The 2024 and 2025 High School Programming Contest will be hosted on CodeChef, a cloud-based platform. CodeChef offers a convenient way to code your programs, run, and submit them. The contest URL will be provided on contest day and will be active only during the contest.
To familiarize yourself with the platform, explore https://www.codechef.com/practice, which offers a diverse range of practice problems with varying difficulty levels. Create a CodeChef username to run and submit your code on the platform. This hands-on experience will help you get acquainted with the features and functionalities.
For the Spring 2025 contest, you can choose to submit your solutions in C, C++ (v14 and v17), Java, or Python3.
Yes. All students seeking to compete must complete the Qualtrics registration form found in their coach’s email or on the registration page.
Students are encouraged to create their own personal account for practice problems. A team account will be provided on competition day.
No. The contest will take place in the J.B. Hunt Center for Academic Success building on the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville campus. You will be provided with a workstation for accessing the CodeChef contest platform.
Throughout the contest, participants are NOT allowed to use printed reference materials, electronic storage, the Internet (except for the contest platform), or cell networks.
No. You will be provided access only to CodeChef’s contest URL. However, you will be provided with and allowed to access reference materials – Javadocs, C/C++ reference, and Python3 docs in your workstation.
You may use the available text editors for writing code. Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) are not allowed. However, you are encouraged to directly write up code in the CodeChef provided IDE located in the platform webpage. This IDE provides convenient keyword and auto-complete prompts.
ACM ICPC Style Ranklist will be utilized.
- Teams will be ranked based on the score.
- In the case of a tie, rankings will be determined by ‘Total Penalty,’ calculated as the sum of the time elapsed when submitting the correct solution and a penalty of 20 minutes for every rejected submission (Wrong answer, Runtime error, Time limit exceeded) for solved problem. Lower ‘Total Penalty’ ranks higher.
- Total time is the time taken to solve a problem since the start of the contest.
- Compilation Errors do not contribute towards the 20-minute penalty.
- Time elapsed or penalty is not considered for any unsolved problem.
Email Dr. Kevin Jin at dongjin@uark.edu for any questions.
- Harmon Avenue Parking Garage (146 N Harmon Ave, Fayetteville, AR 72701) across the street from the JBHT building on the University of Arkansas Campus.
- Floors 1 and 2 are available for parking. A member of the HSPC staff will contact coaches before the contest with a 13 hour free parking code.
- No busses allowed in the parking garage. If you plan to use a bus, please contact hspc@csce.uark.edu for further instruction a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the competition for accommodation.
- For more information see the “Harmon Avenue Parking Garage” section at this link: https://parking.uark.edu/parking-services/parking-garages/index.php
Directions from North of Fayetteville, From I-49
(Coming from Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale)
- If you are coming south on I-49 from Springdale, take Exit 62. (Farmington and University of Arkansas sign, Hwy 62, 16, 180)
- Take a left at the stop light onto Martin Luther King Jr./6th Street.
- You will go under the overpass. Keep going straight on Martin Luther King Jr./Sixth Street until you reach the Razorback Road stop light. (You will see a University of Arkansas brick entrance sign at the corner of Razorback Road and Sixth Street.)
- Take a left onto Razorback Road.
- Take the first right onto Leroy Pond Road. (After turning right, you will pass the Bud Walton Arena on the left.)
- At the stop sign, take a left onto California Drive.
- When you come to the stop sign, continue straight, California Drive runs into S. Clinton/Center Street.
- You will pass the Clinton House Museum on the left.
- Take a left onto Harmon Street (the first street on the left at the top of a small hill).
- You will be looking directly into the Harmon Parking Deck. Pull in, take a ticket and park anywhere.
- Take the elevator or stairs to level 6 to exit garage.
- After exiting the garage look to your right. The farthest building is J.B. Hunt Transportation Center for Academic Excellence (tan brick building on the corner). Cross Harmon Street and take the ramp leading into the back of JBHT. Enter both glass doors and turn left. The elevators are located across from the stairs.
- Registration is on the 2nd floor.
Directions from South of Fayetteville, From I-49
If you are coming north on I-49, take Exit 62. (Farmington and University of Arkansas sign, Hwy 62, 16, 180)
- Take a right at the stop light onto Martin Luther King Jr./6th Street.
- Keep going straight on Martin Luther King Jr./Sixth Street until you reach the Razorback Road stop light. (You will see a University of Arkansas brick entrance sign at the corner of Razorback Road and Sixth Street.)
- Take a left onto Razorback Road.
- Take the first right onto Leroy Pond Road. (After turning right, you will pass the Bud Walton Arena on the left.
- At the stop sign, take a left onto California Drive.
- When you come to the stop sign, continue straight, California Drive runs into S. Clinton/Center Street.
- You will pass the Clinton House Museum on the left.
- Take a left onto Harmon Street (the first street on the left at the top of a small hill).
- You will be looking directly into the Harmon Parking Deck. Pull in, take a ticket and park anywhere.
- Take the elevator or stairs to level 6 to exit garage.
- After exiting the garage look to your right. The farthest building is J.B. Hunt Transportation Center for Academic Excellence (tan brick building on the corner). Cross Harmon Street and take the ramp leading into the back of JBHT. Enter both glass doors and and turn left. The elevators are located across from the stairs.
- Registration is on the 2nd floor.