AMC Registration 2026-27: How to Register for AMC 8, AMC 10 and AMC 12

AMC registration is the first step for every student who wants to compete in the American Mathematics Competitions, and it works differently than most exams: students do not register individually.

Where the 2026-27 cycle stands right now: registration opened on September 2, 2026. The regular AMC 10 and AMC 12 deadline passed on October 15, and until October 28 only competition managers who have hosted before can still register, so a first-time host site can no longer join this cycle. AMC 8 registration is still wide open, with October 28, 2026 for early bird pricing and January 5, 2027 as the final date for a new host.

Instead, AMC registration is handled through schools or official MAA-authorized test centers via the MAA contest portal.

Teachers and Competition Managers register their school through the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) AMC website, where they order test bundles and pay the registration fees on behalf of students.

If your school does not host the AMC, you can complete your AMC 8, AMC 10, or AMC 12 registration through a nearby authorized test center such as a college, math circle, or accredited learning center.

All three exam levels follow the same registration process, but each has its own test dates and deadlines.

This guide walks through every step of how to register for AMC in 2026-27, including the AMC test dates, registration deadlines, exam fees, the MAA student portal, how to find a test center near you, and what to do if you are an international, Indian or homeschooled student.

AMC Registration: What You Need to Know First

Before registering, confirm you meet the eligibility requirements by checking the AMC age limit and grade rules.

If you are still deciding whether AMC is worth your time, the benefits of participating in AMC math competitions make the case clearly.

Key Point	Detail
You cannot self-register with MAA	All registrations go through an approved school or authorized test center. The MAA contest portal is used by Competition Managers, not individual students.
Registration opened September 2, 2026	Spots fill quickly. Contact your school or test center as early as possible, because the host site deadline is not the same as your school’s internal one.
Three exam levels, different dates	AMC 8 is held in January. AMC 10 and AMC 12 are held in November on two separate dates (A and B).
The exam is taken in person	Some sites administer it digitally, but always under supervision at the host site. There is no at-home AMC.

AMC 2026-27 Exam Dates and Eligibility Overview

Here is a quick reference table for the 2026 AMC test dates and who can register for each exam level:

Exam	2026-27 contest date	Who can register
AMC 8	January 21 to 27, 2027 (one day chosen by the host)	Grade 8 or below, under 15.5 years old on contest day
AMC 10A / AMC 12A	Thursday, November 5, 2026	AMC 10: grade 10 or below, under 17.5. AMC 12: grade 12 or below, under 19.5
AMC 10B / AMC 12B	Friday, November 13, 2026	Same as above

The AMC 10 and AMC 12 are each offered on two dates: the A version and the B version, held about a week apart in November.

The AMC 8 testing date falls within a single window in January, and the exact day can vary slightly by test center.

Students who score 100 or more on the AMC 10, or 85 or more on the AMC 12, qualify for the AIME (American Invitational Mathematics Examination). Those two numbers are fixed for the 2026-27 cycle rather than being recalculated after the contest.

The 2027 AIME is on February 5 or 6, 2027, so AMC results and AIME invitations move quickly after the November exams. For every date in one place, see the full AMC test dates for 2026-27.

Always confirm the official AMC test dates for 2026 on the MAA website, as contest dates are finalized each competition cycle.

For a full eligibility breakdown including boundary cases and dual-sitting rules, see the AMC age limit guide.

AMC Registration Deadlines for 2026-27

Students register through a host school or test center, and each host must register with the MAA by these official 2026-27 deadlines (11:59 pm ET):

Deadline	AMC 10 and AMC 12	AMC 8	Host site fee
Early bird	September 30, 2026	October 28, 2026	$55
Regular (final deadline for new hosts)	October 15, 2026	January 5, 2027	$75
Late (returning hosts only)	October 28, 2026	January 14, 2027	$115
Extra student bundles	November 4 (A) and November 12 (B), 2026	January 26, 2027	Bundles of 10 licenses

Because Competition Managers must order materials and finalize rosters in advance, internal school deadlines are often earlier than the official MAA cutoff. Treat your school’s deadline as the real one.

The late deadline is the one families misread most often. It is not a general extension. A site that has never hosted the AMC cannot use it, which is why October 15 is the true cutoff for a new school and October 28 only helps schools that ran the contest in a previous year.

If you miss the AMC 10 registration deadline for the A date, ask your Competition Manager whether seats are still open for the B date, since the two sittings have separate ordering windows.

When Does AMC Registration Open?

