An independent guide to a friendly world maths challenge.
What AMO is, who runs it, who it’s for — and exactly what this guide is (and is not).
A global maths competition, built to be approachable.
The American Mathematics Olympiad is an international contest for school students in Grade 2–12 — it rewards clear thinking and steady effort, not high-pressure drilling.
What it is
An international maths olympiad for Grade 2–12, sat in English without travelling abroad.
Who runs it
SIMCC, the Singapore International Math Contest Centre, with Southern Illinois University.
US Common Core
Questions follow the US Common Core standards, so prep reinforces mainstream skills.
Friendly format
Multiple-choice and short-answer, with no penalty for a wrong answer — always worth a try.
Every grade has its own paper.
Each student sits the paper for their own grade, so the level grows with the student — no child needs to be exceptional to take part and benefit.
Curious beginners
Often a primary-school child who enjoys puzzles — a gentle first taste of competition maths.
Steady improvers
Primary through senior high, using each year’s percentile as an honest yardstick of growth.
Parents who want a benchmark
An honest, internationally-framed measure against same-grade peers worldwide.
AMO at a glance.
What this website is — and isn’t.
An independent, plain-English guide for families in China. We help you understand AMO, prepare with confidence, and find the official next step.
Understand
Clear explanations of AMO built from publicly available official information.
Prepare
Friendly prep pointers and grade placement — no secret tricks, just solid fundamentals.
Find the next step
We point you to the official organiser for registration, rules, dates and fees.
Have a question? We’re here to help.
We’ll help you pick the right grade, prepare with confidence, and find the official next step.
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