Table of Contents
What is this USACO guide for?
Topics on this guide reflect past problems, not future problems. This guide is written by top USACO contestants, including two-time IOI winner and USACO Problemsetter Benjamin Qi. This guide is targeted towards all contestants, regardless of their division. You’ll find problems suitable for you. Stop wasting time learning topics you already know.
What do you need to participate in the IOI?
It’s accessible and free – all you need is the internet and a computer (oh yeah, and awesome programming skills). You don’t even have to be a student or a US resident to participate (unless you want to compete to be in the top 16 who join the finalist camp or top 4 who represent the US in the IOI).
Who are the IOI and Imo competitors?
Andi Qu is an IOI and IMO bronze medalist. Andrew Wang is a USACO Platinum competitor and a researcher in the field of bioinformatics. Bing-Dong Liu is a USACO Platinum competitor who creates video editorials for USACO Training problems.
Why should I use the USACO coding challenge?
It has 4 levels of difficulty and 4 competitions per year, meaning you have multiple chances to try! It provides lots of training content and past problems available on the USACO website, meaning it’s an excellent learning resource. *BONUS reason: Who doesn’t want to write code about cows??
What are the different levels of competition in USACO?
USACO has four divisions of competition, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. All competitors start in Bronze division. After each contest weekend, you may be “promoted” to the next level with a sufficiently high score – usually getting about 600-800 out of 1000.
How do I take the USACO exam?
You can take it from anywhere you’ll have an internet connection and programming software, usually from home. Just sign into the website at www.usaco.org to get started anywhere. 4. When do I take it? USACO gives their main contests during 4 weekends per year – see the dates at www.usaco.org.
Does USACO have an official syllabus?
No, USACO does not have an official syllabus. This guide merely lists topics that have historically appeared in USACO contests; it makes no guarantees about the topics in future USACO contests. How do I report a problem or ask a question?