Registration for the 2026-27 AMC cycle opened on September 2, 2026. The MAA usually opens the window in late August or early September for the November AMC 10 and AMC 12, with AMC 8 registration running on its own calendar into January.

If you are reading this after the deadlines above have passed, the next AMC 10 and AMC 12 registration window opens around late August 2027 for the November 2027 contests. Ask your school in the spring, not in October, because the decision to host is made by a teacher who needs lead time.

How to Register for AMC: Step-by-Step

Registering for the AMC takes five steps, from finding a host site to showing up on contest day. Here is the whole sequence.

Step 1: Find Your AMC Test Center

The first step in learning how to register for AMC is identifying where you will take the exam. There are three types of authorized AMC test centers:

Option A: Your Own School

This is the simplest and most common route. Many middle schools and high schools across the United States are official MAA-authorized AMC test centers.

Contact your math teacher, school counselor, or competition coordinator and ask: “Is our school hosting the AMC this year?”

If the answer is yes, your school’s Competition Manager handles all the logistics, including registration forms, payment, exam administration, and result reporting. You simply enroll through them.

Option B: A Nearby Authorized Test Center

If your school does not host the AMC, you can still compete through another authorized institution. These include:

• Colleges and universities
• Math circles and local math competition groups
• Accredited tutoring or learning centers approved by the MAA

Option C: Registration Through an International Partner

Outside the United States and Canada, registration runs through the official AMC partner for your country rather than through the US route. This is covered in detail in the international registration section below.

How to Find AMC Test Centers Near You

Searching for AMC test centers near you works better by institution type than by postcode alone. Work through these in order:

1. Start with the MAA tool. Visit maa.org and use the “Find a Test Center” search. Enter your zip code or city to see authorized AMC exam locations near you, along with contact details for each Competition Manager.
2. Ask your own school anyway. Many schools host without advertising it, and they are not always visible in a public search.
3. Try local universities and colleges. Outreach and admissions departments often run open AMC sessions for students whose schools do not host. Several university math departments run the largest open sittings in their region.
4. Contact math circles and competition clubs. These are the most likely to accept an outside student at short notice.
5. Check private learning centers. Many are registered sites and charge a seat fee on top of the MAA cost.

A test center that lists the AMC 10 almost always offers the AMC 12 on the same day, and most also run the AMC 8 in January. Ask about all three when you call, rather than making three separate enquiries.

Step 2: Confirm Your AMC Exam Eligibility

Before contacting your test center to enroll, confirm that you are registering for the correct AMC level.

Registering for the wrong exam is a common and easily avoidable mistake.

Exam	Grade Requirement	Age Requirement
AMC 8	Grade 8 or below	Under 15.5 years old on contest day
AMC 10	Grade 10 or below	Under 17.5 years old on contest day
AMC 12	Grade 12 or below	Under 19.5 years old on contest day

Both conditions (grade level and age) must be satisfied. If you meet the grade requirement but exceed the age limit, you must register for the next level up.

These AMC eligibility rules apply identically to public school, private school, homeschooled, and international students.

For detailed guidance on boundary cases and what to do if your birthday falls close to the cutoff, see the AMC age limit guide. If you are weighing which level to enter, AMC 8 vs AMC 10 and AMC 10 vs AMC 12 compare the content and the qualifying scores.

Can you register for both AMC 10 and AMC 12? Yes, provided you are eligible for AMC 10. The A and B sittings are on different dates so that a 10th grader can sit AMC 10A and AMC 12B (or AMC 10B and AMC 12A) in the same year. You cannot sit for the AMC 10 and the AMC 12 on the same date.

Step 3: Enroll Through Your Test Center and Pay the AMC Registration Fee

Once you have identified your test center and confirmed your eligibility, the next step is officially enrolling for the AMC exam.

Through your school: Your school’s Competition Manager will provide an enrollment form, either paper or digital. Complete it, return it by their internal deadline, and pay any applicable fee.

Your school will then submit the AMC registration to the MAA on your behalf.

Through an external test center: Contact the Competition Manager at your chosen test center directly.

They will walk you through their specific enrollment process, which typically involves completing a registration form and paying a fee either online or in person.

What the Competition Manager does at amc-reg.maa.org: the host, not the student, logs in to the MAA registration site, registers the site for the cycle, orders bundles of 10 student licenses, and enters the roster. If you have found the MAA registration URL yourself and cannot create a student account, that is why. The portal is built for managers.

