The AMC comes first: it is a broad, fast, multiple-choice benchmark. AIMO comes next for students who handle the hardest AMC questions well — it is a deeper, four-hour written olympiad. Use the AMC result as a diagnostic: strong performance on the later questions signals AIMO readiness, while gaps in the middle band mean repairing AMC foundations first.
AIMO: 10 questions, 4 hours, written solutions, deeper olympiad reasoning.
Do AMC first as a benchmark; do AIMO next if the hardest AMC questions felt enjoyable.
Decision rule: strong on AMC Q21-30 → AIMO; shaky on AMC Q11-25 → foundations first.
From your child’s result to a practical next step
Find the difficulty that sounds familiar. Choose one action, try it, and use fresh work to check progress.
How should we review a partially solved AIMO problem when the student cannot reach the final answer?
Keep the valid work and locate the first missing link. Ask what the student has proved, what remains to be shown, and whether a simpler case or a different representation would help.
Use one small hint before reading a full solution. Afterwards, reconstruct the bridge between the last independent step and the finish. A later fresh problem tests whether the lesson transferred. This review method values progress without assuming that partial work will receive a particular mark; marking rules belong to the organiser and the relevant paper.
Ace Achievers learning guidance · Updated 5 October 2026. Examples are illustrative, not student results or promises of an award. Course choice and official exam eligibility are separate.
Side-by-side
Feature
AMC
AIMO
Questions
30
10
Time
~75 minutes (secondary)
4 hours
Answer type
Multiple-choice + integer
Integer + written solutions
Year levels
Years 3-12 (by division)
Years 7-10, pitched at Year 10
2026 date
4-6 August
10 September
What it rewards
Breadth, speed, method choice
Depth, proof, persistence
Why AMC comes first
The AMC is the broad entry benchmark. It covers number, algebra, geometry, probability and logic, and it shows whether a student can transfer school maths into unfamiliar problems. Almost every student heading toward olympiad maths starts here, because the AMC result is the cleanest readiness signal available.
How to read the AMC result
The score itself matters less than where marks were won and lost:
Strong on Questions 21-30 — the student enjoys hard, non-routine problems. AIMO is the natural next step.
Solid on 1-20 but stalling at 21-25 — build harder problem-solving (AMC Advanced) before AIMO.
Losing marks across 11-25 — repair foundations first; AIMO would be discouraging right now.
AFTER THE RESULT · YOUR ACTION PLAN
From AMC to AIMO: choose your next step
Choose the situation that fits your child. Start with one clear action today.
EXPLORE THE NEXT CHALLENGE
Strong AMC result — ready for AIMO?
Next step: move from quick answers to deeper reasoning.
Try the free AIMO lesson to check the level.
Write down why the method works, not just the answer.
Already comfortable with AIMO? Explore the curriculum or another science challenge.
AIMO is not simply harder AMC. A student who solves many AMC questions quickly may still need new habits: writing a full line of reasoning, checking edge cases, structuring a proof, and persisting with one problem for half an hour. The biggest preparation mistake is training for AIMO only with AMC-style multiple-choice practice. AIMO requires slower, written reasoning — see the AIMO exam guide and the AIMO pathway explainer.
If you are not sure which band your child sits in, a scored diagnostic places them on the AMC difficulty curve and makes the next-step decision obvious. Official details: AMT AMC and AMT AIMO.
A bridge year, not a leap
For many students the smoothest path is not AMC straight into AIMO, but a bridge through harder AMC-style problem solving first. A student who is strong on Questions 1-20 but inconsistent on 21-25 will struggle to enjoy AIMO, because AIMO assumes that mid-to-hard level is already comfortable. Spending a term on AMC Advanced material — the harder, non-routine problems — turns a discouraging AIMO attempt into a rewarding one. There is no rush: AIMO is open to Years 7-10, so a Year 7 or 8 student has several years of eligibility.
Matching the competition to the student, not the age
It is tempting to pick the competition by year level, but readiness is a better guide than age. A motivated Year 8 student who loves hard problems may be ready for AIMO, while a Year 10 student who finds the middle AMC band hard is better served by consolidating first. The decision should follow the AMC band breakdown described above — where marks are won and lost — rather than how old the student is. Preparation for both is self-paced: AMC Foundation from A$199, AMC Advanced from A$399, and AIMO from A$599.
What if a student wants both in one year?
Doing the AMC and AIMO in the same year is common and sensible, because the AMC falls about five weeks before AIMO. A workable plan treats the AMC as the broad benchmark and stamina warm-up, then uses the weeks between the two exams to shift from quick multiple-choice thinking to slow, written olympiad reasoning. The danger to avoid is preparing for AIMO using only AMC-style practice — the two reward different habits, and a student who never practises full written solutions will find AIMO's marking unforgiving even if their answers are correct. Plan the calendar so written-solution practice gets dedicated, unhurried time.
FAQ
Should my child do the AMC or AIMO first?
Do the AMC first. It is a broad benchmark that shows readiness. Move to AIMO if the hardest AMC questions felt enjoyable and the student scored well on the later band.
Is AIMO harder than the AMC?
Yes. AIMO is deeper, longer and more proof-oriented. It is a four-hour written paper of 10 questions, compared with the AMC's 30 mostly multiple-choice questions in about 75 minutes.
How do I know if my child is ready for AIMO?
Use the AMC result as a diagnostic. Strong performance on Questions 21-30 suggests readiness, while gaps across the middle questions mean strengthening foundations first.
Can you prepare for AIMO using only AMC practice?
No. AMC practice helps, but AIMO needs written solutions, proof structure and longer persistence. Preparing only with multiple-choice practice is a common mistake.
When are the AMC and AIMO in 2026?
The AMC runs 4-6 August 2026 and AIMO is on 10 September 2026, so the AMC naturally comes first in the same year.
Use a sample problem to decide between consolidation and extension
Before choosing the next competition, compare two pieces of work: a familiar AMC-style problem completed independently and a less familiar problem requiring a written explanation. Look for a method the student can explain, revise and apply again. A student may be accurate at short questions while still needing time to learn longer arguments. Choose a manageable bridge rather than treating an award as automatic promotion.
An AMC award alone is not a readiness test. Ask your child to work on an unfamiliar problem for longer, organise cases and write a clear explanation. AMT describes AIMO as pitched at Year 10, also of interest to motivated Years 7–9 students. Our preparation course is designed for Years 9–12; check fit rather than assuming the contest and course age ranges are identical.
Is AIMO suitable for a motivated Year 7 or Year 8 student?
AMT describes AIMO as pitched at Year 10 level while also potentially interesting motivated and talented students in Years 7–9. Readiness therefore depends on the work, not age alone. Try appropriate official examples and discuss the amount of independent reasoning needed. Ask the school about suitable alternatives and the current registration rules. An AMC award is useful context, not a complete placement test.
Official event reference: organiser information. Study routines are Ace Achievers suggestions; confirm current entry and selection rules with the organiser.