AMC 10/12 Final Checklist: The Night Before A, and 8 Days to B

AMC 10/12 A is on 5 November 2026 and B is on 13 November. A final checklist, the guessing rule, the 2027 AIME thresholds and a plan for the eight days between papers.

By George Ionitsa · 2026-11-04

AMC 10/12 Final Checklist: The Night Before A, and 8 Days to B

AMC 10 A and AMC 12 A are tomorrow, Thursday 5 November 2026. The B sitting is Friday 13 November.

If you're reading this the night before, don't open a new topic. One rule will do more for your score tonight than an hour of last-minute cramming: a blank answer is worth 1.5 points.

New to the AMC? Start with AMC 10 and 12: levels, A/B sittings and what comes next, then come back.

The paper in four lines

25 multiple-choice questions, 75 minutes, five options per question.
6 points for a correct answer, 1.5 for a blank, 0 for a wrong answer. Maximum 150.
No calculator.
You may sit AMC 10 or AMC 12 on a given day, not both.

The guessing rule, worked out

Every guess is a small bet. If the remaining options are equally likely, the average value of a guess is 6 divided by the number of options left:

Five options left: 1.2 points on average. A blank is worth more.
Four options left: 1.5 points. The same average as a blank.
Three options left: 2 points. Guessing has a higher average.
Two options left: 3 points. Guessing has a much higher average.

My rule: guess once you've ruled out two options with a real reason. Otherwise leave it blank and move on. That is an expected-score rule, not a guarantee about any individual answer.

What score you actually need

For 2027, MAA has replaced percentile-based AIME thresholds with fixed scores: 100 or more on AMC 10, or 85 or more on AMC 12, subject to its other eligibility rules. See the official AIME guidance.

Here's what that looks like on paper:

AMC 10: 15 right, 7 blank, 3 wrong = 100.5.
AMC 12: 12 right, 9 blank, 4 wrong = 85.5.

Neither example needs a correct answer from questions 21–25. You can reach the threshold by collecting accessible marks accurately and leaving honest blanks. Don't sacrifice an early question you can solve to chase a difficult finish.

UK note: MAA's 2027 AIME arrangements include computer-based testing at Pearson centres and a minimum age of 13, alongside its other eligibility requirements. Participants in the international programme are told to follow their regional International Group Leader's policies. If AIME is your goal, confirm the UK arrangements with your centre or AMC Europe. Reaching a score threshold alone does not settle eligibility or the local route.

Tonight's checklist

In the bag

Pencils and an eraser.
A ruler and compasses, which are permitted for AMC 10/12.
Use the blank scratch paper supplied by your competition manager; do not bring graph paper.
Keep calculators, phones, smartwatches and other communicating devices out of use during the exam. Follow your centre's instructions about storage and, if applicable, its authorised digital exam device.

Logistics

Confirm the start time, room and paper with your centre or school. Times vary by centre.
If you're travelling, use our guide to where to sit AMC in the UK and plan the route tonight.
The published MAA policies govern US and Canadian administration. UK candidates should also follow their authorised centre's instructions.

Strategy, decided in advance

First pass: work steadily through questions 1–15. Aim for accuracy, and move on if a question stalls you.
Second pass: return to promising questions, including 16–20. Use elimination only when you can justify it.
Final checks: reserve time to check that your recorded answers match your working. On paper, check the question numbers on the answer sheet.

Sleep. Seventy-five minutes of no-calculator arithmetic is harder when you're tired.

Did A go badly? You have 8 days

Eligible students may take both A and B under MAA's rules. A rough Thursday does not end your opportunity. Check with your centre that it runs a B sitting and can still take you; local registration deadlines apply.

Don't spend those eight days trying to learn every new topic. Spend them finding out where the marks went.

Friday 6 November: rest. MAA's current rules permit discussion of the A problems from 8am Eastern Time on 6 November. Follow any additional instructions from your centre.
Saturday 7 – Sunday 8 November: once the A paper is officially available for review, redo it untimed. Sort lost marks into four groups: didn't know, careless, ran out of time, bad guess. If it is not available, review a released past paper instead.
Monday 9 – Tuesday 10 November: attack the biggest group. Careless errors: slow down on 1–10. Time: practise moving on when a question stalls. Bad guesses: apply the two-option rule.
Wednesday 11 November: sit one full released past paper, timed, 75 minutes, no calculator. A past B paper is a useful rehearsal.
Thursday 12 November: mark it. Light review only. Early night.
Friday 13 November: AMC 10/12 B. MAA's published discussion embargo for B lasts until 8am Eastern Time on Tuesday 17 November; check your centre's instructions too.

Event pages on Olympiads.co.uk

Official AMC dates and information

Good luck tomorrow. Secure the accessible marks, leave honest blanks, and let the scoring do the rest.