How to Run a Competition

Everything you need to set up, run, and wrap up a CompSciComp event.

Event Setup

1
Before Your Event
  • Choose a date & time within the competition window
  • Communicate the date & time to your students
  • Schedule an Event for the open Competition
  • Assign teams to your Event
  • Print 1 Problem Packet per team
2
During Your Event
  • Download the Access Codes
  • Distribute one Access Code to each team
  • Note which students are on which teams (not stored by CompSciComp)
  • Share the unique Student Login URL with each team
  • When all teams are ready — Start the Clock!
  • Monitor teams as they work
3
After Your Event
  • Wait for the Competition Window to close
  • Check back for Final Standings and regional rankings
  • Download certificates for your top-finishing teams

Competition Rules

Download Printable Rules (PDF)

Share this with your students before the event starts.

CompSciComp — Official Rules

Read carefully before the clock starts

Team & Setup
  • Teams are composed of 1, 2, or 3 students
  • Each team has access to exactly 1 computer
  • Teams are encouraged to use paper and pencil to plan solutions
Technology
  • Use Java as the programming language
  • Any locally installed IDE and Java compiler is allowed
  • No outside websites — only CompSciComp.com
  • No prewritten code or templates
AI & Academic Integrity
  • No AI tools — disable all AI features in your IDE
  • Do not submit code that does not honestly attempt to solve the problem
  • Do not include Personally Identifying Information in submitted code
Timing
  • Teams have exactly 1 hour to submit solutions
  • Do not open the Problem Packet until the clock has started
Collaboration
  • Teams are encouraged to talk and collaborate within their own team
  • No communication between teams during the competition
Confidentiality
  • Do not post or discuss the problems until after the Competition Window has closed

Questions about the rules? Contact us before your event.

How scoring works

Each problem is worth a maximum of 65 points. Every submission attempt costs 5 points, so solving a problem on the first try earns the maximum score.

Teams are ranked by total score across all 6 problems. In the event of a tie, teams share the same place.

Submission attempt Points earned
1st (first try)65
2nd60
3rd55
4th50
5th45
13th+0 (minimum)