Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment AMC8

Have any of your kids taken the AMC8 previously? First experience for my DD today and not sure what to expect.

My DD is taking it today for the second time. I am anxious to hear how it went.

ElizabethN, how was it the first time? My DD said the test was quite difficult for her.

It was difficult, but I had warned her that it would be difficult, so she pretty much took it in stride. She says she will be a little surprised if she scores above a 15 this time.

(double post)

Just looking over previous data - last year's 50th and 90th percentiles were about 7.5 and 14, 2014 were 11 and 18, 2013 were 9.5 and 17. So it appears that a raw number isn't very meaningful - it varies so much year by year. I think I heard my DD12 mention a 17 talking to one of her friends, but I think that may have been an old test earlier this week as practice with her gifted group that's been preparing. And the statistical data will be needed to put any score in context.

My ds in 8th took it yesterday. This will be his 5th time taking it starting in 4th grade. It varies each year—seems to be getting harder each year. He has never been intimidated by test which can be good and bad.

Kids need to understand that scores in the teens are good scores. Kudos to kids that take it especially if they are younger.

If your are pretty mathy and have some competition experience and do some practice tests you can get into the 20's pretty easy.

I wonder on the percentage of kids who takes the AMC8. The average scores do not seem to vary much by grade.

So I assume that in lower grades it is highly selective, but going into 8th it is pretty much everybody. Would that be an accurate analysis?

Yes, that is correct. The same with the AMC 10 and 12. Younger kids can take them but usually they are the ones working ahead and have more competition experience.

Have the AMC8 results come out? If so how do you receive them? By mail from AMC or by school?