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Maths / AMC
Australian Mathematics Competition 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.
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
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.
Questions parents ask
FAQ
Is this suitable for my child?
Ready for AMC: The student can read multi-step questions carefully, draw diagrams and recover from mistakes without guessing too early. Strengthen the fundamentals first: If mistakes come from fractions, ratios, area, algebra basics or missed information, start with core skills before harder problems. Needs advanced training: Q1-Q20 are stable, but Q21-Q30 feel unfamiliar or the student cannot choose a strategy.
Is AMC only for gifted students?
No. AMC covers Years 3-12 and is useful as a broad problem-solving benchmark. Strong students should aim beyond participation, but many students use AMC to identify their next maths focus.
Which questions matter most for high achievers?
Questions 21-30 usually reveal whether the student can transfer concepts into unfamiliar problems. Q26-30 are the stretch zone.
Should preparation start with past papers?
Use one mock or past-style paper as a diagnostic, then practise the weak topic. Repeating papers without targeted follow-up is usually inefficient.