AIME 2027 Changes: New Qualifying Scores, Format, and Rules

If you are taking the AMC 10 or AMC 12 in 2026, the path to AIME looks different this year. The MAA has changed how students qualify for AIME and how the 2027 exam will be administered.

The AMC 10 and AMC 12 themselves are not changing because of these AIME updates. The biggest changes happen after the AMC.

AIME 2027 changes at a glance

The biggest change: AMC 10 and AMC 12 now have fixed AIME qualifying scores

For the 2027 AIME, eligible students in the U.S. and Canada qualify with:

• AMC 10: 100 or higher
• AMC 12: 85 or higher

In previous cycles, AIME cutoffs were determined after AMC results using percentage-based targets. For the 2026–27 cycle, the MAA has published the qualifying scores in advance.

That means students taking the AMC in November 2026 know the score target before test day.

AIME is now split into two parts

The 2027 AIME still has 15 questions, but it is no longer one uninterrupted three-hour testing session.

• Part 1: Questions 1–8, 90 minutes
• Break: 10 minutes
• Part 2: Questions 9–15, 90 minutes

Once Part 1 ends, students cannot return to those questions or change their Part 1 answers.

AIME moves to Pearson testing centers

For students in the U.S. and Canada, the 2027 AIME will be computer-based at Pearson Professional Centers.

Qualified students may take AIME once during the February 5–6, 2027 competition window. The old AIME I and AIME II system is no longer used.

The MAA has also added a minimum age requirement: students must be at least 13 years old on the day they take AIME, along with the other eligibility requirements.

What about AMC 10 and AMC 12?

The MAA says these AIME changes do not change the 2026 AMC 10 or AMC 12 format.

AMC 10 and AMC 12 remain 25-question, 75-minute competitions, with A and B exams offered in November.

So for AMC preparation, the test itself is familiar. What has changed is the target for reaching the next stage.

What about USAJMO and USAMO?

There is another important pathway change for 2027: the MAA says AMC scores will no longer be a factor in USAJMO or USAMO qualification. Selection will be primarily based on AIME performance under the current rules.

That makes the pathway simpler to think about:

AMC 10/12 → qualify for AIME → perform strongly on AIME

AIME 2027 FAQ

What score qualifies for AIME in 2027?

For eligible students in the U.S. and Canada, a score of 100 or higher on AMC 10 or 85 or higher on AMC 12 meets the 2027 AIME score requirement.

Are there still AIME I and AIME II in 2027?

No. The 2027 AIME is offered during a single competition window on February 5–6, 2027, and qualified students may take AIME only once.

How long is the 2027 AIME?

The exam has two 90-minute parts separated by a 10-minute break. Part 1 contains 8 questions and Part 2 contains 7 questions.

Did the AMC 10 or AMC 12 format change for 2026?

No. The MAA says the 2026 AMC 10 and AMC 12 will be administered as they were in 2025. The new changes primarily affect AIME qualification and administration.

Does the AMC score still count toward USAJMO or USAMO qualification?

For 2027, no. The MAA says AMC scores will no longer be a factor in USAJMO/USAMO qualification, which will be primarily based on AIME scores.

Sources

1. https://maa.org/maa-invitational-competitions/
2. https://maa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026-27-AIME-Policies.pdf
3. https://maa.org/news/maa-announces-official-testing-centers-for-the-2027-american-invitational-mathematics-examination/
4. https://maa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026-27-AMC-Policies.pdf