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“My son has been preparing for AMC 8 under Oscar’s guidance. I can see a clear change in my son’s confidence level and preparation. My son says that Oscar listens and actively encourages him to think and develop his own ideas. Even if the idea doesn’t work out, they are not shot down without consideration. This has given my son great confidence to think on his feet and explore multiple ways of solving a problem.”

— Parent of AMC 8 student (coached by Oscar H.)

“Very happy to have found Ashyrgeldi to accompany my son to participate in Olympiad training. He is very professional and thoroughly knows his subject.”

— Parent of competition-track student (coached by Ashyrgeldi A.)

“Clear instructions, Elizaveta was prepared with relevant AMC 8 material covered topics well.”

— Parent of AMC 8 student (coached by Elizaveta K.)

“Meiram is an outstanding math teacher. He’s patient, thorough, and takes the time to ensure his students truly understand the concepts. He has been an incredible support for all three of my children — ages 8, 13, and 15 — and each of them has significantly improved their math skills thanks to his guidance.”

— Parent of three (coached by Meiram Z.)

Why Our AMC 8 Coaching Wins

  • 1-on-1 Socratic method coaching for AMC 8 students grades 6–9 — problem-solving intuition, not formula memorization
  • Deep AMC 8 problem expertise: each coach has scored top 1% on the AMC 8 historically
  • Hundreds of AMC competition students coached, with consistent Distinction and Honor Roll results
  • Verified competition credentials — each coach has years of AMC coaching experience and a track record on the test itself
  • Timed AMC 8 practice tests on our platform — real past papers, real pacing
  • Weekend and after-school slots available — flexible scheduling for middle schoolers

Live Video. Real Whiteboard. No Typing.

Most online AMC 8 programs are group sessions with typed chat — slow, clunky, and disconnected. We use 1-on-1 live video with an interactive whiteboard:

  • →See your tutor explain problems in real time
  • →Draw geometry, write equations, sketch your thinking
  • →Ask questions immediately — no chat lag
  • →Watch IMO medalist coaches solve problems the way mathematicians actually work
Live 1-on-1 video lesson with interactive whiteboard

AMC 8 Curriculum

The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice exam for students in grade 8 and below. It tests problem-solving across algebra, number theory, geometry, and counting/probability. Our curriculum covers these areas systematically, with depth calibrated to your student’s current level and target score.

Your tutor will customize the sequence and pace based on your student’s strengths and goals. Each topic includes worked problems, practice sets, and Russian Math problem-solving techniques.

Algebra & Pre-Algebra

  • Lesson 1 · Expressions and Equations

    Algebraic expressions, expansion, factoring, and substitution. Setting up linear equations from word problems. Solving systems of two linear equations. Common pitfalls in algebraic manipulation.

  • Lesson 2 · Word Problems and Applications

    Speed, distance, and time. Work-rate problems. Mixture problems. Translating English descriptions into algebraic relationships using the Russian Math “structure first” approach.

  • Lesson 3 · Ratios, Proportions, and Percentages

    Setting up and solving proportions. Percentage change, percent of, percent off. Compound proportions. Unit conversion problems.

  • Lesson 4 · Sequences and Patterns

    Arithmetic sequences and series. Recognizing patterns in numerical sequences. Sum formulas. Pattern problems common on AMC 8.

  • Lesson 5 · Statistics

    Mean, median, mode, and range. Weighted averages. Statistical reasoning problems. Common AMC 8 traps with averages.

Number Theory

  • Lesson 1 · Divisibility and Primes

    Divisibility rules for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11. Prime factorization. Number of factors and sum of factors. Identifying primes efficiently.

  • Lesson 2 · GCD, LCM, and Their Applications

    Finding GCD and LCM using prime factorization. Relationship between GCD and LCM. Applications to fraction problems and word problems with cycles.

  • Lesson 3 · Modular Arithmetic and Remainders

    Basic modular arithmetic concepts. Remainder problems. Cyclic patterns (last digit problems, day-of-the-week problems). Introduction to the Chinese Remainder Theorem at AMC 8 level.

  • Lesson 4 · Digits and Number Bases

    Place value problems. Digit-sum problems. Introduction to binary and other bases. Problems involving digit manipulation.

Geometry

  • Lesson 1 · Angles and Triangles

    Supplementary, complementary, vertical, and corresponding angles. Triangle angle sum. Exterior angle theorem. Isosceles and equilateral triangle properties.

  • Lesson 2 · Triangle Congruence and Pythagorean Theorem

    SSS, SAS, ASA congruence. Pythagorean theorem and common Pythagorean triples (3-4-5, 5-12-13, 8-15-17). Distance in coordinate geometry.

  • Lesson 3 · Quadrilaterals and Polygons

    Properties of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, rhombuses, trapezoids. Sum of interior angles of polygons. Regular polygon properties.