AMC registration fees: the AMC exam registration fee typically ranges from $5 to $20 per student, depending on the test center. Some schools cover this cost as part of their academic programs.

Others pass it on to students directly. Contact your Competition Manager to confirm the exact AMC exam fees and accepted payment methods before the registration deadline.

Step 4: Watch for Your AMC Exam Confirmation

After enrollment is complete, your Competition Manager or the MAA will send a confirmation with your exam details approximately one to two weeks before the contest date. This confirmation will include:

• Your AMC exam date and start time
• The test location address
• Any materials you are permitted to bring (pencils, scratch paper. Calculators are not permitted)
• What to do if you need to cancel or reschedule

If you do not receive a confirmation within a reasonable period after enrolling, follow up with your Competition Manager directly.

Do not assume your AMC registration is complete until you have received written confirmation.

Step 5: Prepare and Show Up Ready

Registration is the logistical step. Preparation is what turns a registration into a strong result.

AMC exams do not allow calculators. The only materials permitted are pencils and scratch paper (typically provided by the test center).

Arrive early, bring photo ID if required by your test center, and have your confirmation details accessible.

For everything you need to know about creating a preparation plan after registering, see our full guide to preparing for the AMC math competition, and start timing yourself on real AMC past papers.

To understand what score to aim for once you are registered, review the AMC score benchmarks guide.

How to Register for AMC 8 (January 2027)

To register for the AMC 8, ask your school or a local test center to enroll you before its internal deadline. The host must register with the MAA by October 28, 2026 for the early bird rate, or by January 5, 2027 at the latest for new hosts. The AMC 8 then takes place on one day between January 21 and 27, 2027.

Because the AMC 8 window is only one week long, testing sites fill up even though the paperwork deadline looks generous. Ask in November, not in January. Once a seat is confirmed, work through the AMC 8 practice test guide.

How to Register for AMC 10 and AMC 12 (November 2026)

AMC 10 and AMC 12 registration runs through a school or authorized test center that registers with the MAA, then enrolls you on its roster. The contest dates are November 5 (A) and November 13 (B), 2026, and a student may sit both the A and the B paper.

The practical sequence for a student is short:

1. Confirm your school is a registered host for 2026-27, or find a center using the steps above.
2. Tell the Competition Manager which paper you want: 10A, 10B, 12A, 12B, or a combination on different dates.
3. Complete the enrollment form and pay whatever the host charges.
4. Keep the confirmation, because it carries the details you need for results later.

Prepare with the AMC 10 practice test and AMC 12 practice test guides, plus the roundup of free AMC practice resources.

What Is the MAA Contest Portal? AMC Student Portal Explained

Many students searching for the MAA AMC student portal or MAA contest portal are unsure what it actually does. Here is a clear breakdown.

The MAA contest portal is the official registration and administration platform run by the Mathematical Association of America. It serves two different user types:

For Competition Managers (teachers and test centers): This is where schools register as test centers, order AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12 competition bundles, manage student rosters, administer the digital version of the exams, and access results and reports.

For students: The MAA AMC student portal is primarily used to view scores and certificates after the competition. Students receive login or access details from their Competition Manager.

How to Log In and Find Your AMC Scores

Students cannot create their own MAA AMC login. Access comes from the host site, which has your roster entry and can resend the details.

• If you cannot log in, contact your Competition Manager first. They control student rosters and can resolve most access issues faster than the MAA help desk.
• Your AMC registration number is the identifier assigned when your enrollment is processed. It ties your exam paper to your results, so keep the confirmation email.
• Scores and AIME qualification status are released through the portal and your Competition Manager a few weeks after each contest window.

A few other things worth knowing: you cannot use the portal to self-register if your region requires registration through a school or test center, and the portal is not where you book the AIME. AIME qualifiers book their own seat at a Pearson testing center after being invited.

AMC Registration Fee: How Much Does It Cost?

Quick answer: the MAA charges host sites a registration fee ($55 early bird, $75 regular, $115 late) plus student bundles of 10 licenses ($30 for AMC 10 or AMC 12, $25 for AMC 8). Schools and test centers then set what they charge each student, so ask your host for the exact amount.

One of the most common questions students and parents ask is: how much does AMC registration cost?

The MAA charges schools and test centers a per-student fee for administering the AMC exams.

The exact amount you pay depends on how your test center structures its pricing. In most cases, the AMC registration fee falls between $5 and $20 per student per exam sitting.

