{"id":60027,"date":"2026-04-17T21:37:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T13:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-admin.thethinkacademy.com\/?p=60027"},"modified":"2026-04-17T21:37:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T13:37:03","slug":"amc-registration-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog-admin.thethinkacademy.com\/blog\/2026\/04\/17\/amc-registration-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"AMC Registration in Canada: How to Sign Your Child Up"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If your child wants to take the AMC in Canada, registration works differently from most school exams. Students cannot sign up individually through the Mathematical Association of America \u2014 participation must go through a registered test centre, which is either a school that offers the competition or an independent centre approved by the MAA. This guide explains exactly how AMC registration in Canada works, where to find a test centre, what the key dates are, how much it costs, and what to do if your child’s school does not participate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How AMC registration in Canada works<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The American Mathematics Competitions are organised by the Mathematical Association of America, which approves test centres around the world to host the exams. In Canada, students participate through one of these registered centres rather than registering directly with the MAA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two ways your child can participate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first is through their school. Many Canadian schools, particularly those with enriched or gifted programmes, register students for the AMC as a group. If you are not sure whether your child’s school participates, ask their math teacher or school administration in September \u2014 this is when most schools confirm their AMC participation for the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second is through an independent test centre. If your child’s school does not offer the AMC, parents can find an alternative registered centre through the MAA’s official website. Think Academy Canada is a registered AMC test centre and has hosted AMC 8 and AMC 10 competitions since 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step-by-step: how to register through an independent centre<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Go to the MAA official website<\/a> and use the Find a Competition Manager tool to locate registered centres in your area<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Contact the centre to confirm they are hosting the competition in the current year and check whether spaces are available<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Pay the registration fee directly to the centre \u2014 this covers the administration and processing of scores<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Create an account on the MAA website and complete the student registration form once the centre confirms your child’s seat<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Note the exam date and any instructions from the centre about what to bring on the day<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    AMC registration dates and deadlines for Canadian students<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Missing a registration deadline means missing the competition for that year. The MAA updates its schedule annually so always check the official MAA website for the current year’s dates. The timelines below are based on recent years and give a reliable guide to when to start looking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Competition<\/th>Exam window<\/th>Registration opens<\/th>Registration closes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    AMC 8<\/td>January<\/td>September<\/td>October to November<\/td><\/tr>
    AMC 10A and 10B<\/td>November<\/td>August to September<\/td>October<\/td><\/tr>
    AMC 12A and 12B<\/td>November<\/td>August to September<\/td>October<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The AMC 8 moved from November to January starting in 2023. If you have seen older resources listing November for the AMC 8, this information is now out of date. The 2026 AMC 8 ran from January 22 to 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Registration deadlines are strict. Test centres must submit their student lists to the MAA before the closing date and late entries are not accepted. If you are using an independent centre rather than a school, contact them as early as possible \u2014 popular centres fill up and cannot always accommodate last-minute requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Which AMC should your child register for?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Before registering, it is worth making sure your child is signing up for the right level. The three competitions have different eligibility requirements and difficulty levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Competition<\/th>Grade eligibility<\/th>Age limit<\/th>Difficulty<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    AMC 8<\/td>Grade 8 and below<\/td>Under 14.5<\/td>Middle school level<\/td><\/tr>
    AMC 10<\/td>Grade 10 and below<\/td>Under 17.5<\/td>High school level<\/td><\/tr>
    AMC 12<\/td>Grade 12 and below<\/td>Under 19.5<\/td>Pre-calculus level<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Students in Grade 9 and 10 are eligible for both the AMC 10 and AMC 12. Most students at this stage are better served by the AMC 10 unless they have already covered trigonometry and logarithms \u2014 the AMC 12 adds these topics and is significantly harder as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Students who are eligible for the AMC 8 can also sit the AMC 10 if they are strong enough, though this is unusual and most students benefit from building their AMC 8 foundation first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For a full guide to each competition, see: What is the AMC? A Canadian Parent\u2019s Guide to American Math Competitions<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For an in-depth explanation of an individual contest, see: AMC 8 Math Competition: The Complete Guide for Canadian Students<\/a>, AMC 10 Math Competition: The Complete Guide for Canadian Students<\/a>, or AMC 12 Math Competition: Complete Guide for Canadian Students<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    How much does AMC registration cost in Canada?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The MAA sets a standard registration fee per student which covers administration and score processing. Individual test centres may add a small facility or administration fee on top of this. The total cost varies slightly by centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When contacting a test centre, ask specifically about the total cost per student including any additional fees. Some schools absorb the cost for their students, in which case there is no charge to the family. Independent centres will generally charge the full amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Think Academy Canada’s fees are available on the AMC 8<\/a> and AMC 10<\/a> course pages. Contact us directly if you have questions about costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    What happens on the day of the AMC?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    What to bring<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Students should bring:<\/p>\n\n\n\n