The Math Pathway
Competitive math has the clearest pre-college progression of any STEM track. A student who's strong on the AMC 8 in middle school can reasonably aim for AMC 10/12 → AIME → USAMO by senior year. The path is well-trodden, the prep resources are excellent, and top performers are heavily recruited by Ivy League schools, Stanford, and the elite math summer programs.
The progression, grade by grade
4 programs in this pathway, ordered from earliest grade to most advanced. Click any step for full details.
American Mathematics Competition 8 (AMC 8)
40-minute, 25-question math contest for middle schoolers.
Math Kangaroo
The global beginner-friendly math contest. K-12, fixed test date in March, every participant gets a gift bag.
MATHCOUNTS Competition Series (MATHCOUNTS)
The premier middle-school math competition in the U.S. — chapter → state → national, with four rounds (Sprint, Target, Team, Countdown).
American Mathematics Competitions 10/12 (AMC 10/12)
75-minute, 25-question high-school math contest — gateway to AIME.