AMC vs ICAS Maths: What's the Difference?

The AMC and ICAS are the two best-known maths challenges Australian primary and secondary students sit — and parents often ask which one to do. They're run by different organisations and test maths in genuinely different ways, so the answer depends on what you want out of it.

The one-line difference

ICAS Maths tests the curriculum, pushed harder. The AMC tests problem-solving that sits outside the curriculum. A student strong on school maths often does well on ICAS; the AMC rewards a different skill — spotting the clever step.

Side by side

• Who runs it — AMC: the Australian Maths Trust (AMT). ICAS: ICAS Assessments (formerly UNSW Global).
• What it tests — AMC: creative problem-solving and insight, deliberately not tied to year-level content. ICAS: curriculum-aligned maths, but with higher-order, applied questions.
• Question style — AMC: puzzle-like, with a steep difficulty ramp and genuinely hard final questions. ICAS: more recognisable school-style questions that get progressively trickier.
• Format — AMC: 30 questions (multiple choice, plus integer answers at the end), one paper per age division. ICAS: multiple choice, sat by year level.
• Subjects — AMC: maths only. ICAS: maths is one of several subjects (English, Science, Writing, Spelling and more).
• Awards — AMC: certificate bands (Participation up to High Distinction), plus Prizes and Medals. ICAS: percentile-based awards, with High Distinction for roughly the top 1%.
• When — both run once a year (commonly mid-year); check each organisation's site for current dates.

Which should my child do?

They're not either/or — many students do both, and the skills complement each other:

• Choose ICAS if you want a curriculum-linked challenge that also shows how your child compares nationally, and possibly across several subjects.
• Choose the AMC if you want to stretch pure mathematical thinking and problem-solving — the kind of reasoning that also helps with Selective and OC tests.
• Do both if your child enjoys maths challenges — ICAS keeps curriculum skills sharp, while the AMC builds the flexible problem-solving that curriculum practice alone doesn't.

Preparing for either

PrepPath offers practice for both. AMC-style practice (Years 3–10) focuses on problem-solving with full 30-question mock papers and step-by-step hints, while ICAS-style Maths practice (Years 3, 5, 7 and 9) gives a timed, curriculum-aligned mock paper with an estimated award level and full explanations. Both explain every question in full, so your child learns the method — not just the answer. For preparation plans, see How to Prepare for the AMC.

PrepPath is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Australian Maths Trust (AMT) or ICAS Assessments. "AMC", "Australian Mathematics Competition" and "ICAS" are used here for description only. PrepPath's practice questions are original, AMC-style and ICAS-style material — not real papers. Check each organisation's official website for current formats, dates and award details.