The SIMCC competition family is a connected ladder of math contests run by the Singapore International Math Contests Centre (SIMCC). Entry-level paper rounds — AMO (American Mathematics Olympiad) and SASMO — feed into the team-and-puzzle SIMOC final, and the strongest medallists are invited to IJMO, the international round. Crucially, AMO is a SIMCC contest from Singapore, co-organised with Southern Illinois University — it is not the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) run by the MAA in the United States.
Why this map matters before you register
Most families meet just one acronym — usually AMO — and assume it stands alone. It doesn’t. SIMCC built a deliberate progression: a wide-access paper round that anyone can sit, a live final you earn your way into, and an international round reserved for top medallists. Knowing where each contest sits saves you from two common mistakes: treating a single sitting as the whole journey, or confusing one SIMCC contest with an unrelated competition that shares a similar name.
If you are still deciding whether to enter at all, start with our explainer on what AMO is and the grade levels from Grade 2 to 12. This article zooms out to the whole family so you can see the road ahead, not just the first step.
The four contests, at a glance
SIMCC runs several contests, but four form the core pathway most international-school students travel: SASMO and AMO at the entry tier, SIMOC as the live championship, and IJMO as the invitational international round. The table below summarises what each one is, based on SIMCC's published descriptions. Always confirm the current year's exact dates, fees and rules on the official SIMCC / AMO pages before you register.
| Contest | Full name | Organiser | Who it's for | Role in the ladder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMO | American Mathematics Olympiad | SIMCC + Southern Illinois University (SIU) | Grades 2–12 worldwide | Entry round; top 40% qualify for SIMOC; Gold/Silver can reach IJMO |
| SASMO | Singapore & Asian Schools Math Olympiad | SIMCC (with STS & advisory council) | Grades 1–12 (international) | Entry round; a sister paper to AMO that also feeds SIMOC and IJMO |
| SIMOC | Singapore International Math Olympiad Challenge | SIMCC | Qualified AMO / SASMO medallists | Live final: written paper + interactive team math games |
| IJMO | International Junior Math Olympiad | SIMCC + national math societies / country partners | Selected SASMO & AMO Gold and Silver awardees | International round; students represent their country |
A useful way to read the family: SASMO and AMO are the two front doors — wide paper-based rounds open to a whole grade range. SIMOC is the room you earn entry to by placing in the top 40% of a qualifying paper. IJMO is the invitation-only stage, where only Gold and Silver awardees are selected to represent their country.
AMO is not the AMC — clear this up first
This is the single most important distinction for any family googling "American math olympiad." AMO (American Mathematics Olympiad) is organised by SIMCC in Singapore together with Southern Illinois University, is open to Grades 2 through 12, and its framework is built on the US Common Core State Standards. It is a wide-access, multiple-choice-style paper that even primary students can sit.
The AMC (American Mathematics Competitions) — AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12 — is a different competition entirely, administered by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) in the United States. The AMC is the on-ramp to the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) and ultimately the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO). Same word "American," completely separate organisers, syllabi and progression ladders.
| AMO (this site) | AMC | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | American Mathematics Olympiad | American Mathematics Competitions (AMC 8/10/12) |
| Organiser | SIMCC (Singapore) + Southern Illinois University | Mathematical Association of America (MAA), USA |
| Grade range | Grades 2–12 | Mainly secondary (AMC 8 up to grade 8; AMC 10/12 high school) |
| Framework | Based on US Common Core standards | MAA competition syllabus |
| Leads to | SIMOC, then IJMO | AIME, then USAMO |
Why labour the point? Because the names are close enough that students sometimes prepare for the wrong syllabus or expect the wrong progression. Knowing which ladder you are climbing — SIMOC/IJMO for AMO, AIME/USAMO for AMC — keeps your preparation aimed at the right target.
How a student actually moves up the ladder
The progression is award-gated, not automatic. Here is the route as SIMCC describes it, step by step.
- Step 1 — Sit an entry paper (AMO or SASMO). AMO runs 1 hour 30 minutes per level for Grades 2–12, scored out of 100 points. SASMO is a sister paper (25 questions across multiple choice and non-routine sections). Either can be your front door.
- Step 2 — Earn a medal to qualify for SIMOC. In AMO, the top 40% of participants — the Gold, Silver and Bronze awardees — receive a medal and certificate and qualify to join SIMOC. Gold is awarded to roughly the top 8%. Honourable Mention and Participation recipients receive an electronic certificate.
- Step 3 — Compete at SIMOC. SIMOC is the live championship: it tests pen-and-paper olympiad problems and the ability to work in a team on interactive mathematical games and puzzles — a format unlike a standard exam.
- Step 4 — Be selected for IJMO. Only SASMO and AMO Gold and Silver awardees from each country are selected annually to represent their country at IJMO, the international round organised with national math societies across 50+ countries.
For exactly how AMO scoring and the medal cut-offs work in practice, see our breakdown of how AMO scoring works. The headline to remember: your award level — not merely participating — is what unlocks the next rung.
Where SASMO and the wider family fit
AMO is not the only front door. SASMO (Singapore & Asian Schools Math Olympiad) is a sister entry paper organised by SIMCC for Grades 1–12 (international), built around 25 questions split into a multiple-choice section and a non-routine problem-solving section. Like AMO, SASMO medals feed SIMOC, and SASMO Gold and Silver awardees can be selected for IJMO. So a student in China can reach the same SIMOC/IJMO stage via either AMO or SASMO — they are parallel on-ramps, not a sequence you must complete in order.
SIMCC also runs additional contests beyond this core four (for example, SINGA and other regional events). Because line-ups, names and eligibility can change year to year, treat the four-contest ladder above as your reliable backbone and confirm anything else on the official SIMCC site rather than assuming. For Chinese international-school students, the practical takeaway is simple: pick one entry paper (most choose AMO), aim for a medal to reach SIMOC, and let Gold/Silver carry you toward IJMO.
A first-party note from registrations we handle: the most common avoidable mistake we see is a student or parent assuming AMO is the US AMC and either over-preparing on AIME-style material or doubting the contest's identity. AMO is its own SIMCC pathway — Common-Core-based, Grades 2–12, leading to SIMOC and IJMO. Clarify that once and the rest of the planning gets much easier.
Frequently asked questions
Is AMO the same as the AMC?
No. AMO is the American Mathematics Olympiad run by SIMCC (Singapore) with Southern Illinois University, Grades 2–12. The AMC is run by the MAA in the USA and leads to AIME/USAMO. Different organisers and ladders.
How do I qualify for SIMOC?
By earning a medal in a qualifying entry paper. In AMO, the top 40% of participants — Gold, Silver and Bronze awardees — qualify to join SIMOC. Confirm the current cut-offs on the official AMO site.
Who gets selected for IJMO?
Per SIMCC, only SASMO and AMO Gold and Silver awardees from each country are selected annually to represent their country at IJMO. Honourable Mention does not reach IJMO.
Should I sit AMO or SASMO?
Either works as a front door — both feed SIMOC and IJMO. Many international-school students in China choose AMO. Check current dates, levels and fees on the official SIMCC / AMO pages before registering.
This site is operated by Hanlin Education as an authorized AMO registration partner for China. AMO (American Mathematics Olympiad) is organised by the Singapore International Math Contests Centre (SIMCC) together with Southern Illinois University (SIU); it is a SIMCC contest from Singapore and is not the AMC run by the MAA in the United States. We are a registration partner, not the organiser. Contest names, dates, fees, formats, award thresholds and eligibility are set by SIMCC and can change — always confirm current details on the official SIMCC / AMO pages before registering. If you spot an error, we will correct it within 7 working days.