Your Complete Guide to AMC 12 in 2026

If you are preparing for the AMC 12 in 2026, the most important things to know are the test dates, format, eligibility rules, topics, and the new score needed to qualify for the 2027 AIME.

This guide keeps those details in one place.

AMC 12 2026 at a glance

When is the AMC 12 in 2026?

The official 2026 AMC 12 dates are:

• AMC 12A: Thursday, November 5, 2026
• AMC 12B: Friday, November 13, 2026

Eligible students may take both AMC 12A and AMC 12B.

Students may also mix AMC 10 and AMC 12 across the two dates, but they may not take AMC 10 and AMC 12 on the same day. For example, an eligible student could take AMC 10A and AMC 12B.

Who is eligible for AMC 12 in 2026?

Under the current MAA rules for the U.S. and Canada, an AMC 12 participant must be:

• in grade 12 or below
• 19.5 years old or younger on the day of the competition
• otherwise eligible under the full MAA student-participation rules

The AMC is administered through approved Competition Managers at eligible schools, universities, learning centers, math circles, and other approved competition sites. Students do not register directly with the MAA on their own.

If your school does not offer the AMC 12, ask a teacher or local organization whether they can host the competition or help you locate an approved site.

AMC 12 registration deadlines for 2026

For the 2026-27 AMC cycle, the MAA lists the following registration dates:

• September 2, 2026: registration opens
• September 30, 2026: early-bird registration closes
• October 15, 2026: regular registration closes and deadline for new Competition Managers
• October 28, 2026: late registration closes

These deadlines apply to the organizations administering the contest, so students should contact a competition site well before the final date.

What topics are on the AMC 12?

The AMC 12 covers the full high-school mathematics curriculum, including:

• algebra
• advanced algebra
• geometry
• advanced geometry
• number theory
• counting and probability
• functions and graphs
• sequences and series
• trigonometry
• coordinate geometry

Calculus is excluded.

That makes AMC 12 broader than AMC 10, which excludes advanced algebra, advanced geometry, and trigonometry.

How is the AMC 12 scored?

Published official AMC 10/12 instructions use the familiar scoring system:

• 6 points for a correct answer
• 1.5 points for a blank answer
• 0 points for an incorrect answer

That gives a maximum score of 150.

The current 2026-27 AMC policy document does not restate the scoring formula, so students should follow the official instructions provided for the 2026 competition if the MAA publishes any scoring update.

This scoring system is one reason strategic skipping can matter. Leaving a question blank has historically been worth more than answering it incorrectly.

Are calculators allowed on AMC 12?

No. Calculators are prohibited under the current AMC rules.

The MAA also prohibits formula sheets and communication-capable electronics such as phones, smartwatches, headphones, and smart eyewear.

Permitted items include writing utensils, erasers, Competition Manager-provided blank scratch paper, rulers, and compasses for AMC 10/12.

What 2026 AMC 12 score qualifies for the 2027 AIME?

This is one of the biggest changes for the 2026-27 competition cycle.

For eligible students in the U.S. and Canada, the MAA has set the 2027 AIME qualifying-score requirement at:

AMC 12: 85 or higher

This is different from prior years, when AIME cutoffs were determined after the AMC results using percentage-based targets.

For this cycle, the score target is known in advance.

So if AIME is your goal, 85 is the key AMC 12 score to know—while remembering that official AIME participation also depends on the other eligibility requirements in the current MAA policy.

What happens after AMC 12?

Students who earn the required AMC 12 score and meet the remaining eligibility requirements may be invited to register for the 2027 AIME.

The 2027 AIME will be administered on February 5-6, 2027 at Pearson Professional Centers in the U.S. and Canada. It will use a new two-part format:

• Part 1: 8 questions, 90 minutes
• 10-minute break
• Part 2: 7 questions, 90 minutes

Students cannot return to Part 1 after it ends.

How should you prepare for AMC 12?

A good AMC 12 plan should combine topic review, timed practice, and careful mistake analysis.

A simple preparation cycle is:

1. Take a timed diagnostic. Use a full 75-minute AMC 12-style test to find your starting point.
2. Review every miss. Identify whether the problem was caused by a concept gap, careless error, pacing issue, or strategy mistake.
3. Target weak topics. Spend more time on the areas your results show need the most work.
4. Practice under time pressure. AMC 12 requires both mathematical depth and good problem selection.
5. Rework missed problems. Do not only read the solution. Try the problem again later without looking.
6. Track progress across multiple tests. One score is useful, but trends in accuracy, pacing, and topic performance are more informative.

Math Prep Pro includes timed AMC 12 practice tests, step-by-step solutions, topic analytics, time-per-question tracking, and AI-powered test reviews.

You can take a free AMC 12 practice test or use the free AMC 12 study guide to build a more structured plan.

AMC 12 2026 FAQ

When is AMC 12 2026?

AMC 12A is November 5, 2026, and AMC 12B is November 13, 2026.

How many questions are on the AMC 12?

The AMC 12 has 25 multiple-choice questions and a 75-minute time limit.

Who can take the AMC 12?

Under the current U.S./Canada rules, eligible students must be in grade 12 or below and 19.5 years old or younger on competition day.

Can I take both AMC 12A and AMC 12B?

Yes. Eligible students may participate in both AMC 12A and AMC 12B.

Are calculators allowed on AMC 12?

No. Calculators are prohibited under the current MAA competition rules.

Does AMC 12 include calculus?

No. The AMC 12 covers the full high-school mathematics curriculum, but calculus is excluded.

What 2026 AMC 12 score qualifies for the 2027 AIME?

For eligible students in the U.S. and Canada, a score of 85 or higher on AMC 12 meets the 2027 AIME score requirement, subject to the remaining AIME eligibility rules.

Is AMC 12 harder than AMC 10?

AMC 12 covers a broader range of high-school mathematics, including trigonometry, advanced algebra, and advanced geometry, so its content scope is more advanced than AMC 10.

Final checklist for AMC 12 2026

If you are preparing for AMC 12 this year, remember:

• AMC 12A: November 5, 2026
• AMC 12B: November 13, 2026
• 25 questions
• 75 minutes
• no calculators
• 85 or higher is the announced AMC 12 score requirement for the 2027 AIME for otherwise eligible U.S./Canada students

Then focus on the part you can control: solving problems, reviewing mistakes, improving pacing, and building consistency.

Sources

1. https://maa.org/student-programs/amc/
2. https://maa.org/amcreg/
3. https://maa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026-27-AMC-Policies.pdf
4. https://maa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026-27-AIME-Policies.pdf
5. https://maa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2022_AMC10A-Problems.pdf
6. https://www.mathpreppro.com/features/amc-12