Grades 4-8 · Ages 9-15
AMC 8 Prep: One-to-One Contest Math Tutor
One-to-one coaching for the MAA's 25-question, 40-minute middle school math contest.
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How it works, in short
TaleemSquare AMC 8 prep is live, one-to-one online coaching for students in grade 8 and below taking the AMC 8 from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). A tutor builds problem-solving strategies in counting, probability, geometry, number sense and early algebra, and practices 25-question sets in 40 minutes.
The 2026-27 AMC 8 runs January 21 to 27, 2027. Students take it through a registered school or other approved site, and each student may take it only once a year. Plans start at $85 a month, with no contract.
- Format
- Live, one-to-one, online
- Lesson length
- 45 minutes
- Level
- Ages 9-15
- Price
- From $85 a month
- Per hour of tutoring
- About $14.17
- Families taught
- 500+ since 2023
What changes after a term of lessons
A toolkit of strategies
Knows when to draw a diagram, make a table, count cases carefully or work backward, and uses these on new problems.
Smart pacing
Works through 25 questions in 40 minutes, moving quickly on familiar problems to save time for the later ones, which can bring in algebra.
Calm under contest conditions
Stays steady on unfamiliar problems, skips and returns when stuck, and checks answers before time runs out.
What we cover
Lessons follow your child's own school or homeschool curriculum. These are the areas we work on most at this level.
Counting and probability
Organized lists, simple combinations and basic probability, a regular part of the AMC 8 topic list.
Estimation and number sense
Fast mental math, estimation and clever ways to compute, which save time in a 40-minute contest.
Proportional reasoning
Ratios, rates, percents and scale, set in word problems that need careful reading.
Elementary geometry
Angles, area, perimeter and the Pythagorean Theorem, all part of MAA's description of the AMC 8.
Spatial visualization
Picturing 3D shapes, nets, folds and views, a topic MAA lists for the AMC 8.
Graphs and tables
Reading and interpreting data displays quickly and accurately.
Beginning algebra and coordinates
Linear and simple quadratic relationships and coordinate geometry, which MAA says can appear in later questions.
Contest practice
Our own 25-question sets in 40 minutes, with a careful review of every mistake.
Signs your child could use help
- Plans to take the AMC 8 in January 2027
- Finds school math easy and wants a real challenge
- Runs out of time before reaching the last questions
- Gets stuck on counting, probability or geometry puzzles
- Took the AMC 8 before and wants a higher score
- Wants to build toward the AMC 10 in high school
One of these on its own is normal. Two or three together usually point to a specific gap, and finding it is what the free assessment is for.
Taught to your curriculum, wherever you live
AMC 8 (Mathematical Association of America)
The AMC 8 has 25 questions in 40 minutes for students in grade 8 and below who are under 15.5 years old on competition day. It covers middle school math, and the 2026-27 competition week is January 21 to 27, 2027.
For families moving from the UK
Problem-solving skills carry over from a strong maths background. We teach the strategies and pacing the AMC 8 rewards and fill any topic gaps against US grade levels.
Level: Year 5 to Year 9
For families moving from Canada
Problem-solving skills carry over from any strong math background. We focus on the AMC 8 format, 25 questions in 40 minutes, and the strategies it rewards.
Level: Grades 4-8
For families moving from Australia
Students who have done school maths competitions will know the puzzle style. We teach the strategies and timing the AMC 8 rewards and fill any topic gaps against US grade levels.
Level: Years 4-8
What an AMC 8 prep lesson looks like
One 45-minute session. Tutors adjust the timings to your child.
5 min
Warm-up
A quick puzzle to get thinking.
12 min
Topic lesson
One topic, such as counting or geometry, with worked examples.
13 min
Guided problems
AMC 8 style problems with hints only when needed.
10 min
Timed set
A short set at contest pace, about 1.6 minutes a question.
5 min
Review
Go over mistakes and pick a problem to try at home.
Who teaches your child
Every TaleemSquare math tutor passes the same five checks before their first class. Your child keeps the same tutor each week, and if the fit is not right we switch tutor at no cost. Tutors are based in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Pakistan and India, and all of them teach in English.
Identity and references checked
Every tutor is identity-verified and reference-checked before teaching a student.
Subject test
Tutors pass a subject test before they are matched with a child.
Spoken-English assessment
Lessons are taught in English, so every tutor passes a spoken-English assessment.
Live sample lesson
Tutors teach a live sample lesson before they are hired, to show they can explain clearly.
Open to parents
Classes are one-to-one in a password-protected room. Sit in on any class or ask for a recording.
How AMC 8 prep lessons work
Find the starting level
The first lesson uses a few contest-style problems to see which topics and strategies your child already has.
One topic at a time
Each lesson focuses on one topic, like counting or geometry, using our own problems written in the AMC 8 style.
Regular timed practice
Short timed sets grow into full 25-question, 40-minute practice, and we review every mistake together.
Updates for parents
You get a short note after every lesson on what was covered and what to practice next.
Simple monthly plans
$85a month for 2 one-to-one math lessons a week
About $10.63 a lesson, or $14.17 per hour of live one-to-one tutoring.
- Free 45-minute trial assessment, no card details
- No contract, cancel any month
- No registration fee
- 4-class money-back promise
- Switch tutor at no cost
- WhatsApp update after every class
Starter
2 lessons a week, best for keeping up with school
$85/mo
EnrollGrowthMost chosen
3 lessons a week, best for catching up + building confidence
$119/mo
EnrollIntensive
4 lessons a week, best for exam prep & fast improvement
$149/mo
EnrollCommon worries, honest answers
“My child's school does not offer the AMC 8. Can they still take it?”
MAA suggests asking your school first. If it does not host, check local colleges, universities, math circles or learning centers. MAA posts a public list of 2026-27 registered sites, and students sign up through a form from the approved site.
“Is the AMC 8 too hard for my child?”
MAA says later questions may include beginning algebra, functions and coordinate geometry, so hard problems are normal. Steady strategy practice makes more of the test reachable, one topic at a time.
“Do you use real AMC 8 problems?”
Lessons use our own contest-style problems and focus on strategies, not memorized answers. MAA posts sample competitions on its website, such as the 2023 AMC 8, which your child can try at home as a practice run.
Frequently asked questions
Who can take the AMC 8?
When is the 2026-27 AMC 8?
What is on the AMC 8?
How do students register for the AMC 8?
How are AMC 8 scores and awards shared?
How much does AMC 8 prep cost?
Book a free 45-minute assessment
Your child meets a tutor for a real one-to-one session. You get an honest read on where they are and what would help, even if the answer is that they don't need tutoring right now.
- 1
We reply on WhatsApp
Usually within 10 minutes, to find a time that suits your family.
- 2
Your child meets the tutor
A relaxed 45-minute session to see their level and how they learn.
- 3
You decide
You get a recommendation and a plan. No card details, no pressure.