Omega LearnHow to Prepare for the USA Computing Olympiad (USACO)
HighWhat is USACO?
The USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) is the premier competitive programming competition for pre-college students in the United States. Contests are held online and taken from home, and each one gives you three algorithmic problems to solve in a single 4โ5 hour block. Competitors are sorted into four divisions โ Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum โ and advance by scoring above each contest's cutoff. The strongest competitors are invited to a summer training camp, from which four are selected for the US team at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI).
Format
Each online contest has three problems solved over a single 4โ5 hour timer, scored out of 1000 points. You submit code to an automated grader in C, C++, Java, or Python and get instant feedback on the sample and full test cases.
Who can enter
Anyone worldwide can register a free account and compete. Only pre-college students who are US citizens or residents are eligible for team selection toward the IOI and EGOI.
When & how
The season runs in winter, with three online contest windows from roughly December to February plus a proctored US Open championship in March. You pick any block of time within each window to take the contest.
How to advance
Meet a contest's division cutoff to be promoted permanently, or solve all three problems for an instant in-contest promotion. Top finishers advance from Platinum toward the US Open, training camp, and the four-person IOI team.
Official Information
USACO official website
The home of the USA Computing Olympiad, where you register for an account, take contests, and view your division standing.
View โUSACO contest schedule
The official season schedule listing each online contest window and the proctored US Open championship.
View โContest instructions & rules
Official rules covering allowed languages, contest length, time limits, and the strict no-collaboration policy.
View โUSACO past contests archive
The complete archive of past contest problems, test data, and official solutions across all four divisions.
View โUSACO Guide FAQ
Community-maintained answers on registration, promotion, division cutoffs, and how the whole USACO cycle works.
View โPractice Tests
Past USACO contests are the best practice available. Take them under real conditions โ one timed 4โ5 hour sitting on three problems โ then study the official solutions for anything you missed, and drill weak topics on the practice platforms below.
USACO past contests
The official archive of every past contest since 2011, with problems, test data, and solutions. Take them under real timed conditions for the best possible practice.
Practice โUSACO Training Gateway
Structured lessons with an online grader that give you instant feedback, plus a large bank of practice problems to work through at your own pace.
Practice โUSACO Guide problem list
Every problem in the USACO Guide, tagged by topic and division, so you can drill exactly the skills your next promotion requires.
Practice โCSES Problem Set
A topic-organized set that reinforces the standard techniques behind USACO problems, with an instant judge to verify your solutions.
Practice โCodeforces problem archive
Thousands of rated problems you can filter by difficulty and tag, ideal for building the speed and breadth that Gold and Platinum demand.
Practice โPaid Courses & Classes
VPlanet Coding
USACO courses from Bronze through Camp level, founded by a multi-time USACO Finalist and focused on teaching transferable problem-solving skills.
View โAlphaStar Academy โ Computer Science
A structured competitive programming track covering all four USACO divisions, taught by former USACO Finalists and IOI medalists.
View โStar League USACO Courses
Division-specific USACO training plus 1-on-1 and small-group tutoring, with dedicated Platinum foundations and problem-solving classes.
View โAlphaStar USACO Practice Exams
Full-length, USACO-style practice contests with an automated grader so you can simulate real contest conditions before the season.
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