Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) 2025: Exam Overview, Advantages, and Comparison with US AMC

While the AMC is widely known as the American Mathematics Competition, Australia also offers a prestigious and globally recognized mathematics competition. Established in 1978, the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) engages students from 32 countries, covering Grades 3–12, with a friendly difficulty level and a high award rate exceeding 60%. This article provides an in-depth look at the Australian AMC, its content, value, and how it compares to the American AMC, helping parents identify the right starting point for their children in international mathematics competitions.

1. Introduction

The Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) is one of the largest interschool mathematics competitions worldwide. Covering Grades 3–12, it offers a reasonable difficulty gradient and a high award rate of over 60%, making it an ideal entry-level competition for students interested in mathematics.

Parents often confuse the Australian AMC with the American AMC due to the similarity in naming. Compared to the US AMC8, the Australian AMC’s A, B, and C levels are easier to handle and serve as a confidence-building introduction to competitive mathematics.

2. Overview of the Australian AMC

The Australian Mathematics Competition is organized by the Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT). Since its launch in 1978, it has become one of the longest-running and largest interschool mathematics competitions globally, with over 16 million students from 32 countries participating.

The competition is used as a reference for selecting the Australian team for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) and provides students with a platform to showcase their mathematical skills and thinking ability. It is divided into five levels based on difficulty, suitable for students from Grade 3 to Grade 12.

3. Advantages of Participating

1. International Recognition:
   Organized by the AMT, the Australian AMC is highly respected worldwide and is among the largest interschool mathematics competitions.

2. University Admissions Support:
   Many top universities, both domestic and international, consider mathematics competition achievements in admissions. Australian AMC awards can enhance a student’s profile and improve admission chances, particularly in major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

3. Skills Development:
   The competition emphasizes mathematical thinking, logical reasoning, problem-solving, and innovative approaches.

4. Confidence Building:
   With an award rate of around 60%, students can gain significant confidence and motivation after receiving recognition.

4. Australian AMC Exam Details

Exam Format:

• Language: Bilingual (English and Chinese)

• Eligible Grades: Grade 3 to Grade 12

• Exam Month: Usually September (2025 exam: September 27, Saturday)

• Duration:

  • Levels A & B: 60 minutes (10:00–11:00)

  • Levels C, D & E: 75 minutes (14:00–15:15)

• Format: 30 questions (25 multiple-choice + 5 fill-in-the-blank), total score 135

• Results: Released 6–8 weeks after the exam

Content Coverage:
Arithmetic, algebra, number theory, geometry, measurement, probability, statistics, combinatorics, and logical reasoning. Questions emphasize flexibility, creativity, and problem-solving ability.

Question Structure:

• Questions 1–20: Basic knowledge assessment; moderate difficulty; tests computation, numerical analysis, logic, and geometric reasoning.

• Questions 21–25: Mathematical thinking assessment; increased depth; requires flexible thinking and fast problem-solving.

• Questions 26–30: Reasoning and calculation assessment; fill-in-the-blank; highest difficulty; involves combinatorics and derivations; requires careful time management.

Difficulty Levels:

• A (Middle Primary): Grades 3–5

• B (Upper Primary): Grades 6–7

• C (Junior): Grades 8–9

• D (Intermediate): Grades 10–11

• E (Senior): Grade 12

Scoring:

• Questions 1–10: 3 points each

• Questions 11–20: 4 points each

• Questions 21–25: 5 points each

• Questions 26–30: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 points respectively

• Incorrect or unanswered: 0 points

5. Awards

Global Awards:

• Peter O’Halloran Achievement Award: Awarded to students with full marks

China Regional Awards:

• Prize (Excellence): Top 0.3% (A–E levels)

• High Distinction (First Prize): Top 3% (A–D levels), Top 5% (E level)

• Distinction (Second Prize): Top 20% (A–D), Top 25% (E)

• Credit (Third Prize): Top 55% (A–D), Top 60% (E)

• Proficiency Award: Students exceeding minimum total score without receiving above awards

6. Registration Channels in Mainland China

1. School Registration: Through AMC partner schools

2. WeChat Mini Program: Search “Astun International Science Assessment” and follow registration steps

3. Authorized Agencies: Professional institutions may register on behalf of students

7. Comparison Between Australian AMC and American AMC

Key Differences:

• Australian AMC caters to a broader age range (Grades 3–12) with five levels, suitable for beginners.

• US AMC has higher difficulty, especially AMC12, covering extensive school math and Olympiad knowledge.

• Australian AMC is typically held in September in China; US AMC8 is held in January.

8. Conclusion

The Australian AMC is a long-standing, internationally recognized mathematics competition that assesses students’ mathematical skills while cultivating logical thinking and problem-solving ability. Parents are encouraged to plan early and provide opportunities for their children to participate, as strategic early exposure can greatly benefit long-term academic development.