AMC 8, one of the most challenging nationwide mathematics competitions, will be held in January next year. To help you hit your target score with confidence, this article will show you our findings about the latest AMC 8 exam trend and the 2024 AMC 8 prep guide.

AMC 8 Overall Trend from 2019 to 2023

Three Key Findings

1. The focus areas are 1) Geometry, 2) Word Problems, and 3) Counting, Statistics & Probability, as they add up to around 60% of the AMC exams.

Year	2019-2020	2022	2023
Percentage of the Three Modules	59%	62%	64%

2. The proportion of Geometry problems is on an upward trend while the proportion of Counting, Statistics & Probability is on a downward trend. And we can also see that the percentage of Numbers and Operations module remains the same at 12% from 2019 to 2023.

3. The distribution of modules has been changing in recent years, which requires students to build a solid foundation in math to solve all types of problems in the exam.

Furthermore, the overall difficulty of AMC 8 is increasing. If we categorize the problems into three difficulty levels – easy (usually Q1~Q15), medium (usually Q16~Q20), and hard (usually Q21~Q25), our research shows the number of medium problems has decreased in 2023, while the number of hard problems has increased, making the exam more challenging for students aiming for Achievement Roll and Honor Roll.

 

2023 AMC 8: Analysis of Each Knowledge Module

Geometry (24%): This year’s Geometry tests your understanding of some basic concepts such as similarity and circles. While the concepts are simple, the calculations can be intricate, involving complex ratios and equations.

Word Problem (24%): Most word problems are in medium difficulty as usual, with an increase in Traveling problems in the 2023 exam. The difficulty lies primarily in the fundamental principles of calculation, including mixed calculations of decimals and fractions, estimation, and equation solving.

Counting, Probability, and Statistics (16%): The challenge in this module usually comes after Q20. The knowledge points tested in 2023 are still relatively conventional, including a combination of probability and multiplication principles, and statistical problems.

Number and Operation (12%): The problems in this module continue to be of low difficulty, mostly seen in Q1-Q15, covering basic number operations, and exponential operations.

Combinatorics (12%): 2023’s combinatorics problems feature less text. Students need to interpret diagrams to solve the problems. Aside from Q16 (2023), the other two questions are relatively straightforward.

Number Theory (8%): There are no hard problems falling under Number Theory. Although Q22 (2023) is a number theory problem, its difficulty level is more comparable to the medium difficulty of questions 16 to 18.

How to Prepare for AMC 8

While the main modules in AMC 8 are unlikely to change significantly, the focus areas can vary from year to year. Thus, predicting specific questions is not reliable. Planning ahead to master all the topics covered in AMC 8 is the key to success.

To prepare for AMC 8 effectively, students should create a clear timeline and adhere to a structured five-step process.

Step 1: Setting Your Goal (Long-term Knowledge Acceleration)

Getting exceptional scores in the AMC 8 is not easy. Therefore, if students have the goal of obtaining great scores, they should commit to consistent, long-term learning to establish a strong math foundation and enhance their problem-solving abilities.

This means that once students reach fourth grade and begin learning certain AMC 8 topics within their school curriculum, they should delve further into these topics and progressively go beyond regular coursework to get ready for competition-level challenges.

Step 2: Give Mock Exams a Try – July

The AMC 8 typically takes place in January each year. It’s advisable for students to commence mock exams approximately six months prior to the actual exam date. These mock exams play a crucial role in evaluating students’ current knowledge levels. Moreover, they also help students grasp the test’s format and difficulty, which will be beneficial for their future study.

Step 3: Follow a Systematic Study Plan – July to August

In preparation for the future exam, students must work on strengthening their knowledge foundation in the long-term. This entails targeting any weaknesses from the previous academic year during the summer break before their dedicated exam preparation year. After taking the mock exam in Step 2 and assessing their performance, students can embark on focused training by knowledge modules to enhance their exam readiness. By delving deeper into specific areas of knowledge delineated by the AMC 10 modules mentioned earlier, students are ought to give particular attention to any areas of weakness identified during the mock exams to bolster their skillset effectively.

Step 4: Practice is the Key – September to October

Around three months before the exam, students are encouraged to take practice tests more intensively to get familiar with the exam format and identify their knowledge gap. Solving challenging questions and questions that students commonly make mistakes in should be the top priority. At Think Academy, we provide options like the AMC 8 Achievement Roll (AR) Camp, Honor Roll (HR) Camp, and Distinguished Honor Roll (DHR) Camp, allowing students to select the bootcamp that aligns with their objectives. To learn more about the cut-off score of each Roll, please refer to this article.

Step 5: Conquering Tough Questions – November to January

About one month before the exam, students should aim to master the hard problems within their target score range — questions 12 to 18 for the AR, questions 15 to 22 for the HR, and questions 22 to 25 for the DHR. Think Academy’s AMC 8 camps will continue through the end of the year to accelerate your final sprint.

2024 AMC 8 Registration with Think Academy

To register online for the 2024 AMC 8 with Think Academy, please follow these three steps:

Step 1: Register a Think Academy account at https://www.thethinkacademy.com/.

Step 2: Edit Account information

Change name into student’s legal first and last name at [my account > personal information] and fill in frequently used phone number and email address at [my account > Login&Security].

Step 3: Please choose the testing site nearest to you from the list below and proceed with the registration process.

• Exam Date: 01/18/2024-01/24/2024
• Registration Fee: $10
• Registration Period: 9/15/2023 – 01/12/2024
• In-person Exam Registration only, for students under Grade 8
• Pick your test center from the list below and click the appropriate link to sign up:
  • Cupertino
  • Fremont
  • Bellevue
  • Manhattan

**Please note that some of our test centers may already be full, so we recommend securing your spot as soon as possible!!

If our testing sites are not conveniently located for you, please use this link to find the nearest exam location, and register for exam on the MAA official website. 

2024 AMC 8 Prep at Think Academy

To make your summer vacation an opportunity to systematically learn the key topics of AMC 8, Think Academy has launched some AMC 8 summer boot camps. Below are the upcoming sessions.

09/09/2023 -10/07/2023 AMC 8 Achievement Roll Camp

09/10/2023-10/08/2023 AMC 8 Honor Roll Camp

09/10/2023-10/08/2023 AMC 8 Exam Practice Camp

For previous AMC 8 problems and solutions, click here and then choose the “AMC 8” tab.

To learn more about AMC 8 exam, please contact Think Academy at info@thethinkacademy.com or +1 (844) 844-6587.