  • Lesson 4 · Areas and Composite Figures

    Area formulas for triangles, quadrilaterals, and circles. Decomposing complex shapes into known figures. Shaded region problems — a perennial AMC 8 favorite.

  • Lesson 5 · Similar Triangles

    Conditions for similarity. Setting up proportional relationships. Applications to length, area, and indirect measurement.

  • Lesson 6 · Coordinate Geometry

    Plotting points, distance formula, midpoint formula, slope. Reflections, translations, and basic transformations on the coordinate plane.

  • Lesson 7 · 3D Geometry

    Volumes and surface areas of rectangular prisms, cubes, cylinders, pyramids, and cones. Cross-sections. Spatial reasoning problems.

Counting & Probability

  • Lesson 1 · Basic Counting Principles

    The fundamental counting principle. Permutations vs. combinations — when each applies. Factorials and binomial coefficients at AMC 8 level.

  • Lesson 2 · Counting Strategies

    Complementary counting (count what you don’t want, subtract). Casework. Systematic enumeration. Recognizing when to use each technique.

  • Lesson 3 · Probability

    Basic probability as favorable outcomes over total outcomes. Probability with combinations. Simple geometric probability problems.

  • Lesson 4 · Logic and Reasoning

    Logic puzzles using elimination. Truth-tellers and liars problems. Knights and knaves. Reasoning under constraints.

Past Papers Practice

Mastery of AMC 8 requires extensive practice with actual past competition problems. Our students work through:

  • AMC 8 papers from 2007 to 2025 — the full modern era of the competition
  • AJHSME papers (1985–1998), the AMC 8’s predecessor competition, for additional problem volume
  • Selected problems from Math Kangaroo, MOEMS, and Math League for cross-training

Practice is interleaved with topical lessons throughout the program. Students typically complete 3–5 full practice papers before their target competition date, with detailed review of every missed problem.

About the AMC 8

What is AMC 8?

The American Mathematics Competition 8 is administered by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) for students in grade 8 and below. It is a 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice test covering arithmetic, algebra, counting, geometry, number theory, and probability.

Top performers earn the Distinction (top 1%), Honor Roll (top 5%), or Achievement Roll (top scores per grade). The test is held annually in January at registered schools and online.

Why it matters

AMC 8 is the gateway to the AMC 10/12 and AIME pathway — the same pipeline that feeds USAMO and the U.S. Math Olympiad team. Students who start here build the problem-solving habits that matter for advanced math.

It is also a meaningful college admissions signal. Selective universities and magnet schools use AMC scores to identify mathematically advanced students, and an Honor Roll or Distinction in middle school sets a clear trajectory.

What good AMC 8 prep looks like

The Russian Math methodology is built around problem-solving over formula memorization. A typical AMC 8 problem asks the student to reason from a diagram or a clever counting argument — rote drill won't crack it. Coaches walk through the reasoning step-by-step, then ask the student to apply the same pattern to a slightly different problem.

Sessions combine untimed conceptual practice (build intuition) with timed mini-tests (build pacing). Students see real past AMC 8 problems from MAA and learn the recurring tricks — pigeonhole, casework, complementary counting, the "answer choice" shortcut.

Next AMC 8 Test Date

2027 (estimated)
Test: Jan 21 – 27, 2027
School registration deadline: ~Jan 7, 2027

Per MAA calendar. Dates and deadlines are estimates — verify on the MAA website closer to the date. Schools register students; online testing is available through AMC-approved providers.

Start a Free AMC 8 Trial Lesson →

What Parents Are Saying

Rated 4.8 / 5 across 148 verified reviews from parents of K–12 students at Russian Math Tutors.

★★★★★

“My child has been having class with Meiram. He's extremely patient. He focuses on the thinking process a lot. After a few classes I can see a change in how my child approaches problems. She doesn't give up easily and believes that she can solve the problems on her own.”

Veronica Lee  ·  Tutor: Meiram  · 
★★★★★

“Shabnam is absolutely wonderful! She's a very smart teacher who is consistently friendly and patient with my 11-year-old and 8-year-old even when they're not in the best of their learning moods. She explains concepts very well in different ways if needed, articulates very well, and has wonderful positive energy overall. We highly, highly recommend her!”

J Kim  ·  Tutor: Shabnam  · 
★★★★★

“Lilit Khiat is the best math tutor we have worked with. She easily found a way to engage with our son and connect with him to make him feel comfortable. She's encouraging and makes math accessible to him, actually improving his participation and his drive for wanting to learn more. He's always happier and feels better after coming out of a lesson and is getting more and more confident with math. I would highly recommend working with her.”

Letitia Borelli  ·  Tutor: Lilit Khiat  · 
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