General programming contest rules and regulations

What types of questions are on these contests?
High School Programming Contests require students to not only solve problems that are mathematical in character, but also ones that require problem-solving skills. Programming contests require concise algorithmic thinking, while having to program the solution on the computer!

What topics are covered?
Problem difficulty tends to be based on the grades that the students are in. Problem topics in these areas may include:

What languages am I allowed to use?
C, C++, Pascal and Java^TM are the most common languages competitors are known to use during contests. In some cases, regulations allow for the usage of any programming language that is supported by the high school, except symbolic computation languages such as Maplesoft Maple^TM.

What is the general outline for a competition day?

• Contest is held over a period of 3 to 4 hours
• Contest generally involves 5 problems (with part-questions)
• Contestants may be allowed to bring in printed material for reference, but disks and media are not permitted
• Contestants for this stage are normally individual

Are there any opportunities to continue competing?
It is common for high schools, which are affiliated with a university or other institution, to hold an invitational with their affiliation for the top competitors.

The top senior high school students from approximately 80 countries around the world attend an international Olympiad every year. The latest rules and regulations for this competition can be found here.

Are there any awards?
For students who do well at these competitions, there are a variety of awards to acknowledge their efforts. Take a look at our successes page to see what these contests can do for you!

What if I have other questions?
It most likely that someone else is thinking the same thing. Feel free to contact us or post a thread on our forum with any questions or comments