KIS Summary:
- Australia's largest annual maths competition (since 1978) for Years 3-12, featuring 30 progressively harder questions (25 multiple-choice, 5 integer) that test problem-solving over pure calculation.
- Top 3% earn High Distinction (5% for Seniors), top 20% get Distinction, with marks ranging from 3 points (Q1-10) to 10 points (Q30)—calculators are banned for secondary students.
The Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) is an annual maths competition organised by the Australian Maths Trust (AMT) for students from year 3 to 12, across Australia and international borders. Established in 1978, it is Australia’s longest-running and largest mathematics competition.
This article aims to provide all the information you need about AMC and whether it's something you'd like to pursue yourself or for your child.
Table Of Contents:
- What Is The Australian Mathematics Competition?
- How Do You Register For The Australian Mathematics Competition?
- Australian Mathematics Competition Structure
- Australian Mathematics Competition Scoring and Awards
- Key Dates For The Australian Mathematics Competition In 2026
- Conclusion On The Australian Mathematics Competition
- FAQs About The Australian Mathematics Competition
What Is The Australian Mathematics Competition?
Developed by Australia’s top educators and academics, the AMC is intended to be inclusive for all students. That means you don’t have to be a maths genius to participate, simply someone looking to have fun and challenge themselves. With an emphasis on problem-solving, the questions are designed to test and stimulate mathematical thinking rather than focus on the calculations themselves.
Thus, they differ significantly from traditional assessment formats and are designed to be enjoyable for the students.
How Do You Register For The Australian Mathematics Competition?
You can sign up for the AMC with your school. If your school does not offer the exam, you can contact other coaching clinics and tutoring centres that may be registered with the AMT.
Australian Mathematics Competition Structure
The AMC consists of 30 problems: 25 multiple-choice questions and 5 integer questions, designed to progressively increase in difficulty.
The competition is divided into five divisions based on year levels:
- Middle Primary: Years 3 and 4
- Upper Primary: Years 5 and 6
- Junior: Years 7 and 8
- Intermediate: Years 9 and 10
- Senior: Years 11 and 12
Students are allocated 60 minutes for the primary divisions and 75 minutes for the secondary divisions. Calculators are not permitted for secondary students, although geometric tools like rulers and compasses are allowed. The competition can be conducted in both online and printed formats.
Topics may include:
- Basic arithmetic
- Fractions and ratios
- Algebra and pre-algebra
- Geometry
- Measurement
- Statistics and probability
- Problem-solving (including enumeration)
Australian Mathematics Competition Scoring and Awards
Points are awarded based on the difficulty of the questions:
There is no penalty given for incorrect answers, and therefore it is highly encouraged that students attempt all questions.
Awards are given based on performance, comprising of:
- Participation: For all participants
- Proficiency: For students meeting a pre-set score
- Credit: Top 55% of participants (60% for Seniors)
- Distinction: Top 20% of participants (25% for Seniors)
- High Distinction: Top 3% of participants (5% for Seniors)
- Medals and Prizes: For outstanding results, with specific awards for best performers in each division, each school and for perfect scores (*the cut-off scores for awards are determined by comparing the student’s results with their cohort and region, thus may vary)
You can find more information here on the Australian Maths Trust page on the AMC.
Key Dates For The Australian Mathematics Competition In 2026
You can find more information here on the Australian Maths Trust page on the AMC.
Conclusion On The Australian Mathematics Competition
The Australian Maths Competition is an excellent opportunity to challenge yourself, develop critical problem-solving skills, and earn recognition that strengthens your academic portfolio. Whether you're aiming for a medal or simply want to test your abilities in a fun, low-pressure environment, the AMC welcomes students of all skill levels.
Start preparing early with past papers, practice your mental maths, and remember that there's no penalty for trying, so give every question your best shot.
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FAQs About The Australian Mathematics Competition
1. How does the Australian maths competition work?
The competition paper consists of twenty-five multiple-choice questions and five integer questions, which are ordered in increasing difficulty. Students are allowed 75 minutes (60 minutes for the two primary papers) to read and answer the questions. Note that secondary students are not allowed to use calculators during the AMC.
2. Should you participate in the AMC?
Yes! The AMC enhances problem-solving skills by challenging students with a variety of mathematical problems that require critical thinking and innovative problem-solving strategies.
Outside of the competition, your enhanced logical reasoning and analytical skills can be beneficial in an academic and real-world setting.
Participation in the AMC can also be a noteworthy addition to a student’s academic portfolio (or those of you looking to fill out your CV!). This can help in scholarship and school applications, or even work experience/internships.
3. How should you prepare for the AMC?
The best way to prepare is to work through sample problems. Sample AMC problem sets for your year levels are available on the Australian Mathematics Trust website. Each set includes 6 problems and worked solutions drawn from previous papers. This helps develop problem-solving skills and strategies for approaching different types of questions, as well as help familiarise yourself with the format and types of questions.
Additional free resources are offered in Problemo (Sandpit) for different year levels and topics. Collections of past problems are also available for purchase on the AMT’s online shop here.
On top of that, you can also attend math enrichment programs, like the AMT’s Maths Challenge and Maths Enrichment modules, for additional practice and support from experienced educators.
