The AHSME is a 90 minute multiple choice examination having 30 problems that use high school algebra, geometry, and trigonometry (but not calculus). The main purpose is to encourage interest in mathematics through the solving of contest type problems.

The AHSME is scheduled for a Tuesday or Thursday in mid-February each year. Registration and administration for a participating high school (or sometimes a junior high school) are generally handled by a counselor or mathematics teacher at that school. The current director for schools in Washington state is Kevin Cooper of Washington State University.