Average AMC Math Scores: AMC 8, 10 and 12 Averages and Distribution (2026)

The average AMC 8 score in 2026 was 12.42 out of 25, from 80,977 students. The average AMC 10 score sits around 57 to 62 out of 150, and the average AMC 12 score ran about 66 on the November 2025 B paper, so both land near 40% of the maximum.

Knowing the average is only half the picture, because average and competitive are two very different things.

This guide covers the average AMC score at every level, the official 2026 score distributions and percentiles, year-by-year averages back to 2020, the AIME qualifying scores, and what to do next based on where your score landed.

If you want score targets rather than averages, read what counts as a good AMC score. Others want to know how scores translate into AMC math competition awards or how to prepare for the AMC math competition more effectively next time.

How AMC Scoring Works

Before comparing scores, you need to understand how AMC scoring works, because the three exams do not share a scale.

Exam	Questions	Time	Max score	Scoring rule
AMC 8	25	40 minutes	25	1 point per correct answer, no penalty for wrong answers or blanks
AMC 10	25	75 minutes	150	6 points correct, 1.5 blank, 0 incorrect
AMC 12	25	75 minutes	150	6 points correct, 1.5 blank, 0 incorrect

AMC 10 and AMC 12 scoring system:

• 25 questions
• 6 points per correct answer
• 1.5 points for blank answers
• 0 points for incorrect answers
• Maximum score: 150

AMC 8 scoring system:

• 25 questions
• 1 point per correct answer
• No penalty for wrong answers
• Maximum score: 25

Because the questions are difficult, average scores often appear low compared to school tests. There is no penalty for a wrong answer on the AMC 8, so every question should be attempted. On the AMC 10 and AMC 12 a blank is worth 1.5 points and a wrong answer is worth nothing, which is why strong students leave a few questions untouched on purpose.

You can check the AMC age limit and eligibility rules if you are unsure which exam to take, and the AMC test dates for the current cycle.

What Is the Average AMC Score?

The average AMC math score varies slightly each year, but typical ranges are:

• AMC 8 average score: 12 to 13 out of 25, and 12.42 in 2026
• AMC 10 average score: 57 to 62 out of 150
• AMC 12 average score: 57 to 66 out of 150

These numbers reflect the difficulty of the competition. But average does not mean competitive.

Average Scores of the AMC

Understanding the average scores on AMC contests helps students and parents see where most participants land and what it takes to stand out.

You can review the official AMC syllabus to see which topics influence scores most.

Here is how the numbers typically break down across all three exams. The award thresholds are percentile based and move every year, while the AIME qualifying scores are now fixed.

Exam	Max Score	Typical Average	Top 5% recognition	AIME qualifying score
AMC 8	25	12 to 13	Honor Roll, 21 in 2026	Not an AIME pathway
AMC 10	150	57 to 62	Distinction, 105 to 114 recently	100 (fixed for 2026-27)
AMC 12	150	57 to 66	Distinction, 108 to 127.5 recently	85 (fixed for 2026-27)

AMC Average Scores by Year

Looking at previous AMC scores shows how much the bar has moved. The AMC 8 average has climbed by more than two points since 2020, and both award cutoffs climbed with it.

Year	AMC 8 average	Honor Roll (top 5%)	Distinguished Honor Roll (top 1%)
2026	12.42	21	24
2025	11.74	19	23
2024	10.75	18	22
2023	10.26	17	21
2022	9.69	19	22
2020	10.00	18	21

The 2021 AMC 8 was not held on the usual schedule, so there is no comparable row for that year.

On the AMC 10 and AMC 12 the averages are steadier but still move with each paper. The November 2025 AMC 10B averaged 57.00 and the AMC 10A averaged 57.13. The November 2024 papers averaged 58.00 on the 10A and 61.77 on the 10B. The November 2025 AMC 12B averaged 65.99, which is high for that exam.

This is why a score only means something next to the year it came from. A 19 on the AMC 8 reached Honor Roll in 2025 and missed it by two points in 2026.

AMC 8 Average Score

The 2026 AMC 8 average score was 12.42 out of 25, from 80,977 students. Over recent years the AMC 8 average has stayed around 12 to 13.

Whether you are a 5th grader, 6th grader, 7th grader, or 8th grader, the difficulty is the same, but the context of a good score shifts by grade level.