• Some schools absorb the cost entirely, so students pay nothing
• Others pass the full MAA fee to students
• External test centers may add a proctoring surcharge, which is usually the largest part of the price for a student testing outside their own school

If cost is a concern, ask your school’s math department whether the AMC registration fee is covered by school funding.

Some schools receive grants or use department budgets to sponsor math competition participation.

There is no separate AMC student discount program, but many institutions waive or reduce fees for students who request assistance.

Always confirm the exact fee and payment method with your Competition Manager before the registration deadline closes.

AMC Exam Format and Time Limits

Knowing the AMC exam format and time limit before you register helps you choose the right level and plan your preparation.

Exam	Questions	Time Limit	Format
AMC 8	25 multiple-choice	40 minutes	No penalty for wrong answers
AMC 10	25 multiple-choice	75 minutes	6 points per correct answer, 1.5 points per blank
AMC 12	25 multiple-choice	75 minutes	6 points per correct answer, 1.5 points per blank

The AMC 8 time limit is 40 minutes for 25 questions, which makes pacing one of the biggest challenges for middle school students.

The AMC 10 time limit and AMC 12 time limit are both 75 minutes for 25 questions, with difficulty increasing sharply in the final third of the paper.

To see exactly what topics each exam covers, review the AMC maths competition syllabus, and practice with real math olympiad questions to get comfortable with the question style under time pressure.

Is the AMC Taken Online or in Person?

In person. Some host sites administer the AMC digitally on their own computers, but every version is proctored at the test center on the assigned date. There is no at-home or open-window online AMC, and no student takes it unsupervised. The one exception further along the pathway is the AIME, which from 2027 is computer-based at Pearson testing centers.

Are Calculators Allowed on the AMC?

No. Calculators are not allowed on any AMC exam.

This includes the AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12. This is one of the most frequently asked questions by first-time participants.

The AMC is specifically designed to test mathematical reasoning, creative problem-solving, and number sense, not computational speed.

Every problem on the exam can be solved without a calculator using logic, estimation, and algebraic techniques.

Understanding what types of questions are asked in math olympiads can help you prepare for this style of testing.

On exam day, you are only permitted to bring pencils, an eraser, and scratch paper (usually provided by the test center).

Phones, smartwatches, and any electronic devices must be turned off and stored away during the entire exam session.

This no-calculator policy also applies to the AIME (American Invitational Mathematics Examination), which is the next stage after AMC for qualifying students.

How International Students Register for AMC

International students can absolutely register for and compete in AMC math competitions.

The process follows the same core structure as U.S. registration but routes through country-level authorized partners rather than directly through the MAA.

How International AMC Registration Works

For the 2026-27 cycle, the MAA offers AMC competitions to schools with US, Canadian or APO/FPO/DPO mailing addresses, and to schools registered through an approved international partner. Everywhere else, students register through the official partner, sometimes called the International Group Leader, for the country where they live. These are typically:

• Accredited international schools with MAA authorization
• Country-level AMC coordinators appointed by the MAA
• Math circles or learning centers officially approved as international AMC test sites

These partners handle all registration logistics on behalf of students in their region, collecting enrollments, administering payments, hosting the exams under official conditions, and submitting results to the MAA.

Students in India, Bangladesh, Mexico, Turkey, the Gulf countries, and across Asia and Europe register through these national partners.

One thing that catches international families out: the October 15 deadline you see quoted everywhere is the US and Canada date. Local partners run their own registration calendars, fees and test center arrangements, and their deadlines are often later. Always check the partner’s date rather than the MAA one.

How to Find Your Country’s AMC Partner

Visit the official MAA AMC website and look for the international registration section. It lists authorized partners by country.

If your country is not listed or you cannot locate a partner, contact the MAA directly at their AMC support email for guidance on the nearest available option.

Same Rules Apply for International AMC Registration

International students sit the exact same AMC exams under the same conditions and time pressure as U.S. students.

All AMC eligibility rules, age limits, grade requirements, scoring rules, and AIME qualification scores apply identically regardless of location.

This means international students can qualify for the AIME and, through that pathway, potentially for USAJMO, USAMO, and representation at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).

For the full picture of where AMC can take you, see our guide on how to qualify for the IMO in the USA.

How to Register for AMC 10 in India

Students in India register for the AMC 10 through a participating school or an authorized AMC partner, not directly with the MAA. The same route applies to the AMC 8 and the AMC 12.

