Is C Really the Most Common AMC 8 Answer?
We checked all 675 official AMC 8® answers from 1999 to 2026. B, C and D are about tied; A and E come up much less. Here's the data, and why it shouldn't change how you take the test.
Updated October 8, 2026
The answer key, by letter
We counted the correct letter for every AMC 8 question from 1999 to 2026 (27 contests; there was no 2021 contest) and checked each one against published answer keys.
So C isn't the most common answer, but it's close: B, C and D each come up about a quarter of the time. A and E are clearly rarer, about one in seven each. The last 10 contests show the same pattern (A about 16%, E about 14%).
Why A and E come up less
When the answer choices are numbers, they're usually listed from smallest to largest. The wrong choices are usually built from common mistakes, which land both above and below the right answer, so the correct one tends to sit in the middle. That's our explanation for the pattern, not an official one.
Streaks and lopsided years
- Repeats are normal. The same letter is the answer to two questions in a row about 1 time in 6. In 2013, questions 6 through 10 all had the same answer.
- Some years lean hard on one letter. 2009 had 11 D answers and a single A; 2017 had 10 D answers and a single E.
- So a streak of the same letter is no sign of a mistake, and "it's been a while since we've had an A" means nothing.
Should you use this on test day?
Mostly, no. The pattern is real, but it's small, and it can't beat actually solving the problem. Two habits do help:
- Answer every question. There's no penalty for a wrong answer on the AMC 8, so a blank is always a lost chance.
- Never change an answer because of a streak. If your work says D for the fourth time in a row, trust your work.
If you're out of time on a question and can't rule anything out, any letter is a fine guess; leaning toward B, C or D is a small edge at best. Ruling out even one choice by estimating is worth far more. For what actually raises scores, see what's on the AMC 8 and the 11-week prep plan.
Answer letters are from the official AMC 8 contests 1999–2026, checked against published answer keys (Art of Problem Solving, Areteem, Think Academy). We count letters only; we don't reproduce any contest problem.
Guess on the blanks. Solve for the score.
A blind guess is worth about a fifth of a point, so never leave a question empty. The real gains come from solving more of them, and Contest Math Pro builds the habits that do it: timed practice tests, every mistake back with new numbers, and a coach that explains why a wrong answer was tempting. Free to start.
Questions parents ask
What is the most common answer on the AMC 8?
D, by a small margin: 24.7% of the 675 answers from 1999 to 2026, just ahead of C (23.7%) and B (23.3%). A and E are the least common, about 14% each.
Is C the most common AMC 8 answer?
Not quite. C is the correct answer about 24% of the time, essentially tied with B and D. A and E come up much less often.
Is there a penalty for guessing on the AMC 8?
No. Wrong and blank answers both score 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.