AIME 2027 Moves to Official Testing Centers: What Students Need to Know

The American Invitational Mathematics Examination is changing how it is administered in 2027. The Mathematical Association of America has announced that AIME will move to Pearson testing centres across the United States and Canada.

The change is intended to strengthen exam security and provide students with standardised testing conditions. The 2027 AIME will be held on February 5 and 6, with eligible students selecting an available test time at a Pearson Professional Center.

What Is Changing for AIME in 2027?

Previously, AIME administration was organised through the existing AMC competition system. From 2027, qualified students will take the exam at official Pearson testing centres.

The MAA says the change is part of its efforts to protect the integrity of its mathematics competitions. There are more than 200 Pearson Professional Centers across the United States and Canada, according to the MAA.

For students, this means that qualifying for AIME is only the first step. After receiving an invitation, they will need to register and schedule an exam time through Pearson.

When Is AIME 2027?

The 2027 AIME competition window is February 5–6, 2027.

Students can take AIME once during this window. There will not be alternate dates or make-up administrations for students who cannot participate on the scheduled dates.

Eligible students will receive an invitation through the email address associated with their MAA competition portal account. The invitation will direct them to the Pearson website, where they can find a testing centre and schedule a time.

#CTA#Complete AIME Prep Roadmap 

How Do Students Qualify for AIME?

AIME is an invitational competition. Students qualify through their performance on the AMC 10 or AMC 12.

For 2027, the MAA states that students who score 100 or above on AMC 10 or 85 or above on AMC 12, while meeting the other eligibility requirements, will qualify to register for AIME. Students must also be at least 13 years old to take AIME in 2027.

This is different from earlier systems in which qualifying thresholds could be determined as percentages. The MAA says the 2027 thresholds will be set numbers.

Students should also check the complete eligibility rules because meeting a score threshold alone does not necessarily cover every eligibility condition.

What Will the 2027 AIME Exam Look Like?

The AIME will remain a 15-question mathematics competition, but the 2027 administration will introduce several changes to how the test is delivered.

The exam will be computer-based and conducted in English. It will have two 90-minute parts with a short break between them.

Students will answer eight questions during the first 90-minute part and seven during the second. Once the first part ends, students cannot return to those questions during the second part.

The answers remain numerical, with each response being an integer from 0 to 999.

What Can Students Bring to the Testing Centre?

The new testing format also changes what students can bring into the exam room.

Students will not be permitted to bring materials into the testing room. This includes items such as rulers and compasses.

Instead, the testing centre will provide laminated graph paper and fine-tip pens. Additional booklets can be provided when needed.

Students should therefore become comfortable solving problems without relying on physical tools that will not be permitted during the exam.

How Much Does AIME 2027 Cost?

The 2027 AIME registration fee is $85, plus applicable taxes.

The MAA has also stated that financial assistance will be available for students who need help with the registration fee or significant travel costs. Details about requesting assistance will be provided to qualifying students.

What If There Is No Pearson Centre Nearby?

The MAA expects most students in the United States and Canada to have access to a Pearson Professional Center, with more than 200 centres across the two countries.

Students who need to travel a significant distance may be eligible for financial assistance.

International participants should follow the policies of the MAA's International Group Leader for their country or region. The Pearson testing-centre announcement specifically concerns testing centres in the United States and Canada.

How Should AIME Students Prepare?

The change in delivery format makes it sensible for students to practise under timed conditions and become comfortable entering answers electronically. Because students cannot return to Part 1 once it ends, practice should also include deciding when to move on from a difficult problem rather than spending too long on one question.

However, the core mathematical challenge remains. AIME is a difficult 15-question competition that requires students to solve problems accurately within the allotted time.

Students who are preparing through the AMC pathway should begin well before the AIME qualification stage. Strong preparation should include problem-solving practice, careful analysis of incorrect solutions and regular work with problems that require creative application of mathematical ideas.

What This Means for AMC 10 and AMC 12 Students

The move to Pearson testing centres applies to AIME, not to the 2026 AMC 10 and AMC 12 administration.

The MAA states that AMC 10 and AMC 12 will continue to be administered in 2026 as they were in 2025, with eligible students permitted to take an A exam on November 5 and a B exam on November 13.

Students aiming for AIME should therefore treat AMC preparation as the first stage of the competition pathway.

Another important 2027 change is that qualification for USAJMO and USAMO will be based primarily on AIME performance; AMC scores will no longer factor into that qualification.