AMC 8 score benchmarks for 2026:

• 15 to 17 → above average, and the Achievement Roll for grade 6 and below
• 18 to 20 → strong, just under the Honor Roll line
• 21+ → Honor Roll, the top 5%
• 24+ → Distinguished Honor Roll, the top 1%

A score of 15 already places a student well above the national average. For a 7th grader, hitting 17+ is excellent. For a 5th grader, scoring 14 or higher is outstanding.

AMC 8 Score Distribution and Percentiles

The AMC 8 score distribution is wide because participation includes a large mix of beginners and advanced students. The 2026 exam had an average of 12.42 and a standard deviation of 4.72, which produces these official bands.

2026 AMC 8 score	Where it sits
9	Top 75%
12	Top 50%, about the national average
16	Top 25%
21	Top 5%, Honor Roll
23	Top 2.5%
24	Top 1%, Distinguished Honor Roll
25	Perfect score

In 2026 the top 5% of AMC 8 scorers started at 21, and the cutoff has risen each recent year.

What Your AMC 8 Score Out of 25 Means

Students usually arrive with a specific number in hand. Here is what each one meant in 2026.

Your score	Reading
8/25 or below	Below average. Build fundamentals before worrying about contest tactics.
10/25 to 11/25	Just under the average of 12.42, and a normal first-year result.
12/25 to 14/25	Around the national average, roughly the top 50%.
15/25	Above average, around the top 30%, and the Achievement Roll for grade 6 and below.
16/25 to 18/25	Top 25% of the field. Strong, especially below 8th grade.
19/25 to 20/25	Close to the Honor Roll line, roughly the top 8 to 10%.
21/25 to 23/25	Honor Roll, the top 5% in 2026.
24/25 to 25/25	Distinguished Honor Roll, the top 1%.

These readings use the 2026 distribution. In an easier or harder year, the same raw score moves a band or two, which is why the percentile matters more than the number.

AMC 10 Average Score

The AMC 10 average score is usually between 57 and 62 out of 150. The November 2025 papers averaged 57.13 on the 10A and 57.00 on the 10B.

Because scoring includes blank bonuses, raw comparison can be misleading.

AMC 10 competitive benchmarks:

• 87+ → top 10% of the field
• 100 → the fixed AIME qualifying score from 2026-27
• 105 to 114 → Distinction, roughly the top 5%
• 133+ → Honor Roll of Distinction, roughly the top 1%

2026 AMC 10 AIME Cutoff

The reported 2026 AIME cutoffs from the November 2025 contests were 105 on the AMC 10A and 99 on the AMC 10B. Historically the AMC 10A cutoff has ranged from about 94.5 to 105.

For the 2027 AIME, the MAA has fixed the AMC 10 qualifying score at 100, so the cutoff no longer depends on the average or on how hard the paper turned out to be.

AMC 10 Score Range and Percentiles

The November 2025 AMC 10B gives a clean picture of how AMC 10 scores spread out.

AMC 10B, Nov 2025	Score
Average	57.00
Top 25%	66
Top 10%	87
Top 5% (Distinction)	105
Top 2.5%	120

For a 7th grader taking the AMC 10, scoring 75 to 90 is impressive given the grade-level challenge. If you are choosing between levels, see AMC 10 vs AMC 12 and AMC 8 vs AMC 10.

AMC 12 Average Score

The AMC 12 average score typically falls between 57 and 66 out of 150. The November 2025 AMC 12B averaged 65.99, which was high for that exam, and AMC 12 averages more often sit in the high 50s to low 60s.

A score above 100 on the AMC 12 is considered highly competitive.

AMC 12B, Nov 2025	Score
Average	65.99
Top 25%	81
Top 10%	109.5
Top 5% (Distinction)	127.5
Top 2.5%	139.5

2026 AMC 12 AIME Cutoff

The reported 2026 AIME cutoffs were 96 on the AMC 12A and 100.5 on the AMC 12B, the highest in years. From the 2026-27 cycle, the AMC 12 qualifying score is fixed at 85, well below those numbers.

What Is the Average AIME Score?

The 2026 AIME I average was 6.27 out of 15, with a median of 6. The AIME II averaged 6.56 with the same median. 4,752 students sat the AIME I and 672 sat the AIME II.

