Codeforces
Codeforces competitive programming rounds
Free short-format algorithmic contests several times a month, open to anyone with a rating attached.
Run by Codeforces
Key facts
- Eligible grades
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Not confirmed. Check the organiser's rules before entering.Codeforces is not a school competition and has no grade eligibility. It is an open platform used by school students, university students and working professionals alike, which is worth knowing: a student is competing against adults, not peers.
- Recommended preparation
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Implementing algorithms under time pressure in C++, Java or Python
Why: Rounds are typically five problems in two hours, and divisions are set by your rating rather than your age or school year. You are ranked against university students and working professionals, not against peers.Based on the standard of work the organiser describes.This is Compete's reading of the competition's documented content, not a requirement stated by the organiser. You may enter without it.
- Compete guidance, not an eligibility restriction. Students outside this are still eligible if the official eligibility above allows them.
- Eligible ages
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Not confirmed. This organiser may set eligibility by grade rather than age. We do not convert one into the other.Codeforces sets no age limits. Participation is open to everybody.
- Individual or team
- Individual · Individual for standard rounds.
- Where it runs
- Online · International
- Entry cost
- FreeParticipation is free and open to everybody.
- Registration deadline
- Set locally, not published as a single national date There is no season or deadline. Roughly six contests run each month. The only cut-off is the per-round registration window, which closes 5 minutes before the round begins. You must appear in the registered users list before registration ends.
- Competition dates
- Several rounds per month, year round.
- Difficulty
- CompetitiveSerious preparation over a season. Advancing past the first round separates prepared students from unprepared ones.
- Prizes
- Rating and ranking, with occasional sponsor prizesStandard rounds carry rating changes and coloured titles rather than prizes. Some sponsored rounds offer prizes; check the individual round announcement.
What Codeforces is
Codeforces is not a single annual competition but a continuous platform running two-hour algorithmic contests several times a month, free and open to anyone worldwide including students under 18. Every contest updates a public rating, so you get objective, frequent feedback on whether you are improving. For students working toward USACO or the IOI, it is the standard volume practice ground.
How the competition works
A round runs 2 hours with 5 problems unless stated otherwise. Registration opens six hours before the start and closes 5 minutes before it. Statements are available in English and Russian. Div. 3 and educational rounds use extended ICPC rules: solutions are judged on preliminary tests during the round, followed by a 12-hour open hacking phase, after which accepted solutions are rejudged against successful hacks. Rank is by problems solved then penalty, with a 10-minute penalty per wrong submission.
Eligibility notes
Open to everyone, including adults and university students, so a young competitor is competing against a global field. Division 3 and 4 rounds are pitched at beginners.
How to register
- Create a free account at codeforces.com.
- Register for an upcoming round from the contest page, choosing a division appropriate to your rating. New accounts start in the beginner divisions.
- Compete during the round. Submissions are judged live.
- After each contest, read the official editorial and re-solve the problems you could not finish.
What skills you need
- C++, Java or Python
- Greedy algorithms
- Dynamic programming
- Graph theory
- Fast implementation
- Reading problem statements precisely
Recommended resources
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Codeforces
Contests, the full problem archive, editorials and a rating system.
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Codeforces problem set filtered by rating
Filter by difficulty rating and topic tag. The standard way to train a specific weakness.
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Competitive Programmer's Handbook
Free PDF covering the algorithm syllabus these contests draw on.
Past problems and materials
Only materials the organiser or an authorised archive publishes openly are listed here.
- Complete problem archive with editorials
Every past problem, free, with official editorials and the ability to submit for judging.
Helpful videos
- Errichto
Contest screencasts and algorithm lectures from a top-rated competitor.
Frequently asked questions
Is Codeforces suitable for a beginner?
Yes, if you already program. Division 3 and Division 4 rounds are pitched at beginners, and the problem archive can be filtered by difficulty rating so you can start well below contest level.
How does it relate to USACO?
Codeforces gives you contest volume and a rating; USACO gives you a recognised credential and a path to the IOI. Most serious USACO competitors use Codeforces for practice between USACO contests, though the problem styles differ.
Reviews, tips and resources from other students
Posts are public. Do not share your full name, school, address or contact details.
Something out of date?
If a deadline, fee or eligibility rule on this page no longer matches the official site, flag it and it goes into the review queue.
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