Are you new to programming and find it enjoyable? Do you like solving puzzles? Perhaps you’re a Filipino high school student, and you’ve heard of the National Olympiad in Informatics, Philippines—you want to prepare for it, but don’t know where to start.
Then, join the Abakoda 2024 Long Contest!
Anyone who wants to do well in the NOI.PH Eliminations round is highly recommended to join the Abakoda Long! It’s an excellent warmup that’ll ease you into the competitive scene.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to know how to register.
What is Abakoda?
NOI.PH runs Abakoda every year, targeted at beginners to competitive programming. All are welcome, from those who have little to no experience in programming at all, to those who know a little bit about competitive programming and want to know about how to take their skills to the next level.
Abakoda 2024 consists of an educational Long Contest where students have ten days to solve as many programming problems as they can. You’ll get a taste for what competitive programming is all about, without any stress or time limit. Only cool problems!
Who can join?
Anyone interested in programming can join. However, only high school students can join our Discord server where they can discuss problems and ask questions with others and with NOI.PH trainers. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for details.
What if I’ve never joined a programming contest before?
We have a tutorial! We have released a tutorial video to make sure you know how to play the game 🙂
If you really want to participate, our helpful community will help equip you with the tools you need to succeed.
I’m not good at programming or do not know any programming at all. Can I still join?
Yes. We are all here to learn and improve our skills.
The long contest format means you don’t have to worry about needing syntax memorized and mastered. You can attack each problem at your own pace, taking as much time as you need.
Am I forced to use a specific programming language?
No, you can use any programming language that Codeforces supports. The list is here and it includes C, C++, Java, Python, Ruby, and Javascript, among others. However, solution discussions usually show sample code in Python. If you program in a different language, it still shouldn’t be too hard to follow the main ideas of the solutions though. If you do not know how to program yet, the introductory tutorials are in Python so we recommend learning that.
How much does it cost to join?
It’s free, Bruce Lee! Participation in these contests is FREE and open to anyone interested in computer science and programming.
When will the contest be held?
The Abakoda 2024 Long Contest will last from December 28, 2024, 9:00 A.M. to January 6, 2024, 6:00 P.M.
You do not need to stay online and in the contest for the entire duration — just drop by and submit code any time during the contest window. This contest has precisely the same format as the NOI.PH Elimination Round, but easier.
Will there be a discussion of the solutions?
Yes! Trainers will be available on the Discord server to answer questions and discuss solutions after the contest ends. Many students in the community love to discuss their own solutions amongst themselves as well, so make sure you’re in the server so you can join in!
Are there prizes?
Yes, there will be prizes for the long contest! They will be announced closer to the starting date of the long contest.
Note: Only high school students are eligible to win prizes. Past Abakoda prize winners, NOI.PH medalists, and NOI.PH Rookie-of-the-Year awardees are ineligible to win prizes.
How do I join? How do I register?
- Create a Codeforces account at https://codeforces.com/.
- Join the contest at https://tinyurl.com/Abakoda2024Long and submit there when the contest starts!
Exclusive Bonus for Filipino students!
If you are a Filipino high school student, you can join the NOI.PH Discord server by following this link: https://noi.ph/discord-invite/. There, you can ask for help when you don’t understand something, or you can also just make friends with high school students all over the country, who just like you are learning and practicing programming.