CODING CATEGORY

A NEW ADVENTURE WITH CODECOMBAT

Welcome to the world’s first gamified coding competition, where young minds embark on an exciting journey to master programming through engaging and interactive experiences. It is an individual coding competition and category in which students from grade 3 to 11 can compete in Python and JavaScript languages.

This year, we're excited to introduce a new coding platform, CodeCombat, to help participants learn and practice their coding skills in a fun and dynamic environment.

WHAT IS CODECOMBAT?
CodeCombat is an innovative platform designed to teach real coding skills through gameplay. It blends learning with adventure by allowing participants to control characters, solve puzzles and complete missions using programming languages like Python, JavaScript and more. As students advance through the levels, they will not only gain coding expertise but also improve their problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.

GLOBAL REACH AND IMPACT
CodeCombat is trusted by a global community of educators and learners. The platform is used by:
- Over 20 million students worldwide, from beginners to advanced coders.
- More than 1 million teachers who incorporate CodeCombat into their curriculums to make coding more accessible and engaging.
- Over 60,000 schools across 190+ countries, fostering a love for programming in students of all ages.

WHY CODECOMBAT?
- Interactive Learning: Students learn programming concepts in an immersive, game-like setting, making it easier to understand complex ideas.
- Multiple Languages: CodeCombat supports several programming languages, enabling students to pick up languages like Python or JavaScript.
- Self-paced Growth: Participants can progress at their own pace, mastering topics from beginner to advanced levels.
- Real-world Application: CodeCombat focuses on teaching practical coding skills that students can use in future projects and challenges.
- AI and Coding: In addition to basic programming, CodeCombat also teaches advanced concepts like artificial intelligence and game development.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
This individual competition is open to students from grades 3 to 11, allowing them to compete in Python or JavaScript languages. While all students will solve the same challenges, the evaluation will be conducted individually for each grade level.

This initiative aims to inspire even those with no prior coding experience to begin their coding journey. Through a partnership with CodeCombat, students participating in the coding category of the NEO Science Olympiad will receive free access to the CodeCombat platform until 31 July 2025. During this period, students can choose their preferred programming language and complete challenges in preparation for the coding exams.

* Exam Language: English

The exams include 30 challenges and a zoom connection with one camera is required on the exam day.

The Coding Category will not include any multiple-choice questions. Participants may use any of the programming languages Python or JavaScript in this competition.   Following the Coding Exam, the top 3 students in grades 3 through 11 will receive special discounts for participation in the Grand Final Program, provided that all other participation conditions are met. Please check the awards link for more information on these conditions.

TOPICS COVERED IN THE EXAM

1. Introduction to Computer Science (CS1)
This is a beginner course focusing on basic programming concepts through game-based challenges.
Topics Covered: Basic Syntax, Arguments, Strings, While Loops, Variables, Algorithms and the CodeCombat environment.

2. Computer Science 2 (CS2)
This intermediate-level course builds on the concepts learned in CS1, introducing more complex programming topics.
Topics Covered: Basic Syntax, Arguments, Strings, While Loops, Variables, If Statements, Functions, Parameters and Advanced Strings.