Table of Contents:

 What is Competitive Programming?

 Benefits of Competitive Programming Exam
 History of Competitive Programming
 What is ICPC?
 Purpose of ICPC
 Structure and Format
 Competition Levels
 Judging and Scoring
 Skills Required
 Preparation for ICPC
 Eligibility
 Significance and Impact
 History and Global Reach
 Awards and Recognition
 Skills Required in the Competitive Programming Exams
 How to get started?
 Top Competitive Programming Sites
 Myths and Reality of Competitive Programming
 Best Practices for Competitive Coding Exams
 Drawbacks of Competitive Programming

Compiled by: Said Yousaf Hashimi

What is Competitive Programming?
Competitive programming is a mind sport for solving coding problems using
algorithms and data structure. The participants need to write code under
various restrictions like memory limits, execution time, the limit of coding, space, etc.
The winner of competitive programming is declared based on problems solved
and time spent for writing successful programming solutions.
However, it also includes other factors like quality of output produced, execution
time, program size, etc.

Benefits of Competitive Programming:

Here are benefits of competitive programming:
 Competitive programming helps you to improve your logical and analytical
skills.
 It improves your algorithmic knowledge.
 It is an excellent addition to your CV.
 Improve your network of friends who are also passionate about
programming.
 It is supported by world famous organizations like Google, Amazon, Facebook,
IBM, and others.

History of Competitive Programming:

In the competitive programme world, the oldest contest is ACM-ICPC
(International Collegiate Programming Contest ). It was originated in the
1970s and has grown to span across 100 countries.

Interest in programming challenges has grown extensively after 2000. It was

possible due to the growth of the Internet. It allows coding contest sites to
hold international contests online.

What is ICPC?
The ICPC (International Collegiate Programming Contest) is one of the most
prestigious competitive programming competitions in the world, often
referred to as the "Olympics of programming." It is an annual multi-tiered

Compiled by: Said Yousaf Hashimi

competitive programming competition among university students, organized
by the ICPC Foundation and governed by the ICPC Executive Committee.

Purpose of ICPC:
The ICPC aims to foster creativity, teamwork, and innovation among
university students by challenging them with complex problem-solving tasks.
The goal is to prepare students for careers that require strong analytical and
algorithmic skills and to bring together talented individuals from around the
globe.

Structure and Format:

The competition has a unique format where teams of three students from the
same university compete together.
Each team has:
 One shared computer (without internet access).
 Five hours to solve a set of around 8–12 algorithmic problems.
Each problem typically requires:
 An understanding of algorithms and data structures.
 Efficient code to be written in languages like C++, Java, or Python (specific
languages allowed vary by region).

Competition Levels:
ICPC has a three-tiered structure:
 Local and National Contests:
Universities hold internal contests to select teams that will represent
them in the regional rounds.
 Regional Contests:
Teams compete in regional contests held across the world, such as the
North America Regionals, Asia Regionals, and Europe Regionals. Top
teams from each region advance to the World Finals.
 World Finals:
The World Finals is the ultimate round, where regional champions

Compiled by: Said Yousaf Hashimi

 compete on a global stage. It brings together the top teams from each
region.

Judging and Scoring:

Real-Time Scoring:
Each team is awarded points based on the number of problems they solve and
the time taken to solve each one. Incorrect submissions receive a time penalty,
which is added to their total time if they later solve that problem.
Problem Solving and Accuracy:
Teams aim to solve the highest number of problems accurately within the
time limit. In the event of a tie in the number of problems solved, the total
time taken (including penalties) determines the ranking.

Skills Required:
Algorithmic Proficiency:
Knowledge of algorithms (e.g., dynamic programming, graph theory,
computational geometry) is essential.
Data Structures:
Mastery of data structures such as arrays, stacks, queues, hash maps, and
trees.
Programming Languages:
Participants need to be fluent in programming languages commonly used in
the competition, typically C++, Java, or Python.
Problem-Solving Strategy:
Teams need to quickly assess the difficulty of each problem, allocate tasks
among teammates, and manage time effectively.

Preparation for ICPC:

Preparation involves:
Practice Contests: Many participants prepare by competing in online contests
on platforms like Codeforces, AtCoder, and LeetCode.
Studying Algorithms and Data Structures: Learning and practicing advanced
algorithms and data structures is critical.

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Working as a Team: Teams practice together to develop strategies for dividing
tasks and communicating efficiently during the competition.

Eligibility:
Participants must be:
University Students: ICPC is open only to students currently enrolled in a
university.
Age and Enrollment Restrictions: Participants typically cannot be older than 24
or have competed in the World Finals more than twice.
Team Structure: Each team consists of three students and a faculty coach who
supervises the team’s training and registration.