2026 AIME	AIME I	AIME II
Average score	6.27	6.56
Median score	6	6
Top 5%	13	13
Top 1%	14	15
Students	4,752	672

The AIME is 15 questions with integer answers from 000 to 999 and no partial credit, so scores run from 0 to 15. Solving 6 puts a student at the middle of a field that already cleared the AMC qualifying score, which is why a 10 or more is a genuinely strong AIME result. From 2027 the AIME is a single exam rather than an AIME I and AIME II, and USAMO and USAJMO qualification rests primarily on this score rather than a combined index with the AMC.

Students preparing for that step should start with real AIME problems rather than more AMC papers.

AMC 8 vs AMC 10 vs AMC 12: Key Differences

Students often ask how the three exams compare. Here is a quick breakdown:

• AMC 8: For students in grade 8 or below. 25 questions, 40 minutes, scored out of 25. No penalty for wrong answers. No AIME advancement.
• AMC 10: For students in grade 10 or below (under 17.5 years old). 25 questions, 75 minutes, scored out of 150. Scores of 100 or more advance to the AIME.
• AMC 12: For students in grade 12 or below (under 19.5 years old). 25 questions, 75 minutes, scored out of 150. Broader topics including trigonometry and logarithms, and a lower AIME qualifying score of 85.

The AMC 8 is the entry point. It builds problem-solving skills without the pressure of AIME progression. The AMC 10 and 12 are more competitive, with a narrower field of highly motivated participants.

For a complete guide to AMC registration and how to sign up, check our dedicated resource.

Average vs Competitive Score

Here is the key difference. Average means typical. Competitive means top percentile.

Exam	Average Score	Good Score	Top 5%	AIME qualifying score
AMC 8	12.42 in 2026	15 to 17	21 (Honor Roll)	Not applicable
AMC 10	57 to 62	90+	105 to 114 (Distinction)	100
AMC 12	57 to 66	85+	108 to 127.5 (Distinction)	85

What Affects AMC Average Scores?

Ever wonder why the average score on the AMC changes from year to year? It is not random. Several things come into play.

Test Difficulty

Each AMC contest has a brand-new set of problems. Some years, the test feels tougher, so averages drop. Other years it is a bit friendlier, and averages go up. That is why it is important to look at averages in the context of that year’s exam.

Who Is Taking the Test

On the AMC 8, tens of thousands of middle schoolers sign up, including many just trying it for the first time. In 2026 that was 80,977 students. This mix of beginners and advanced students brings the overall average down.

On the AMC 10 and 12, the group is smaller but usually packed with well-prepared high schoolers aiming for the AIME. Even though the problems are harder, the averages often look steadier because the students are more experienced.

Different Populations, Different Results

• AMC 8: big variety in skill levels, so more score spread and lower averages.
• AMC 10 and 12: more motivated, contest-prep students, so tighter and more competitive averages.

That is why comparing scores across years or between the AMC 8, 10, and 12 only makes sense when you also consider these factors, not just the raw numbers.

To understand why AMC performance matters beyond scores, you can read about the benefits of the AMC math competition.

Average Score vs “Good” Score on AMC

The average score tells you how most students perform across the country. It is the baseline for that year.

A good score is a different question, and it depends on your grade, your goal, and the award you are chasing. For the full breakdown by grade and award level, see our complete guide on what is a good AMC math score.

• AMC 8 → 15 or more is above average, and 21 reached the Honor Roll in 2026.
• AMC 10 → 100 is the AIME qualifying score for 2026-27.
• AMC 12 → 85 is the AIME qualifying score, and anything above 100 is strong.

But here is the key: AMC success is not just about chasing numbers. A good score can also mean doing better than you did last time, solving a problem you once found impossible, or growing more confident in your math skills.

With consistent practice and the right strategies, students naturally move from average territory to national recognition one step at a time.

Want to know how the AMC compares globally? See our breakdown of the best math competitions in the world.

AMC Score Percentiles Explained

Percentiles matter more than averages, because they tell you how many students you were ahead of rather than how far you were from the middle.

• Top 25% = clearly above average
• Top 10% = strong performance
• Top 5% = Honor Roll on the AMC 8, Distinction on the AMC 10 and AMC 12
• Top 1% = Distinguished Honor Roll, or Honor Roll of Distinction on the AMC 10 and 12

AIME qualification used to track a percentile, roughly the top 2.5% of AMC 10 and top 5% of AMC 12 participants. From 2026-27 it is a fixed score instead: 100 on the AMC 10 and 85 on the AMC 12.

