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Updates, explainers and preparation notes for the USA Computing Olympiad — organized for students and families who want the important signal without the noise.

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  • USACO Explained: Divisions, Rules, and How to Prepare

    USACO Explained: Divisions, Rules, and How to Prepare

    USACO — the USA Computing Olympiad — is the contest used to select the United States team for the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI). It is also a well-regarded route for middle and high school students worldwide who want to build a serious foundation in computer science. USACO runs four progressive divisions, from Bronze to…

  • USACO Explained: Divisions, Scoring, and Contest Format

    USACO Explained: Divisions, Scoring, and Contest Format

    USACO is one of the most widely recognized programming competitions for pre-college students, and its popularity has grown steadily. It is often on the radar of students who are interested in computer science and are aiming for competitive university programs. With a low barrier to entry and a clear, score-based division system, USACO gives students…

  • USACO Explained: Format, Divisions, and 2025-26 Schedule

    USACO Explained: Format, Divisions, and 2025-26 Schedule

    1. What Is USACO? USACO, the USA Computing Olympiad, is an online programming competition for pre-college students. Founded in 1992, it is one of the longer-running informatics contests in North America, and it is best known as the pathway that selects the United States team for the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI). USACO is held…

  • 2019 USACO Silver US Open Contest Problems

    2019 USACO Silver US Open Contest Problems

    Official problem statements for this contest (PDF): Problem 1. Left Out — PDF Problem 2. Cow Steeplechase II — PDF Problem 3. Fence Planning — PDF New here? See how to practise with past contests, or browse the full official archive on usaco.org.

  • 2019 USACO Platinum US Open Contest Problems

    2019 USACO Platinum US Open Contest Problems

    Official problem statements for this contest (PDF): Problem 1. Tree Boxes — PDF Problem 2. Compound Escape — PDF Problem 3. Valleys — PDF New here? See how to practise with past contests, or browse the full official archive on usaco.org.

  • 2019 USACO Gold US Open Contest Problems

    2019 USACO Gold US Open Contest Problems

    Official problem statements for this contest (PDF): Problem 1. Snakes — PDF Problem 2. I Would Walk 500 Miles — PDF Problem 3. Balancing Inversions — PDF New here? See how to practise with past contests, or browse the full official archive on usaco.org.

  • 2019 USACO Bronze US Open Contest Problems

    2019 USACO Bronze US Open Contest Problems

    Official problem statements for this contest (PDF): Problem 1. Bucket Brigade — PDF Problem 2. Milk Factory — PDF Problem 3. Cow Evolution — PDF New here? See how to practise with past contests, or browse the full official archive on usaco.org.

  • 2019 USACO Silver January Contest Problems

    2019 USACO Silver January Contest Problems

    Official problem statements for this contest (PDF): Problem 1. Grass Planting — PDF Problem 2. Icy Perimeter — PDF Problem 3. Mountain View — PDF New here? See how to practise with past contests, or browse the full official archive on usaco.org.

  • 2019 USACO Platinum January Contest Problems

    2019 USACO Platinum January Contest Problems

    Official problem statements for this contest (PDF): Problem 1. Redistricting — PDF Problem 2. Exercise Route — PDF Problem 3. Train Tracking 2 — PDF New here? See how to practise with past contests, or browse the full official archive on usaco.org.

  • 2019 USACO Gold January Contest Problems

    2019 USACO Gold January Contest Problems

    Official problem statements for this contest (PDF): Problem 1. Cow Poetry — PDF Problem 2. Sleepy Cow Sorting — PDF Problem 3. Shortcut — PDF New here? See how to practise with past contests, or browse the full official archive on usaco.org.