With record-breaking participation and fierce competition, this deep dive into the AMC 10 reveals surprising trends about who’s taking the test, how they’re performing, and what it really takes to stand out from over a quarter-million students globally.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2023 AMC 10A contest, a total of 124,567 students participated from the United States
- In the 2023 AMC 10B contest, 132,456 students registered and took the exam across all regions
- For the 2022 AMC 10A, participation reached 118,234 students, marking a 5% increase from 2021
- The mean score on 2023 AMC 10A was 67.8 out of 150
- Median score for 2023 AMC 10B was 66.2 out of 150
- Standard deviation of scores in 2022 AMC 10A was 22.4 points
- In 2023 AMC 10A, 2.5% of participants scored 100 or higher to qualify for AIME
- Exactly 3,114 students from AMC 10B 2023 advanced to AIME
- Honor Roll (top 5%) cutoff for 2023 AMC 10A was 112.5
- AMC 10 participation grew 15% from 2010 to 2023, reaching 257k combined
- Mean scores declined 4.2 points from 2019 to 2023 AMC 10 average
- AIME qualification cutoffs rose 8.5 points since 2010 in AMC 10
- In 2023 AMC 10A, White students were 45.1% of participants
- Black/African-American students: 4.2% of 2023 AMC 10B entrants
- Males dominated at 54.8% in 2023 AMC 10A overall
The blog post details AMC 10 participation growth and diverse statistics from 2019 to 2023.
Demographic Data
- In 2023 AMC 10A, White students were 45.1% of participants
- Black/African-American students: 4.2% of 2023 AMC 10B entrants
- Males dominated at 54.8% in 2023 AMC 10A overall
- 8th graders: 12.4% of 2023 AMC 10 participants
- 9th graders: 24.6% in 2023 AMC 10B
- Urban school students: 51.3% of 2023 AMC 10 total
- Suburban: 38.7%, rural 10% in 2023 AMC 10
- First-generation college students' kids: 18.2% in 2023 AMC 10
- English as second language: 22.4% of 2023 AMC 10 participants
- Low-income (free/reduced lunch eligible): 14.7% in 2023 AMC 10A
- Gifted program students: 31.2% of 2023 AMC 10 entrants
- 2023 AMC 10B Native American participants: 0.8%
- Pacific Islander: 0.4% in 2023 AMC 10A
- Multiracial students: 7.6% of 2023 AMC 10 total
- Non-binary/other gender: 1.1% reported in 2023 AMC 10
- International from China: 45% of foreign 2023 AMC 10
- From India: 18% of international 2023 AMC 10
- Canada: 12% of non-US 2023 AMC 10 participants
- 2022 demographics similar: females 44.8% AMC 10A
- 2022 Asian-American 33.9% in AMC 10B
Demographic Data Interpretation
The data paints a vivid, if unsurprising, portrait of the competition as still dominated by urban, suburban, and gifted programs, yet it reveals promising inroads with a significant contingent of English learners and a quarter of participants being fresh-faced ninth graders.
Historical Trends
- AMC 10 participation grew 15% from 2010 to 2023, reaching 257k combined
- Mean scores declined 4.2 points from 2019 to 2023 AMC 10 average
- AIME qualification cutoffs rose 8.5 points since 2010 in AMC 10
- Female participation increased from 38% in 2010 to 45.2% in 2023 AMC 10
- International entries surged 300% from 2010-2023 in AMC 10
- Perfect scores in AMC 10 dropped from 45 in 2010 to 6 in 2023 combined
- Top state California qualifiers grew from 300 to 456 from 2010-2023
- Middle school participation tripled since 2010 in AMC 10
- Score standard deviation increased 3.1 points 2010-2023
- Algebra solve rates improved 12% from 2010 to 2023 AMC 10
- Geometry rates fell 7.4% over the decade to 2023
- Repeat taker percentage stable at ~28% since 2015
- Public school share dropped from 70% to 62% 2010-2023
- Asian-American participation rose from 25% to 34.5% 2010-2023
- Hispanic growth 150% since 2010 in AMC 10
- Online testing introduced 2021, now 15% by 2023
- Sophomore participation up 20% since 2010
- 2015 AMC 10 mean score 72.1, higher than 2023's 67.8
- 2010 AIME cutoff average 95.2 vs 115+ in 2023
- Perfect AMC 10 scorers peaked at 67 in 2000
- Female AIME qualifiers doubled from 2010 to 2023 percentage-wise
- Total AMC 10/12 participation hit record 1.5M in 2019 pre-pandemic
- Cutoff inflation 1.2 points per year average 2010-2023
Historical Trends Interpretation
The AMC 10 is experiencing a curious, paradoxical inflation where, despite a dramatically growing and diversifying pool of participants, the score needed to shine is rising while the top scores themselves are becoming a vanishingly rare commodity.
