competition must be managed by the competition manager within its valid competition window. The valid competition window for this period is from 8:00 AM to 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (GMT+5) on the official competition date in the United States.
Competition managers may choose to manage competitions for different students at different times; however, for the integrity and security of the competition, MAA AMC strongly encourages competition managers to manage the competitions of all participating students simultaneously.