The 2025–2026 season is now underway, and students preparing for Australian university applications are likely already familiar with the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC). As one of Australia’s largest and longest-running school-based math competitions, the AMC enjoys high international recognition and serves as an important reference for evaluating students’ mathematical thinking skills at top universities.
For students and parents new to the AMC, this article provides a detailed introduction to the competition and a curriculum-specific preparation guide.
1. Overview of the Australian AMC
The Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) was founded in 1978 by the renowned mathematician Peter O’Halloran and is organized by the Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT). It is one of the largest school-based mathematics competitions globally, attracting students from over 30 countries each year. The AMC is also a key selection criterion for Australia’s International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) team.
1. Competition Dates (Reference from Previous Years)
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Registration Deadline: September 16, 2025
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Exam Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
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Time Schedule:
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Levels A & B: 10:00–11:00 (60 minutes)
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Levels C, D & E: 14:00–15:15 (75 minutes)
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2. Eligible Participants
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The AMC is suitable for students in Grades 3–12, with levels divided as follows:
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A – Primary Beginner (Grades 3–4)
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B – Primary Advanced (Grades 5–6)
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C – Junior (Grades 7–8)
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D – Intermediate (Grades 9–10)
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E – Senior (Grades 11–12)
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3. Registration
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Students can register through authorized test center schools or partner schools via ASDAN.
4. Competition Format
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Participation: Individual
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Number of Questions: 25
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Duration:
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Levels A–B: 60 minutes
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Levels C–E: 75 minutes
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Scoring: Total 135 points
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Questions 1–10: 3 points each
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Questions 11–20: 4 points each
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Questions 21–25: 5 points each
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Questions 26–30: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 points respectively
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Incorrect answers: 0 points
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5. Awards
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Global Award: PETER O’HALLORAN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for full-score students
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National Awards:
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PRIZE: Top 0.3%
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HIGH DISTINCTION: Top 3% (Top 5% for Senior Division)
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DISTINCTION: Top 20% (Top 25% for Senior Division)
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CREDIT: Top 55% (Top 60% for Senior Division)
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6. Topics Covered
The AMC assesses arithmetic, algebra, number theory, geometry, measurement, probability, statistics, combinatorics, and logical reasoning. The focus is on mathematical thinking rather than heavy computation, and all problems can be solved without a calculator, testing understanding of concepts and problem-solving strategies.
2. Australian AMC Curriculum Alignment Guide
1. AP Curriculum Students
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AP courses provide a foundation in pre-calculus and calculus, which aligns with AMC topics.
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Preparation for AMC requires deeper problem-solving practice and additional topics such as competition-style equations.
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Calculus knowledge helps cover algebra and analytic geometry basics and enhances computation skills.
2. A-Level Curriculum Students
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There is significant overlap in foundational knowledge, but differences exist in exam style.
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A-Level emphasizes fixed topics and computational accuracy, often within a rigid framework.
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Australian AMC prioritizes mathematical thinking, flexibility, and problem-solving, with the last 5 questions being particularly challenging.
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A-Level students benefit from their strong computational foundation but need to shift their thinking style and supplement with competition-specific exercises.
3. IB Curriculum Students
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IB and AMC share many foundational topics, though IB covers a broader scope.
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For IB students, AMC preparation is relatively straightforward, focusing on reviewing basics and adding counting, number theory, and competition-style problems.