How to prepare for the AMC 8.

Understand the six topic areas

Every AMC 8 problem falls into one of six categories. Knowing where your gaps are lets you study efficiently instead of reviewing everything equally.

• Algebra — linear equations, inequalities, sequences, word problems. Usually the largest share of the exam. Practice algebra problems →
• Geometry — area, perimeter, angles, similar triangles, circles, coordinate geometry. Practice geometry problems →
• Number Theory — divisibility, prime factorization, GCD, LCM, remainders, digits. Practice number theory problems →
• Counting & Probability — combinations, permutations, basic probability, expected value. Practice counting problems →
• Logic — pattern recognition, logical deduction, process of elimination.
• Other — mixed or cross-topic problems that blend two or more areas.

Try a problem, then develop the idea

Try a problem slightly above your current level, notice where you get stuck, and use a guided lesson to explore the underlying idea. Then apply what you learned to another problem.

A good starting routine: spend 5 minutes attempting a problem without help, then 10 minutes studying the solution — even if you got it right. Competition solutions are usually more elegant than your first approach, and that elegance is worth learning.

Browse problems by topic and difficulty →

Use difficulty levels strategically

AMC 8 problems are arranged roughly by difficulty — problems 1–10 are accessible, 11–20 are medium, and 21–25 are challenging. On this site, problems are rated 1–5:

• Level 1–2 — build fluency and confidence. Master these before moving on.
• Level 3 — the heart of the exam. Most students should spend the majority of their practice here.
• Level 4–5 — target these only after Level 3 is comfortable. Rushing into hard problems too early is counterproductive.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Skipping the re-read. Many wrong answers come from misreading the question. Read once to understand, solve, then re-read to check you answered what was actually asked.
• Ignoring units and constraints. "Positive integer," "even number," "less than 100" — these words eliminate most answer choices before you compute anything.
• Over-studying one topic. A balanced score across all six topics outperforms being excellent at two and weak at the rest.
• Not reviewing solved problems. Your Dashboard shows which problems you have solved and missed. Revisiting missed problems is the highest-leverage use of practice time.

Check your progress on the Dashboard →

A simple 4-week study plan

If you have about a month before the exam, here is a structure that works for most students:

• Week 1 — Diagnostic. Do a full past AMC 8 under timed conditions. Identify your two weakest topics. Browse past exams →
• Week 2 — Deep work on your weakest topic. Aim for 20 problems at Level 2–3.
• Week 3 — Deep work on your second-weakest topic, plus mixed review of everything else.
• Week 4 — Two timed full tests. Focus on execution: pacing, checking, not spending more than 3 minutes on any one problem.

On exam day

• Work through problems 1–15 first. These should take about 20 minutes.
• For problems 16–25, skip and come back. Mark any problem where you are unsure.
• There is no penalty for wrong answers — never leave a blank. A random guess gives you a 20% chance; an educated elimination (ruling out 2 choices) gives you 33%.
• Save 5 minutes at the end to check your answer sheet.