What's a Good AMC 8 Score? Honor Roll Cutoffs by Year
In 2026, Honor Roll took 21 of 25 and the average was 12.4. Here are the cutoffs since 2022, what they mean, and what to aim for.
Updated October 8, 2026
AMC 8 cutoffs and averages by year
| Year | Distinguished (top 1%) | Honor Roll (top 5%) | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 24 | 21 | 12.4 |
| 2025 | 23 | 19 | 11.7 |
| 2024 | 22 | 18 | 10.8 |
| 2023 | 21 | 17 | 10.3 |
| 2022 | 22 | 19 | 9.7 |
There was no separate 2021 contest: the schedule shifted and the next AMC 8 was held in January 2022.
What the numbers say
- The bar keeps rising. The Honor Roll cutoff went from 17 in 2023 to 21 in 2026, and the average from 10.3 to 12.4. Aim for this year's cutoff plus a point or two, not last year's.
- Half the paper is average. The average student gets about 12 of 25 right, so 13 or more is above average.
- Honor Roll means about 21 right in 40 minutes. That's fewer than two minutes a question, with almost no misses on the first 20.
Awards
- Distinguished Honor Roll: top 1% of scores.
- Honor Roll: top 5% of scores.
- Certificate of Achievement: students in grade 6 and below who score 15 or more.
Schools also recognize their top scorers, and the AMC 8 is a common stepping stone to the AMC 10 in high school.
What's a good score for my child's grade?
There's no official answer; this is our rule of thumb, built from the averages and cutoffs above:
- Grade 5–6, first time: 13–15 is a strong start, and 15+ earns the Certificate of Achievement.
- Grade 7 aiming high: 18 or more.
- Grade 8 going for Honor Roll: about 21, based on 2026.
A score that improves from one year to the next matters more than any single number.
Where do the points come from?
The early questions are worth exactly as much as the hard ones. Most students raise their score fastest by not missing the first 15, which usually means fewer careless slips and spotting answer choices built to catch common mistakes, rather than by learning hard new topics. Timed practice and redoing missed problems are what move the score; our 11-week prep plan is built around both.
Where would your child score today?
Start with Contest Math Pro's free placement test: 25 untimed questions that show your child's strongest and weakest topics. After 40 more practice questions, the app estimates an AMC 8 score and tracks it as they practice.
Questions parents ask
What is a good AMC 8 score?
The 2026 average was 12.4 out of 25, so 13 or more is above average. Honor Roll (top 5%) took 21 in 2026, and Distinguished Honor Roll (top 1%) took 24.
What was the AMC 8 Honor Roll cutoff in 2026?
21 for Honor Roll (top 5%) and 24 for Distinguished Honor Roll (top 1%).
What is the average AMC 8 score?
12.4 in 2026, up from 9.7 in 2022.
Who gets a Certificate of Achievement on the AMC 8?
Students in grade 6 and below who score 15 or more.
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.