Significance and Impact:

The ICPC is widely recognized as a prestigious competition in the tech and
programming community. High-performing teams and individuals often gain
attention from top tech companies, such as Google, Facebook, and Microsoft,
as the competition showcases skills that are highly valuable in software
development and research. Many ICPC participants go on to have successful
careers in technology, research, and academia.

History and Global Reach:

Origins: The ICPC began in 1970 at Texas A&M University and has grown
significantly since then.
Global Participation: ICPC currently includes thousands of universities from
more than 100 countries, with tens of thousands of students participating
each year.
Regional and Cultural Exchange: Through the regional rounds and World Finals,
the ICPC promotes cross-cultural collaboration and exchange among students
globally.

Awards and Recognition:

World Champion Title: The winning team of the World Finals earns the title of
ICPC World Champion.
Medals and Prizes: Teams finishing at the top of the World Finals often receive

Compiled by: Said Yousaf Hashimi

gold, silver, and bronze medals, along with cash prizes and other awards.
Scholarships and Job Opportunities: Many top-performing students receive
scholarships, internships, and job offers from prestigious companies.

Skills Required in the Competitive Programming Exams:

Skill Details
 Algorithm Skills
 Basic Math Skills
Important Skills  Programming Skills
 Typing Speed Skills
 Debugging Skills
 Brute force searching using the
Complete Search entire search space
 Beating the time limit
 Optimizing the search
 Dividing the coding problem into
Divide and Conquer smaller parts
 Binary search
 Determine problem state
 Faster and more elaborate
Dynamic Programming
recursive backtracking

How to get started?

Here, are some useful tips that you should know before getting started with
Competitive programming:
 It’s vital that you select a programming language which you are most
comfortable with.
 Sign up on any online coding challenge website and start solving their
practice problems.
 You need to learn about Data Structures which is vital to solving complex
coding issues.

Compiled by: Said Yousaf Hashimi

 You need to understand the concept of complexity in programs.
 Learn important programming patterns like recursion, Dynamic
Programming, etc.

Top Competitive Programming Sites:

Here are the best coding practice websites:
 CodeSignal
 Exercism
 Project Euler
 LeetCode
 HackerRank
 TopCoder
 Coderbyte
 Codewars
 CodeChef
 Codeforce
 Hackerearth

CodeSignal:

CodeSignal is a platform designed to help users prepare for technical

interviews by offering a mix of coding challenges and assessments focused on
real-world scenarios. The platform supports a range of languages and skills,
from algorithms and data structures to more domain-specific knowledge like
SQL for data science roles. CodeSignal has an Interview Practice Mode,
Arcade Challenges for skill-building, and an Interview Prep section. Its
standout feature is the "Certify" function, where users can earn technical
certifications recognized by partner companies.

Visit Here: https://codesignal.com/

Compiled by: Said Yousaf Hashimi

Exercism:

Exercism offers a unique approach to coding practice, emphasizing

mentorship and feedback. It provides exercises in over 50 programming
languages, allowing users to get real-world feedback from mentors on their
solutions, which can help them improve their coding style and efficiency. The
platform is ideal for those interested in honing their skills in specific
programming languages while learning industry best practices. Exercism’s
community-driven approach also encourages users to discuss and improve
their solutions collaboratively.

Visit Here: https://exercism.io/

Project Euler:

Project Euler is a platform tailored for people who enjoy solving complex
mathematical and computational problems. The platform provides a wide
range of challenges that blend programming and mathematics, ideal for
building problem-solving skills and improving algorithmic thinking. Unlike
other competitive programming sites, Project Euler focuses on problems that
typically require mathematical insight before coding begins. This platform is
well-suited for those interested in theoretical aspects of computer science and
mathematical programming.

Visit Here: https://projecteuler.net/

LeetCode:

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LeetCode is one of the most popular platforms for software engineers to
practice coding problems, particularly with a focus on preparing for technical
job interviews. It offers a large collection of algorithmic challenges that range
from easy to difficult, allowing users to practice data structures, algorithms,
and various computer science concepts. LeetCode provides a code editor and
supports multiple programming languages, making it versatile for users
worldwide. Additionally, LeetCode often hosts contests and has a "Discuss"
section where users can share solutions, learn tips, and discuss problems.

Visit Here: https://leetcode.com/

HackerRank:

HackerRank is a well-known platform for competitive coding and interview

preparation, known for its variety of coding challenges across multiple
domains such as algorithms, data structures, artificial intelligence, and
databases. The site includes a code editor and supports many programming
languages. HackerRank's focus extends beyond individual practice; it also
includes company-sponsored challenges where participants can win prizes or
job offers, making it a favorite for students and professionals looking to
showcase their skills to potential employers.

