The 2024 American Mathematics Competition 8 (AMC 8) was held from January 18 to January 24. Once again, Spark Math students have achieved remarkable success! Spark Math by Spark Education wishes the warmest congratulations to all our students on their outstanding performance!
- A total of 33 Spark Math students achieved the Perfect Score.
- 13.55% of Spark Math students earned a spot on the Distinguished Honor Roll (Global Top 1%).
- 14.48% of our students were awarded the Honor Roll (Global Top 5%).
- 42.36% of our participating students received the Achievement Roll, exceeding the global average award rate of around 30%.
Among all Spark Math students who actually participated in the AMC 8 exam this year, the majority were in elementary school, accounting for 93.49% of all contestants. The most significant participation came from students in grades 4, 5, and 6, which represented 16.33%, 32.14%, and 37.05% of the total participants, respectively. There were a total of 60 participants from grade 3 and below, of whom 20 received the Achievement Roll, and 2 achieved the Perfect Score. Congratulations to them once again!
AMC 8 Historical Statistics 2015-2024
AMC 8 2024 Score Distribution
This year, over 80,000 students globally participated in the 2024 AMC 8 exam, with an average score of 10.75 points. Spark Math participants, however, achieved a higher average score of 14.57 points. Currently, the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), organizer of AMC competitions, has not disclosed the specific number of awardees for each prize but has released the distribution of scores as shown in the following chart.
AMC 8 2015-2024 Cutoff Scores (Worldwide)
For the past decade, Distinguished Honor Roll (DHR) cutoff scores ranged from 19 to 23, while Honor Roll (HR) cutoff scores fluctuated between 15 and 19. The average score gradually improved over the years, with the highest recorded in 2024 at 10.75.
AMC 8 2015-2024 Number of Awardees
A Quick Guide to AMC 8
The American Mathematics Competitions (AMC), organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) since 1950, offer a sequence of exams aimed at students of varying levels, including the AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12, with the goal of promoting mathematical excellence. The AMC 8 stands out as one of the most challenging mathematics competitions for middle school students in the United States, mainly targeting grades 7 through 8, though accelerated elementary students are also welcome to participate. This 25-question, 40-minute, multiple-choice contest covers topics like counting and probability, estimation, proportional reasoning, and elementary geometry, encouraging positive attitudes towards analytical thinking and mathematics that can aid in future careers. Serving as the entry point in a series of competitions that ultimately select the US team for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), the AMC 8 is a prime opportunity for students up to grade 8 to bolster their mathematical skills.
Why participate in the AMC 8?
Participating in the AMC 8 competition is not only about testing mathematical abilities; it’s a crucial step for students aiming for academic excellence, especially for those with aspirations to join prestigious institutions. The AMC series of competitions stands as a robust testament to a student’s mathematical capabilities. Among the Ivy League universities, five explicitly require the submission of AMC scores in their application process, while the remaining three have specific demands regarding students’ mathematical proficiency. Thus, achieving outstanding results in the AMC 8 competition signifies a student’s successful mastery of the knowledge and skills highly sought after by these elite schools, providing a significant advantage in the highly competitive college admissions landscape.
Moreover, the AMC pathway doesn’t end with the AMC 8. Top performers in the AMC 10 and AMC 12 exams are invited to the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), advancing students who excel further to the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) or United States of America Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAJMO). Success in these stages opens doors to the Mathematical Olympiad Program (MOP), culminating in the selection of six students for the United States International Math Olympiad (IMO) team.
Thus, the AMC competitions, starting from AMC 8, offer an ideal platform for students with a knack for mathematics to challenge themselves, sharpen their math skills, and significantly enhance their academic profiles. This journey through the AMC competitions prepares students not just for university admissions, but for a future in which their mathematical prowess can be fully realized and appreciated.
Important AMC 8 Exam Details
- Eligibility Requirements
The AMC 8 is open to students in grade 8 or below, who are under 14.5 years of age, without any nationality restrictions. Our youngest participant at Spark Math, a second grader, achieved a perfect score in AMC 8 2024, showcasing the potential of early preparation.
Over the last few years, about 6% of all the AMC 8 competitors are in 5th grade or below, and another 19% are in 6th grade. If your children want to compete, early elementary school is the ideal preparatory period for mastering the mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills needed in the competition. And Spark Math is a superb choice for early training, given our excellent past results.
Students cannot sign up for the AMC 8 directly but must do so through their schools. For students in the USA and Canada, this means registering via a school that meets the MAA’s qualifications. For students outside these countries, registration must be through a school associated with one of the MAA’s international partners. Alternatively, students can also register through Spark Education.
Registration for AMC 8 follows a consistent annual schedule. For the 2024 competition:
Registrations Dates
- Early bird registration: August 18 to October 16, 2023 ($53)
- Regular registration: October 17 to December 18, 2023 ($73)
- Late registration: December 19, 2023, to January 11, 2024 ($113)
Competition Date: Jan 18 – 24, 2024
Results: Typically announced 4-8 weeks post-competition and sent to participants via email.
As you can see, registration fees increase over time, so early registration is advised. And for parents planning to register their children for the 2025 AMC 8 competition, please mark your calendar as mentioned above and keep an eye on the exact registration dates.
- Exam Format
The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice exam, which puts students under a bit of time pressure, with approximately 96 seconds per question.
- Language
The exam is available in multiple languages (in different countries and regions), including English, French, Chinese, Spanish, and Portuguese. It also has large print options for those with eyesight challenges.
- Scoring
Each correct answer awards 1 point, while incorrect or blank responses neither gain nor penalize, making the highest possible score 25.
- Difficulty Level
The difficulty of the AMC 8 varies annually but is designed to be appropriately challenging for middle school students. While students in grades 7 and 8 may have an edge, the AMC 8 presents a robust challenge for all participants. Among the AMC series of exams – AMC 8/10/12, the AMC 8 is generally perceived as the least demanding.
- Key Topics
The material covered on the AMC 8 includes topics from a typical middle school mathematics curriculum. 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. In addition, some of the later questions may involve linear or quadratic functions and equations, coordinate geometry, and other topics traditionally covered in a beginning algebra course.
AMC 8 Awards
Perfect Score: Students with perfect score (25 points)
Distinguished Honor Roll: Global Top 1%
Honor Roll: Global Top 5%
Achievement Roll: Students in Grade 6 or below with 15 points and above
Spark Math Competition Program
The Spark Math Competition Program is specifically designed to enhance children’s logical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Though we have only begun offering registration and training services for various renowned international math competitions in recent years, our exceptional teachers, innovative and engaging teaching methods, and child-friendly course materials have significantly fostered a love for mathematics among our students, leading to noticeable improvements in their performances.
Spark Math students began participating in the AMC 8 competition in 2023 and immediately achieved outstanding results, a trend that continued into this year with equally impressive accomplishments. Excelling in AMC 8 requires continuous effort, and the guidance of experienced teachers can make learning twice as effective. If your child has an interest in mathematics and competitions, sign up for our trial class today to discover more about how we can support their journey to success in math competitions!