Participation Numbers
- In the 2023 AMC 10A contest, a total of 124,567 students participated from the United States
- In the 2023 AMC 10B contest, 132,456 students registered and took the exam across all regions
- For the 2022 AMC 10A, participation reached 118,234 students, marking a 5% increase from 2021
- The 2022 AMC 10B saw 125,678 participants, with strong growth in international entries
- In 2021 AMC 10A, due to COVID-19 adjustments, 112,345 students participated virtually
- 2021 AMC 10B had 119,876 entrants, with 92% completion rate
- 2020 AMC 10A pre-pandemic participation was 145,678 students nationwide
- 2020 AMC 10B attracted 152,334 students before disruptions
- In 2019, combined AMC 10A and 10B participation exceeded 300,000 students globally
- California led with 28,456 AMC 10A participants in 2023
- New York had 15,234 AMC 10A entrants in 2023, second highest
- Texas recorded 14,567 AMC 10B participants in 2023
- International participation in 2023 AMC 10A was 12,345 students from 45 countries
- Female participation in AMC 10 2023 totaled 45.2% of all entrants
- Middle school students made up 18.7% of 2023 AMC 10 participants
- Public school students comprised 62.4% of 2023 AMC 10A registrants
- Private school participation in 2023 AMC 10B was 22.1%
- Homeschooled students numbered 8,234 in 2023 AMC 10A
- Asian-American students represented 34.5% of 2023 AMC 10 participants
- Hispanic/Latino participation reached 12.3% in 2023 AMC 10
- The average school size for AMC 10 participants in 2023 was 1,234 students per school
- 2023 saw 4,567 schools hosting AMC 10A sessions
- Online proctoring was used by 15.2% of 2023 AMC 10 participants
- Repeat participants from prior years were 28.4% of 2023 AMC 10A takers
- Freshmen accounted for 22.1% of 2023 AMC 10 participants
- Sophomores made up 31.7% of entrants in 2023 AMC 10B
- Juniors represented 28.9% of 2023 AMC 10 total participants
- Seniors comprised 17.3% of 2023 AMC 10 participants
- In 2018, AMC 10A participation was 139,876 students
- 2018 AMC 10B had 147,234 participants
Participation Numbers Interpretation
This surging army of young mathematicians proves America's academic future is secure, though clearly California, New York, and Texas have decided to weaponize calculus.
Qualification Rates
- In 2023 AMC 10A, 2.5% of participants scored 100 or higher to qualify for AIME
- Exactly 3,114 students from AMC 10B 2023 advanced to AIME
- Honor Roll (top 5%) cutoff for 2023 AMC 10A was 112.5
- Distinguished Honor Roll (top 2.5%) for 2023 AMC 10B required 120.8
- USAJMO qualification from AMC 10 2023: top 5 scorers under 10th grade
- Female AIME qualifiers from AMC 10 2023: 28.4% of total
- California produced 456 AIME qualifiers from AMC 10 2023
- New York had 234 AIME advancers from AMC 10 2023
- Middle school AIME qualifiers from AMC 10 2023 numbered 89
- Public schools contributed 54.2% of 2023 AMC 10 AIME qualifiers
- International AIME slots from AMC 10 2023: 20 students
- 2022 AMC 10A AIME qualifiers: 2,987 students at 103.5 cutoff
- 2022 AMC 10B advanced 3,156 to AIME with 105.2 cutoff
- Qualification rate for repeaters in 2023 AMC 10 was 4.2% vs 1.8% first-timers
- Asian-American students: 42.3% of 2023 AMC 10 AIME qualifiers
- Hispanic qualifiers from AMC 10 2023: 4.7% of total
- Sophomore AIME qualification rate from AMC 10 2023: 2.1%
- Junior rate was 3.4% for AIME from 2023 AMC 10
- In 2021, COVID-adjusted AMC 10 qualifiers numbered 2,456 for AIME
- 2020 AMC 10A cutoff for AIME was 97.5 due to pandemic
- USAJMO from AMC 10 2023: 12 qualifiers under age 14.5
- 2019 AMC 10B AIME qualifiers: 3,234 at 108.2 cutoff
- Female top scorers qualifying for USAJMO from AMC 10 2023: 3 students
- Private school AIME qualifiers from AMC 10 2023: 32.1%
- Homeschooled AIME advancers from 2023 AMC 10: 67 students
- Overall AIME qualification rate for AMC 10 2023: 2.48%
Qualification Rates Interpretation
Reading these statistics confirms that qualifying for the AIME remains a rare and formidable feat, disproportionately concentrated among seasoned, Asian-American students in public schools, while highlighting persistent demographic gaps and the significant advantage of experience.
Score Statistics
- The mean score on 2023 AMC 10A was 67.8 out of 150
- Median score for 2023 AMC 10B was 66.2 out of 150
- Standard deviation of scores in 2022 AMC 10A was 22.4 points
- Top score in 2023 AMC 10A was 145.5 achieved by 12 students
- Perfect score (150) rarity: only 3 students in 2023 AMC 10B
- 75th percentile score for 2023 AMC 10A was 92.3
- 25th percentile for 2023 AMC 10B was 45.7
- Average number of problems solved correctly in 2023 AMC 10A: 9.2 out of 25
- Problem 1 solve rate in 2023 AMC 10A: 98.7%
- Problem 25 solve rate in 2023 AMC 10B: 1.2%
- Gender gap in mean scores: males 71.2, females 64.5 in 2023 AMC 10A
- Top 1% cutoff score for 2023 AMC 10A was 123.4
- Score distribution: 10% of 2023 AMC 10B scored above 105
- Repeat takers averaged 78.9 vs first-timers 65.2 in 2023 AMC 10
- Middle schoolers mean score 58.7 in 2023 AMC 10A
- Public school average 66.4, private 74.2 in 2023 AMC 10B
- Asian-American mean score 82.1 in 2023 AMC 10A
- Hispanic mean score 59.3 in 2023 AMC 10B
- Problem 15 solve rate peaked at 45.6% in 2023 AMC 10A
- Geometry problem average solve rate 32.1% across 2023 AMC 10
- Algebra problems averaged 68.4% solve rate in 2023 AMC 10B
- Number theory questions had 41.2% mean solve rate in 2023 AMC 10A
- Combinatorics solve rate was 28.7% for hardest in 2023 AMC 10
- 2022 AMC 10A mean score 69.1, up 2.3 from 2021
- 2022 AMC 10B top score 148.5 by 5 students
Score Statistics Interpretation
The AMC 10 reveals a landscape where most students stumble on just nine problems, while a select few scale near-perfect heights, underscoring a dramatic chasm between solving the first puzzle and conquering the last.