Visit Here: https://www.hackerrank.com/

Topcoder:

Topcoder competitive programming is a widely popular platform for

competitive programming. It is one of the best coding practice sites for
beginners that offer a lot of algorithmic challenges that you can complete on

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your own using their code editor tool. The Topcoder practice website is better
suited for an advanced audience.

Visit Here: https://www.topcoder.com/

Coderbyte:

Coderbyte offers more than 200 various types of competitive programming

questions and coding challenges which you can solve in an online editor using
10 different programming languages. It is one of the best competitive
programming sites that provide official solutions and more than 800,000 user
created solutions.

Visit Here: https://coderbyte.com/

Codewars:

Codewars offer an extensive collection of coding challenges. You can submit

your challenges which will be edited by the community. It allows you to solve
these challenges online using their editor of 20+ programming languages.

Visit Here: https://www.codewars.com/

CodeChef:

CodeChef offers hundreds of competitive programming challenges. It is one of

the best site for competitive programming that allows you to write code in
their online editor and view a collection of challenges. The coding problems

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are separated into different categories based on your skill level.

Visit Here: https://www.codechef.com/

Codeforces:

Codeforces is a Russian based competitive programming course website. It

regularly hosts coding contest where competitive programmers from all over
the world.

Visit Here: https://codeforces.com/

Hackerearth:

HackerEarth offers enterprise software solutions. It is one of the best coding

challenge websites that help companies or individual with their innovation
management and technical recruitment needs. HackerEarth Coding platform
for beginners has conducted 10,000+ sports programming challenges to date.

Visit Here: https://www.hackerearth.com/

Myths and Reality of Competitive Programming:

Myths Reality
It’s too late to start competitive There is no fixed age for this best to
programming. start earlier in your programming
career.

It is an excellent way to get a software No, it is not true as it is a sport which

programming job. may benefits. However, it doesn’t
offer a job guarantee.

Compiled by: Said Yousaf Hashimi

You need to solve lots of computing You can learn theory, but you solving
programs before starting competitive computing challenges will not help as
programming. every competition is unique with its
unique Topcoder challenges.

You need to be an expert in You need to be able to solve the

algorithm. problems.

Competitive programmers are all No, it is for everyone even beginner

experienced programmers. code can participate.

It is just a hobby or a game. Competitive programming, in

contrast, covers some of the same
skills taught in the computer science
curriculum, but at a much deeper
level. So, you can’t call it a game.

Best Practices for Competitive Coding Exams:

Although there is no fixed rule, still some best practices for Competitive
programming that you should follow are:
 Try to learn new and efficient algorithms and implement them when
needed.
 Develop a good knowledge of data structures like lists, trees, and graphs.
 Read the privacy information from the competitive programming website
and contact them before signup.
 You should select a problem for which you can find a solution and possibly
an explanation of those solutions.
 Write test cases for the problem and test your logic using those test cases
before submitting.
 You need to maintain pre-written templates for Standard algorithms,
necessary headers, functions, etc.

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 Use functions/methods and minimize repetition of code.
 Test your code for worst case and try to figure out the best solution for this
situation.

Drawbacks of Competitive Programming:

 Runtime Errors on problems with bad inputs are difficult to debug.
 You are so used to small rewards and short-term goals. In real life when
you work on any project, it mostly takes two-three months before you get
the reward for the project you’re working on
 You will likely become master of coding, but you won’t know any
frameworks (important for real projects)
 It is time-consuming and more tedious to participate, and you need to do it
repeatedly.

Summary:
 Competitive programming is solving coding problems using algorithm and
data structure.

 Coding contests help you to improve your logical and analytical skills.

 ICPC was originated in the 1970s and has grown to span across 100
countries.

 Algorithm Skills, Basic Math Skills, Programming Skills, Typing Speed Skills
are required in the competitive Programming Exams.

 It’s crucial that you select a programming language which you are most
comfortable with

 The most popular Competitive Programming Websites are: 1)TopCoder 2)

Coderbyte 3) Codewars 4) CodeChef 5) Codeforce 6) Hackerearth.

 It is a common myth that it’s too late to start competitive programming.

However, the reality is that there is no fixed age for it.

 Develop a good knowledge of data structures like lists, trees, and graphs is

Compiled by: Said Yousaf Hashimi

a good best practice for competitive coding exams.

Compiled by: Said Yousaf Hashimi