AMC Y5-6 Advanced Course
For Years 5–6 with secure foundations. Develop upper-primary problem-solving through the Australian AMC pathway.
First 3 starter lessons or units free with an accountSee curriculum & course details →Register & try 3 free →AJMO vs Australian AMC vs AIMO: Which Challenge Fits Your Child?
The short answer
Choose the competition that stretches your child’s current reasoning without making the mathematics inaccessible. Australian AMC offers year-level divisions; AJMO is an earlier Olympiad-style opportunity; AIMO calls for greater depth and includes written solutions.
How do the three formats differ?
| Competition | Published format | What to look for in practice |
|---|---|---|
| AJMO | 10 integer-answer problems; 90 minutes; up to Year 8 | Can the child investigate an unfamiliar problem and organise their ideas? |
| Australian AMC | 30 questions: 25 multiple-choice and 5 integer answers; primary 60 minutes, secondary 75 | Can they select methods across a broad set and manage easier and harder questions? |
| AIMO | 10 questions in 4 hours: 8 integer answers and 2 written solutions, which may include proofs | Can they sustain deeper reasoning and make a convincing written argument? |
Sources: AMT’s AJMO, Australian AMC and AIMO pages, checked 14 October 2026. AMT describes AIMO as pitched at Year 10 level. A paper’s intended difficulty and a child’s school year are different considerations.
Should a younger child always choose AJMO first?
No fixed ladder suits every student. A less experienced child may benefit from an accessible introduction, while a younger child with substantial extension experience may already need a greater challenge. Use AMT’s linked AJMO/AIMO comparison samples and discuss the choice with the coordinator.
During practice, distinguish “needed one hint to find an idea” from “could not understand the concepts.” The first may suggest strategy teaching; the second suggests rebuilding foundations. Finishing a named Advanced course is also not an official qualification.
Why does the step towards written solutions matter?
An answer can be correct by experiment without a complete argument. Suppose a child tests several odd numbers and notices that each square leaves remainder 1 when divided by 4. Examples support a conjecture, but do not cover every odd number.
An original practice argument is: write an odd number as 2k + 1. Its square is 4k² + 4k + 1 = 4k(k + 1) + 1, so it has remainder 1 on division by 4. The upgrade is explaining why the conclusion holds for every permitted value. Introduce this kind of reasoning gradually rather than merely asking for longer answers.
Is the Australian AMC the same as AMC 8?
No. American AMC 8 and the Australian Mathematics Competition are different competitions with different organisers and formats. This page’s AMC comparisons and our linked AMC Y5–6 and Y7–8 courses refer to the Australian competition. Do not borrow an AMC 8 timetable, score or award threshold for Australian AMC or AJMO.
Which course should we inspect?
Choose by evidence from independent work. Year 5–6 students with secure basics can inspect AMC Y5–6 Advanced; Year 7–8 students comfortable with foundation problems can inspect AMC Y7–8 Advanced. AIMO preparation is a deeper option when the student can persist with harder problems and is ready to practise written reasoning.
The mathematical techniques overlap; the courses do not replace competition-specific rules or official samples. If your child is still struggling with prerequisite ideas, start with foundational teaching instead of selecting the most prestigious label.
Give practice a clear learning pathway
Explore the complete curriculum, then start the free lessons in your own learning account. These existing AMC and AIMO courses develop related skills; they are not dedicated AJMO courses or official competition entry.
AMC Y7-8 Advanced Course
For Years 7–8 ready to extend beyond foundations. Build geometry, number-theory and counting techniques.
First 3 starter lessons or units free with an accountSee curriculum & course details →Register & try 3 free →AIMO Preparation Course
For students ready for deeper problems and written reasoning. Inspect the level before choosing the stretch.
First 3 starter lessons or units free with an accountSee curriculum & course details →Register & try 3 free →Questions parents ask
Is AJMO easier than AIMO?
AMT positions AJMO as an opportunity for younger, less experienced students who are not yet ready for AIMO. That does not make every AJMO question easy for every student.
Can we compare an AJMO award directly with an AMC award?
No. Different papers, entrants and award criteria make certificate names unsuitable as a direct conversion. Inspect the actual work and each organiser’s rules.
Can my child enter AJMO and AIMO together?
AMT says the competitions are scheduled for the same day and asks schools to select the most appropriate one for each student. Check current arrangements with the coordinator.
Will an Australian AMC course cover the AJMO paper?
Our Australian AMC courses develop related mathematical and problem-solving skills. They are not an AJMO-specific syllabus or a prediction of the official paper.