AMC 8 2027: Dates, Registration and What to Expect
The 2027 AMC 8® is January 21–27. Families sign up through their school, and school deadlines start October 28, so here's what to do and when.
Updated October 8, 2026
When is the 2027 AMC 8?
The 2027 AMC 8 runs January 21–27, 2027. There is no single national test day: each school or testing site picks one day inside that window, so ask your child's school which day it will give the test.
Who can take it?
The AMC 8 is for students in grade 8 and below (the MAA also sets an age limit for older students, so check if your child is young for grade 9 or homeschooled). Many strong students take it first in grade 5 or 6, and younger students take it too. There is no qualifying test: anyone eligible whose school or a nearby site offers it can sit for it.
How to register
Families can't sign up directly. Schools and other hosts (some universities, math circles and learning centers) register with the MAA, and students sign up through them.
- If your child's school offers it: ask the math teacher or the school's AMC coordinator. Schools often close their own signup weeks before the MAA's deadlines.
- If it doesn't: ask the school whether it would host (a teacher registers once for the whole school), or look for a nearby testing site at a university, math circle or learning center.
2027 registration deadlines (for schools and hosts)
| Deadline | Date | School registration fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early bird | October 28, 2026 | $55 |
| Regular (last chance for new schools) | January 5, 2027 | $75 |
| Late (returning schools only) | January 14, 2027 | $115 |
These are the host's registration fees; student test materials are bought on top in bundles. Families usually pay a small amount to the school or testing site, or nothing at all.
How the AMC 8 is scored
- One point per correct answer, so scores run from 0 to 25.
- No penalty for wrong answers, so a student should never leave a question blank.
- Questions get harder as the test goes on. The first ten or so are quick points; the last five challenge the strongest students in the country.
- Top scorers earn Honor Roll (top 5%) and Distinguished Honor Roll (top 1%). See what's a good AMC 8 score for the cutoffs by year.
What's on the test?
Middle-school math, asked in unusual ways: arithmetic and number sense, algebra and rates, geometry (area, angles, the Pythagorean theorem), number theory (primes, divisibility, remainders), and counting and probability. Nothing needs advanced math; what makes it hard is spotting the right idea fast, and avoiding answer choices built to catch common mistakes.
How much time is left to prepare?
From early November there are about 11 weeks. That's enough time to make a real difference with 20–30 minutes a day. Our 11-week AMC 8 prep plan lays it out week by week.
Get ready for January
Contest Math Pro has 70 full AMC 8-style practice exams, timed practice sets and a Mistake Bank that brings back every missed question with new numbers. Free includes 1 full exam and the first 2 sets of each type; Pro unlocks everything.
Questions parents ask
When is the AMC 8 in 2027?
January 21–27, 2027. Each school or testing site chooses one day in that window.
Can parents register a child for the AMC 8 directly?
No. Schools and other hosts register with the MAA, and students sign up through them. If your school doesn't offer it, ask whether it will host, or find a nearby testing site.
How long is the AMC 8?
40 minutes for 25 multiple-choice questions, with no calculator.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers on the AMC 8?
No. Each correct answer is one point and wrong or blank answers are zero, so students should answer every question.
AMC 8® is a registered trademark of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). Contest Math Pro is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MAA. For official rules and dates, see the MAA American Mathematics Competitions.