The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) gave the 2026-27 AMC 10 and AMC 12 A exams on November 5, the B exams are scheduled for November 13, and scores for both will not be final until mid-December. Over the next eight days, Irvine students who competed must decide whether to take the B exam and prepare under the official rules the MAA updated on October 30.

What Happened in the 2026 AMC 10/12 Season

On October 30, the MAA updated its official 2026-2027 rules for the AMC 8, AMC 10 and AMC 12. Under that document, the key AMC 10 and AMC 12 dates this season are:

Date Event
November 5 AMC 10A and AMC 12A competition day
November 6, 8:00 a.m. ET Discussion of A exam problems permitted
November 6 Deadline for sites to request accommodations for the B exam
November 12 Deadline for sites to purchase additional B exam bundles
November 13 AMC 10B and AMC 12B competition day
November 17, 8:00 a.m. ET Discussion of B exam problems permitted
Mid-December Scores finalized; AIME invitations sent to qualifying students

The rules state that sites may give the exam only between 8:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on competition day. Converted to Pacific Time, Irvine sites may test between 5:00 a.m. and 8:59 p.m.

What the AMC 10/12 B Exam Means for Irvine Students

The B exam is the second and final chance this season to qualify for the AIME. MAA rules allow eligible students to take both the A and B exams, but not the AMC 10 and the AMC 12 on the same day. A student may, for example, take the AMC 10A and the AMC 12B, or the AMC 10 both times.

Irvine students who took the A exam should confirm a B exam seat with their site before November 12. The MAA accepts registrations only through competition sites (schools, universities, math circles and learning centers); students and parents cannot register directly with the MAA, and sites must purchase additional bundles by November 12. Students whose school offered only the A exam need to find another site for the B exam.

One rule is easy to overlook: A exam problems may not be discussed or shared before 8:00 a.m. ET on November 6, and B exam problems not before 8:00 a.m. ET on November 17. The rules prohibit reproducing or sharing problems and solutions during the exam period, and violations can lead to canceled scores.

How AMC 10/12 Scoring Works: A Blank Can Beat a Guess

The AMC 10 and the AMC 12 each have 25 multiple-choice questions with a 75-minute limit, and they are scored the same way:

  • Each correct answer earns 6 points;
  • Each unanswered question earns 1.5 points;
  • Each incorrect answer earns 0 points.

The MAA notes that because a blank earns 1.5 points and a wrong answer earns none, skipping a question can pay off compared with guessing at random. The maximum score is 150. The AMC 8 is scored differently: each question is worth 1 point, and wrong and blank answers both earn 0, so there is no penalty for guessing.

The two exams also differ in content. The AMC 10 is for students in grade 10 or below who are under 17.5 years old on competition day, and it covers elementary algebra, basic geometry, elementary number theory and elementary probability, excluding trigonometry, advanced algebra and advanced geometry. The AMC 12 is for students in grade 12 or below who are under 19.5, and it covers the full high school curriculum except calculus.

AMC 10/12 Exam Room Rules: What Students May Bring

The MAA rules list these permitted and prohibited items:

Permitted Prohibited
Pencils and erasers Formula sheets
Blank scratch paper provided by the site (not graph paper) Calculators
Rulers (including triangular rulers); compasses on the AMC 10/12 Phones, smartwatches and headphones
Hard-copy translation dictionary between the native language and English (given to the site 24 hours in advance) Smart eyewear that can record or transmit
For online testing: one browser window with one tab open to the exam Any other device that can send or receive information

The exam must be proctored in person at the address on record for the site, remote proctoring is not allowed in any form, and parents may not proctor at another location. Restroom breaks do not add time, and students may not use phones while outside the room. For students who need extended time, the site requests accommodations from the MAA with documentation such as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 plan, and approved extra time is limited to time-and-a-half or double time.

From AMC to AIME: Score Release and Qualifying Steps

Scores are released in mid-December. Once scores are final, the MAA emails competition managers, and students can view their scores in the competition portal.

The AIME thresholds are fixed. The MAA 2027 AIME rules require a score of at least 100 on the AMC 10 (A or B) or at least 85 on the AMC 12 (A or B). Students must also be enrolled full-time in a school in the United States or Canada, be in grade 12 or below when taking the AIME, be under 19.5 on the day of the qualifying AMC and be at least 13 on the day of the AIME.

Invitations go only to the email in the portal. Qualifying students receive a personalized link at the email address on file in the competition portal and use it to choose a Pearson test center, book a time and pay the fee. The MAA states that missing an invitation because the email address cannot receive messages or is not monitored is the responsibility of the student and family.

The AIME is a computer-based exam at Pearson test centers. The 2027 AIME registration deadline is February 1, and the exam runs February 5 to 6. It has 15 questions in two parts of 90 minutes each, and every answer is an integer from 0 to 999. Students may take the AIME only once, even if they qualify on both AMC exams. No materials may be brought into the testing room; scratch work goes in laminated graph-paper booklets provided at the center. A government-issued ID is required on exam day, and a parent may present one for a student under 18.

EDUBUS Recommendations for the AMC 10/12 B Exam

  • If the A exam went poorly, register for the B exam. AIME eligibility is based on reaching the threshold on either exam, and November 12 is the deadline for sites to buy more seats, so confirm with the site this week.
  • Do not discuss A exam problems before 8:00 a.m. ET on November 6. The rule covers conversations among students and online discussion, and the penalty is a canceled score.
  • Practice skipping as a strategy. Under the 6, 1.5 and 0 point scoring, use the final week of practice tests to decide which questions are worth answering.
  • Check the email address in the competition portal now. AIME invitations go only to that address, so confirm it receives mail before mid-December and watch the spam folder.
  • Middle school students should check their age. Students who will be under 13 on the day of the 2027 AIME cannot take it this year, even with a score of 100 on the AMC 10.

For this season’s rule changes, see AMC to USAMO: Five Changes to the 2027 Pathway; for question types and score targets, see the AMC 10 guide; for competition overviews, see AMC 10/12 and AIME. Students who want structured preparation can review EDUBUS math competition coaching.

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