1. Ask your school whether it is registered as an AMC host for 2026-27. International schools and several CBSE and IB schools host the contest.
2. If it is not, find the authorized AMC partner for India through the MAA AMC International page.
3. Confirm the test date, center, fee and reporting time with that partner, because Indian partner deadlines usually fall later than the US October 15 date.
4. Check your eligibility: grade 10 or below and under 17.5 on contest day for the AMC 10, grade 12 or below and under 19.5 for the AMC 12.

What it costs in India: partners set their own pricing in rupees, and at the time of writing the published fees for a single AMC paper have sat in the region of 1,500 to 2,000 rupees per student. That figure changes by partner and by year, so treat it as a planning number and confirm before you pay.

Indian students sit the same paper, under the same rules, and qualify for the AIME on the same fixed scores of 100 on the AMC 10 and 85 on the AMC 12.

How Homeschooled Students Register for AMC

Homeschooled students are fully eligible to participate in all AMC math competitions: AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12.

The same eligibility rules for age and grade level apply.

Since homeschooled students may not have access to a school that hosts the AMC, the registration process typically involves:

• Finding a nearby authorized AMC test center using the MAA’s “Find a Test Center” tool
• Contacting the Competition Manager at that test center to request enrollment
• Completing the registration form and paying the applicable AMC registration fee

Many math circles, community colleges, and learning centers welcome homeschooled students for AMC testing.

A parent can also become a Competition Manager and register as a host site, which is the route some homeschool co-ops take when no local center will accept outside students. If no test center is available in your area, contact the MAA directly to ask about the options for your region.

What to Bring on AMC Exam Day

Once you have completed your AMC registration, knowing what to bring prevents any avoidable issues on contest day.

Item	Status
Pencils (No. 2)	Required
Eraser	Bring your own
Scratch paper	Usually provided by test center
Watch (non-smart)	Recommended
Registration confirmation	Bring a copy
Photo ID	May be required. Check with your test center
Calculator	NOT permitted on any AMC exam
Notes or textbooks	NOT permitted
Phone	Must be off and stored away during exam

The no-calculator rule applies to all three AMC exams: AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12.

This is intentional: AMC problems are designed to test mathematical reasoning and creative problem-solving, not computational speed.

After AMC Registration: What Comes Next

Once your AMC registration is confirmed, the next priority is preparation. Here is where to go from here:

Understand what the exam tests. The AMC maths competition syllabus covers every topic tested at each level, including algebra, geometry, number theory, combinatorics, and probability for AMC 10/12, with additional topics like trigonometry on the AMC 12.

Know your target score. Before you begin studying, understand what a competitive AMC score looks like.

Review the AMC score benchmarks to see national averages, Honor Roll cutoffs, and the fixed AIME qualifying scores for 2026-27. You can also check the average AMC math scores by level to set realistic targets, and the AMC math competition awards to see what recognition is on offer.

Build a preparation plan. A structured approach to past papers, topic practice, and timing strategy makes a measurable difference.

Follow the step-by-step framework in our guide on how to prepare for the AMC math competition.

For additional resources, explore free math olympiad training available online, practice with curated math olympiad questions, and learn how to get better at solving math olympiad questions.

If you are aiming for a top score, see how to get full marks in a maths olympiad.

Understand the full competition pathway. AMC registration is the first step on a journey that can lead to the AIME, USAJMO, USAMO, and ultimately the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).

Students who clear the AMC 10 or AMC 12 qualifying score are invited to the AIME, which opens the door to the USA Mathematical Olympiad selection process. Work through real AIME problems if that is the target, and see how to qualify for the IMO in the USA for the complete roadmap.

Explore other math competitions. If you enjoy AMC, you may also want to explore other prestigious contests. Our guide to the best math competitions in the world covers options at every level.

Students interested in international contests can also learn about Math Kangaroo, Math Kangaroo registration, and how to prepare for Math Kangaroo.

Key Takeaways

• Students never register with the MAA directly. A school or authorized test center registers as a host, then enrolls you on its roster.
• Registration for 2026-27 opened September 2, 2026. The AMC 10 and AMC 12 regular deadline was October 15, with October 28 open only to returning hosts.
• AMC 8 registration runs later: October 28, 2026 for early bird pricing and January 5, 2027 as the final date for a new host site.
• Host sites pay $55, $75 or $115 to the MAA plus bundles of 10 licenses, and most students end up paying between $5 and $20.
• If your school does not host, work through the MAA test center finder, then local universities, math circles and learning centers in that order.
• International and Indian students register through their country’s AMC partner, which sets its own deadlines and fees.
• No calculators on any AMC paper, and the exam is always taken in person at the host site.

---