About AMC 10
The MAA contest for students in Grade 10 and below. It covers the high school curriculum except precalculus and calculus, and high scorers may be invited to the AIME.
AMC 10 Exam Format & Focus
25 multiple-choice questions in 75 minutes. 6 points for each correct answer, 1.5 points for each blank and 0 for each wrong answer, so the maximum is 150. Calculators are not allowed.
How Skillzy Young Scholars Prepares Students for AMC 10
Skillzy Young Scholars teaches AMC 10 in live online classes with vetted mentors who have completed 100 hours of training. The curriculum is organised into 5 units, with worksheets, quizzes, timed practice and mock exams. Progress is tracked in the LMS and shared with parents in a monthly report.
What AMC 10 Covers
- Algebra: equations, inequalities, functions, sequences and polynomials
- Geometry: triangles, circles, coordinate geometry and solid shapes
- Number theory: divisibility, modular arithmetic and prime factorisation
- Counting and probability: combinations, arrangements and expected value
AMC 10 Curriculum
Classes follow these units. Every student starts with a level check, and the order and pace adapt to your child. Units that go beyond the exam's core topics are stretch material.
- Target Audience
- Students in 10th grade and under.
- Total Questions
- 25 multiple-choice questions.
- Time Limit
- 75 minutes.
- Skill Focus
- High-school curriculum (excluding precalculus/calculus) applied to creative, competition-style problems.
- Scoring System
- 6 points for a correct answer, 1.5 points for an unanswered (blank) question, and 0 points for an incorrect answer. Maximum score is 150. Calculators are strictly prohibited.
What the program focuses on
- Full high-school curriculum application (up to 10th grade)
- Recognizing problem archetypes to save time
- Strategic skipping and flagging for the hardest problems
- Answer-choice-driven shortcuts (plugging in, working backward)
- Estimation for problems with numerically 'nice' expected answers
- Interactive, hands-on learning
- Continuous progress and endurance monitoring
Units
1 Core Algebra & Functions
Students will learn to:
- Master foundational concepts: integer/rational numbers, ratios, percentages, and proportional reasoning.
- Solve linear and quadratic equations, mastering factoring and completing the square.
- Solve linear and nonlinear systems of equations, as well as absolute value equations and inequalities.
- Analyze functions (domain/range, composition, inverse functions) and polynomials (roots, Vieta's formulas, remainder/factor theorems).
- Work with arithmetic, geometric, and basic recursive sequences and series.
- Solve introductory exponential equations and foundational logarithms.
AMC 10 Alignment - Algebra Core. Algebra forms the backbone of the AMC 10. Students must rapidly factor, utilize Vieta's formulas to avoid solving for messy roots, and manipulate abstract functions.
Learning activities:
- Vieta's formulas and polynomial factoring relays
- Recursive sequence tracking and exponential puzzles
- Function composition and inverse deduction games
What this means for your child. Your child will move beyond standard high school algebra, learning to manipulate complex equations and polynomials strategically without relying on a calculator.
2 Core Geometry & Spatial Reasoning
Students will learn to:
- Master basic geometry: area, perimeter, and angle relationships.
- Analyze triangle centers, congruence, and similarity.
- Apply advanced circle theorems: power of a point, inscribed angles, and tangent lines.
- Utilize coordinate geometry, including finding area via coordinates (Shoelace formula).
- Calculate volume/surface area of 3D solids and visualize cross-sections.
- Understand foundational trigonometry: the unit circle and basic identities.
AMC 10 Alignment - Geometry Core. Geometry problems on the AMC 10 often hide multiple steps requiring auxiliary lines or the Shoelace formula to bypass complex traditional calculations.
Learning activities:
- Power of a point and circle theorem deduction exercises
- Shoelace formula coordinate mapping
- 3D cross-section visualization and spatial games
What this means for your child. Your child will learn to translate text-heavy geometry problems into accurate visual diagrams, mastering auxiliary lines and coordinate math shortcuts.
3 Core Number Theory
Students will learn to:
- Apply modular arithmetic and remainder theory.
- Work with base representations and complex digit problems.
- Master GCD/LCM and the Euclidean algorithm.
- Utilize divisor counting and sum-of-divisors functions.
- Solve introductory Diophantine equations (equations with integer solutions).
AMC 10 Alignment - Number Theory Core. Number theory problems often involve massive numbers that cannot be calculated by hand, requiring students to strictly use modular arithmetic and divisor formulas.
Learning activities:
- Modular arithmetic and Euclidean algorithm cycle puzzles
- Diophantine equation balancing tasks
- Divisor counting optimization challenges
What this means for your child. Your child will learn the hidden rules of integers, allowing them to decode massive numbers and remainders entirely through logical deduction.
4 Combinatorics & Probability
Students will learn to:
- Calculate permutations and combinations, including those with repetition/restriction.
- Apply the Binomial theorem, Pascal's triangle, and the Pigeonhole principle.
- Execute complementary counting and systematic casework.
- Calculate advanced probability: expected value, geometric probability, and conditional probability.
AMC 10 Alignment - Intermediate & Advanced Stretch. Combinatorics and Probability make up some of the hardest problems on the exam. Students must organize complex information systematically to avoid skipping hidden combinations.
Learning activities:
- Expected value and geometric probability simulations
- Binomial theorem and combinatorial casework games
- Pigeonhole principle and complementary counting logic puzzles
What this means for your child. Your child will learn to systematically organize data and outcomes, preventing careless errors in complex, multi-variable probability scenarios.
5 Exam Strategy, Skipping Tactics & Mock Simulations
Students will learn to:
- Recognize problem archetypes to save time under the strict 75-minute limit.
- Utilize answer-choice-driven shortcuts (plugging in values, working backward from options).
- Apply estimation for problems with numerically 'nice' expected answers.
- Execute strategic skipping and flagging for the hardest 5 problems (21–25) to maximize the 1.5-point blank guessing system.
AMC 10 Alignment - Test Day Readiness. The AMC 10 scoring system rewards strategic restraint. Knowing when not to guess is just as important as knowing how to solve.
Always check the official exam organizer for the current format, dates and eligibility. We do not guarantee scores or rankings.
Sample AMC 10 Prep Plan
- Weeks 1-3: diagnostic test, then close gaps in algebra and geometry fundamentals.
- Weeks 4-8: topic blocks with competition-style problems, including number theory and counting techniques.
- Weeks 9-12: timed 75-minute mock exams and detailed review of every missed problem.
- Final weeks: strategy for the last ten questions and for deciding what to skip.
Common AMC 10 Mistakes We Help Students Avoid
- Treating the exam like school math. Questions reward clever setups, not long calculations.
- Ignoring scoring. Unanswered questions earn partial credit while wrong answers earn none, so guessing needs judgement.
- Practising only untimed. Pace is a skill that must be trained.
Every student begins with a level check so we can see where the gaps are. Private 1:1 students also get a full diagnostic assessment and a personalized roadmap. We teach the concepts behind each question type, practice under timed conditions, and review every wrong answer. We cannot guarantee specific scores, but progress is tracked in monthly reports.