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Australian Mathematics Competition 2026 Dates, Registration and Preparation Guide
The Australian Mathematics Competition is a national problem-solving competition for a wide range of year levels. For many families, it is the first useful benchmark for mathematical reasoning beyond routine school exercises.
Quick facts
AMC 2026 at a glance
Dates
Tuesday 4 – Thursday 6 August 2026
Entry fee
AUD $9.30 per student
Divisions
Years 3-12 (Middle Primary / Upper Primary / Junior / Intermediate / Senior)
Format
30 questions, 135 marks, no penalty for wrong answers
How to enter
Entry through schools
Last updated 7 July 2026. Facts verified against the official AMT AMC page.
What is this exam?
Australian Mathematics Competition
The Australian Mathematics Competition is a national problem-solving competition for a wide range of year levels. For many families, it is the first useful benchmark for mathematical reasoning beyond routine school exercises.
Use AMC as a broad benchmark: it shows whether a student can transfer school maths into unfamiliar problem-solving, not just repeat routine exercises.
Official date
Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 August 2026
Time allowed
Primary divisions: 60 minutes. Secondary divisions: 75 minutes.
Entry close
Printed AU/NZ entries close Friday 3 July 2026. Online entries close Friday 31 July 2026.
Divisions
Middle Primary Y3-4, Upper Primary Y5-6, Junior Y7-8, Intermediate Y9-10, Senior Y11-12.
Delivery
Online or printed paper.
Key date timeline
3 Jul
Printed AU/NZ entries close
Schools need to organise paper sitting earlier.
31 Jul
Online entries close
Last official online entry date listed by AMT.
4-6 Aug
AMC sitting window
Students sit through their school or registered organiser.
7 Aug
Printed answer sheets due
For schools using printed paper.
14 Aug
Late printed submissions close
Late processing may affect cut-off timing.
Content map
What students should be ready to use
Number and ratio
Basic arithmeticFractions and ratiosEnumerationUnit reasoning
Algebra and patterns
Pre-algebraAlgebraSequencesHidden operations
Geometry and measurement
AnglesArea and perimeterDiagramsMeasurement
Data and probability
StatisticsProbabilityTablesCareful reading
Format and focus
Official scoring structure
Questions 1-10
Accuracy and confidence zone
3 marks each
Questions 11-20
Core problem-solving zone
4 marks each
Questions 21-25
Distinction-building zone
5 marks each
Questions 26-30
High-difficulty stretch zone
6, 7, 8, 9, 10 marks
How scoring and awards work
Every AMC paper has 30 questions worth 135 marks in total, and there is no penalty for wrong answers, so students should attempt every question. The first 25 questions are multiple choice; the last 5 require integer answers and carry the highest marks.
Results are ranked within each division and awards are given by percentile band: Prize, High Distinction, Distinction, Credit and Proficiency, with medals reserved for the very top performers in each division.
For the full breakdown of every award band, typical cut-offs and what each certificate actually means, read our guide: AMC Scoring, Awards & Medals Explained.
AceAchievers preparation pathway
Recommended Study Plan
Build a solid foundation
Make sure the core school skills behind this competition are stable before moving into harder questions.
Learn by topic and question type
Practise the topic patterns and question types that appear most often in this competition.
Mock exam and targeted practice
Use timed mocks to find weak areas, then practise those exact topics deliberately.
Preparation roadmap
How to prepare for AMC 2026
- Confirm the right target. Check whether AMC or AIMO is the better fit for your child this year with our comparison guide: AMC vs AIMO: Which Maths Competition Suits Your Child?
- Diagnose with past papers. Sit one recent past paper under timed conditions and log where marks were lost. Our AMC Past Papers Guide explains where to get papers legally and how to turn a score into a diagnosis.
- Train by topic, not at random. Years 5-6 students can build Upper Primary skills with the AMC Y5-6 Advanced course. Years 7-8 students should start with AMC Y7-8 Foundation for Q1-20 stability, then move to AMC Y7-8 Advanced for Q21-30 strategy.
- Finish with timed mocks. In the last 3-4 weeks before the 4-6 August window, run full timed mock exams and review every error against its topic, so exam day is a repeat of practice rather than a surprise.
Who should enter?
Students new to competitions can use the AMC to build confidence and learn how competition questions are phrased. Strong school-maths students can use it to test whether they can transfer knowledge into unfamiliar settings.
Students aiming for AIMO should treat AMC results as a diagnostic. The important question is not only the score, but where marks were lost: number theory, geometry, counting, algebraic modelling or time management.
Common mistakes parents should know
The most common mistake is treating AMC preparation like ordinary school revision. School maths rewards accuracy on familiar procedures; AMC rewards flexible thinking.
A second mistake is doing many papers without reviewing them properly. One well-reviewed paper is more valuable than three rushed papers. Students should keep an error log with topic, mistake type and better strategy.
Internal resources
- AMC Y7-8 Foundation Course for core skills and Q1-Q20 stability.
- AMC Y7-8 Advanced Course for harder questions and Q21-Q30 strategy.
- free AMC mock exam for timed diagnosis and final preparation.
- AMC Cheat Sheet for final review.
- AIMO Guide for students ready for the next step.
Go deeper
Guides
- AMC Past Papers: How to Use Them Properly (Years 5–8) — where to get papers legally, how many to do, and how to turn a score into a diagnosis.
- AMC vs AIMO: Which Maths Competition Suits Your Child? — format, eligibility, difficulty and the pathway between the two.
- AMC Scoring & Awards Explained — what Prize, High Distinction, Distinction and Credit actually mean.
Questions parents ask
FAQ
When is the Australian Mathematics Competition in 2026?
The 2026 AMC sitting window is Tuesday 4 August to Thursday 6 August 2026.
How much does the AMC cost in 2026?
The AMC entry fee is AUD $9.30 per student. Entry is through schools.
What year levels can sit the AMC?
The AMC is open to students in Years 3-12 across five divisions: Middle Primary, Upper Primary, Junior, Intermediate and Senior.
How is the AMC scored?
Each AMC paper has 30 questions worth 135 marks in total, and there is no penalty for wrong answers.
How do students enter the AMC?
Entry to the AMC is through schools. Ask your school's maths coordinator to register before the entry deadline.
When do AMC entries close in 2026?
Printed paper entries for Australia and New Zealand close Friday 3 July 2026. Online entries close Friday 31 July 2026.
Is the AMC only for gifted students?
No. It is open to a broad range of students, but high-achieving students can use it as a stepping stone toward AIMO.
How should a Year 7 or Year 8 student prepare?
Start with number sense, geometry basics, counting and structured problem solving. Then add timed practice and error review.
What should my child do after AMC?
If the harder questions were enjoyable or successful, consider AIMO. If the middle section was difficult, strengthen AMC foundations first.