USACO  STUDENTS  CIRCLE

Overview

 USACO is one of the most challenging pre-college Computer Science Exams/Contests. The USACO holds about five web-based contests during the academic year. Click here to view more details on the timing and exams. 

 USACO contests are designed to challenge even the very best students, and it can take a good deal of hard work to excel at them.  There are four levels:  Bronze,  Silver, Gold, and Platinum.  
Doing well in USACO online contests serves as a good indicator of algorithmic thinking and problem-solving skills.

 USACO contests take place as an online exam with a list of open challenges for computer science students every year,  with one contest per month from December to April.  Visit USACO's official site for details such as the entrance to the IOI.   Students can sign up for any of the exams and are encouraged to take as many as you can every year continuously.

 The majority of our Algorithms in C/C++ Level II students with high proficiency advanced to Silver. Many of them also advanced to Gold after they reached Level III with high proficiency.


Best Practice

  • Basic rule of thumb - to understand and analyze, NOT by rote memorization and syntax recall.
  • Go thru their past exams. Be inquisitive. Try things out!
  • When it comes to learning algorithms - implement them.
  • Develop a good knowledge of data structures like lists, trees, and graphs
  • Don't settle with basic given test cases. Think about exceptions - normal to worst cases. List test cases and test your code.
  • ALWAYS - Use functions/methods and minimize repetition of code.
  • Create pre-written templates for standard algorithms, necessary headers, functions, etc.