Spark Math by Spark Education wishes a heartfelt congratulations to our students who achieved impressive results on the 2023 AMC 8 Contest! The 2023 AMC 8 was held from January 17 to January 23.
- Nearly 1/3 of Spark Math students received National Distinguished Honor Roll Certificates awarded to the top 1% test takers
- 44.5% of our students received National Honor Roll Certificates awarded to the top 5% test takers
- 60% of our students received National Awards for the competition
- Honor Roll of Distinction (Top 1%): Score of 21
- Honor Roll of Certificate (Top 5%): Score of 17
The 2023 AMC 8 was held between January 17 and January 23.
This year, over 74,000 students worldwide participated in the AMC 8. We’re especially excited to share that the average age of participating Spark Math students is 9.8 years old. They achieved an average score of 16.61, well above this year’s competition average of 10.26 and top 25% score of 13. The score is also significantly higher than the worldwide average score (calculated over the course of 12 years) of 9.81.
What is the AMC 8?
The AMC 8 (American Mathematics Competitions 8) is considered the most rigorous nationwide mathematics competition at the middle school level for students in grades 6-8. Accelerated fourth and fifth graders can also take part. The 25-question, 40-minute, multiple-choice examination includes topics like counting and probability, estimation, proportional reasoning, and elementary geometry.
The competition, run by the Mathematical Association of America, is the first in a series of competitions to determine the US representative team for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). There are three AMC levels total, which are: the AMC 8, for students in grades 8 and below; the AMC 10, for students in grades 10 and below; the AMC 12, for students in grades 12 and below.
What is the big deal about AMCs?
Students who excel on the AMC 10 or AMC 12 will be recruited for invitation-only prestigious math competitions. Competing in these specialty events will help catch the eyes of top-ranked college admissions officers. Most top scorers tend to start in the 6th grade or earlier with the AMC 8.
Curious to learn how you can help your child succeed? Learn more about our competition math offering: Spark Math Competition Program.
Here’s what the journey to math superstardom looks like. Top scorers on the AMC 10 or AMC 12 are invited to participate in the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). If they score well on the AIME, they are then invited to the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), or United States of America Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAJMO). Top performing USAMO students are selected to go to the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program (MOP), and from there, six students are selected to form the United States International Math Olympiad Team (IMO).
More than Just Competition
Math competitions offer your child a variety of benefits beyond just winning. They provide an excellent opportunity for your child to gain confidence, make new friends, and have fun. They can also enhance your child’s competitiveness for colleges and scholarships.
More importantly, math competitions help build essential lifelong learning skills, such as critical thinking, time management, and stress management.
If you’ve decided math competitions are a great fit for your kid and want to learn how Spark Math can help. Sign up for a trial class today to learn more!
Don’t forget to check out these other popular math competitions for young students: “The Best 5 Math Competitions for Kids Who Love Problem Solving”.
