AMC 8 past papers
The AMC 8 has been held every year since 1985 — four decades of real papers to learn from. They are the single best way to prepare, because the style and difficulty are remarkably consistent year to year. Here’s why they matter and how to use them well.
Looking beyond the AMC 8? Once you are scoring well, the AMC 10 and AMC 12 are the next rungs — the full AMC 8 / 10 / 12 & AIME past-paper archive lives on our sister AMC site.
The best preparation there is
Because the AMC 8 has run continuously since 1985, there are forty years of authentic papers — and the contest is unusually consistent. The way it phrases questions, the spread from easy to hard, and the ideas it tests recur from one year to the next. A student who is comfortable with past papers is comfortable with the real exam.
That makes them far more valuable than generic worksheets. Practising with genuine past papers trains a student in exactly the kind of thinking the AMC 8 rewards, builds familiarity with its five-option, no-calculator format, and removes the surprise from exam day.
Quality over quantity
Working ten papers carefully beats skimming forty.
Sit one under time
Give the student a full 40 minutes and let them attempt all 25 questions, just like the real thing — including guessing on the ones they’re unsure of.
Review every miss
Go back over each question they got wrong or guessed, and don’t move on until the idea behind it makes sense. This is where the learning happens.
Spot the patterns
After a few papers, the recurring problem types start to stand out. Recognising them on sight is a large part of scoring well.
Finish with timed runs
In the final weeks, sit complete papers back to back to sharpen pacing, so the 40-minute clock feels routine on exam day.
What’s inside the free AMC 8 pack
- Printable PDFs organised by year — the AJHSME era (1985–1998) and AMC 8 papers from 1999 onward; the exact year list follows what our teachers send
- Separate answer-key booklets
- Worked solutions and topic notes for many years — the exact set follows what our teachers send
- Free — scan the WeChat QR code on this page
A curated set, matched to your child
We can put together a set of past papers and worked solutions matched to your child’s level — recent papers for exam realism, plus a selection of older ones grouped by topic for targeted practice. As an authorized test centre we know the contest well, and we can pair the papers with guidance so your child gets the most from each one.
For the full study path — topics, courses and mock exams — see our preparation page.
Past-paper questions
How many past papers should my child do?
Quality matters more than quantity. Ten papers worked carefully — attempted under time, then fully reviewed — prepare a student better than forty skimmed. Build up gradually.
Are old papers still relevant?
Yes. The AMC 8’s style and difficulty are very consistent over the years, so papers from a decade ago are still excellent practice, especially when grouped by topic.
Are the past papers available in Chinese?
Recent AMC 8 papers are offered in both English and Chinese for students in China, so a student can practise in whichever language they’ll sit the exam in.
Can you provide solutions too?
Yes — we share worked solutions with the curated set, so a student can review every question properly. Message us to set it up.
Quick questions about the pack
Are the past papers PDFs?
Yes. Each year is a separate printable PDF, so you can sit a paper on A4 under real timing rather than scrolling on a screen.
Do the papers come with answers and solutions?
The papers come with matched answer keys, and many years also come with worked solutions and topic notes. The exact papers and solutions follow what our teachers send you — and the set keeps growing.
How do I get the free pack?
Scan the WeChat QR code on this page and message us — we send the full pack for free. That is the only channel we use for the files.
What is the AJHSME?
The American Junior High School Mathematics Examination — the AMC 8’s name from 1985 to 1998, before MAA renamed it. Those fourteen early papers are in the pack too, and they are excellent gentle-entry practice.
Want the full AMC 8 pack?
Scan the WeChat code below and message us — we send the pack to you free. The exact papers and solutions follow what our teachers send, and the set keeps growing.