AMC 8 Percentiles

For the 2026 AMC 8, the top 5% (Honor Roll) started at 21 and the top 1% (Distinguished Honor Roll) at 24. Both cutoffs have risen each recent year.

AMC 10 and AMC 12 Percentiles

On the November 2025 AMC 10B, the top 25% started at 66, the top 10% at 87 and the top 5% at 105. On the AMC 12B, the same bands sat at 81, 109.5 and 127.5. A score of 100 on the AMC 10 has historically landed around the top 5%, and it is now also the fixed AIME qualifying score.

AMC Awards and What Each One Requires

Every AMC award except one is based on percentile rank, not a fixed score, so the number needed changes from year to year.

Award	Exam	Who earns it
Achievement Roll	AMC 8	Students in grade 6 or below scoring 15 or more
Honor Roll	AMC 8	Top 5%, which was 21 in 2026
Distinguished Honor Roll	AMC 8	Top 1%, which was 24 in 2026
Certificate of Distinction	AMC 8	Any student with a perfect 25
Distinction	AMC 10 and AMC 12	Top 5% of scorers on that paper
Honor Roll of Distinction	AMC 10 and AMC 12	Top 1% of scorers on that paper

The Achievement Roll is the only one you can target directly, because 15 on the AMC 8 is a fixed number for younger students no matter how the national field performs. The full list of certificates and pins is covered in AMC math competition awards.

Is My AMC Score Above Average?

Average and good are not the same thing. For score targets by grade and award level, see what counts as a good AMC score.

Use this framework:

• Below average → build fundamentals
• Around average → improve speed and accuracy
• Above average → refine strategy
• Near the AIME qualifying score → intensive practice

What Is a Good AMC Score by Grade?

Here is how to think about good scores by grade level:

Grade	AMC 8 Good Score	AMC 10 Good Score
5th grade	13 to 15	Not applicable, usually too early
6th grade	14 to 16	Not applicable, usually too early
7th grade	16 to 18	60 to 80
8th grade	18 to 22	75 to 95
9th grade	Not applicable	90 to 106+
10th grade	Not applicable	100 to 120+

These are general guides, and performance varies widely. What matters most is your trajectory over time.

What to Do Next Based on Your Score

If you scored:

• Below average → focus on concept gaps. Start with structured math olympiad practice questions to build your foundation.
• Around average → practice timed mock exams. Read our guide on how to prepare for the AMC for a structured plan, and work through real AMC past papers.
• Above average → train with advanced olympiad problems. Check out how to get better at solving math olympiad questions.
• Near the AIME qualifying score → strategy refinement and weak-topic drills. If you are aiming for IMO, start with how to qualify for the IMO in the USA.

Work level by level with our AMC 8 practice test, AMC 10 practice test and AMC 12 practice test guides, plus the roundup of free AMC practice resources.

Consistent, structured practice makes the difference. That is where Gonit App helps.

Gonit provides:

• Structured AMC-level practice
• Concept-based progression
• Timed mock exams
• Performance analytics

You can also explore free math olympiad training online to supplement your preparation at no cost.

Do Colleges Care About AMC Scores?

Strong AMC performance, especially an AIME qualification, demonstrates advanced mathematical ability to colleges.

Ivy League and top STEM schools value high AMC and AIME scores as indicators of genuine mathematical talent beyond classroom grades.

Even if you have not qualified for the AIME yet, improving your AMC score year over year shows intellectual growth and discipline, qualities any college admissions team appreciates.

For students thinking beyond AMC, read our guide on how to improve problem-solving skills for the IMO to build the mindset top scorers develop.

Key Takeaways

• The 2026 AMC 8 average was 12.42 out of 25, from 80,977 students, and the average has climbed every recent year.
• The average AMC 10 score sits around 57 to 62 out of 150, and the AMC 12 between 57 and 66.
• On the 2026 AMC 8, 16 marked the top 25%, 21 the top 5% Honor Roll and 24 the top 1%.
• The 2026 AIME averaged 6.27 on paper I and 6.56 on paper II, out of 15.
• AIME qualifying scores are now fixed at 100 on the AMC 10 and 85 on the AMC 12 rather than moving with each year’s distribution.
• Compare your score with the year it came from, because the same raw number lands in a different percentile from one paper to the next.

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