ACSL: American Computer Science League (Guide 2025)
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Indigo Research Team
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Published:
December 16, 2024
Last Updated:
December 18, 2024
The American Computer Science League (ACSL) is the next big challenge for high school students who are curious, have a flair for solving codes, and are hungry for technical advancement. Imagine a place where your passion for algorithms and the excitement of competition coexist, where every coding puzzle is an exciting puzzle just waiting for you to solve it.
There is more to the American Computer Science League Competition than simply showing off your programming prowess. Building relationships with pupils who speak your world-changing language of code is the goal.
The American Computer Science League (ACSL) strives to improve American students' knowledge of computer science and programming. With an emphasis on programming languages, such as algorithms, data structures, and computer organization, they plan activities and contests for kids in various grade levels. These contests aim to develop students' critical thinking and problem-solving abilities while also inspiring and challenging them.
In addition to holding competitions since 1978, the ACSL provides instructors and students with a range of tools, including courses, practice problems, and materials. It has developed into an international competition that features the skills of bright young computer scientists from more than 300 schools, with about 1,700 students participating in the ACSL finals.
You may ask if joining ACSL is beneficial for my college applications. Getting involved can deeply improve your college applications by demonstrating your commitment to CS.
Numerous universities offer top-notch computer science programs, and standing out in a national American competition (such as this) can provide a competitive advantage when seeking admission to these programs. It offers solid proof of your skills and enthusiasm for computer science, enhancing your desirability as a candidate.
The contests are structured to challenge students, fostering the development of their programming and problem-solving abilities. Taking part in these competitions helps students develop the skills to succeed in other contests like the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) and the USA Computing Olympiad (USACO).
ACSL is held online and welcomes participation from all pre-college schools around the world. That is, the ACSL competition can be considered international. Please note that for those who live in Korea, China, or Vietnam, you need to register for the competition on separate websites. You can find all the links on the official ACSL website mentioned at the beginning of this article.
To accommodate students of different educational levels, the format of the ACSL competition was created. The mix of individual and team components adds even more excitement to the competitive programming event. Schools can organize teams that participate in many classes (Elementary, Junior, Intermediate, and Senior). Teams that compete in several divisions (Elementary, Junior, Intermediate, and Senior) can be formed by schools. A school may have multiple teams within a variety of ACSL combines team and individual elements, bringing an extra level of excitement to the competitive programming event.
The question has multiple-choice answers. Once the designated time has elapsed, your exam is automatically submitted for scoring; however, you can click the Submit exam button to submit it sooner. You won't have access to the exam or your answers once you send them in, but your adviser will have a copy of your responses.
Competitions in Elementary School
The Elementary School Division provides an enjoyable and educational way for students in grades 3-5 to learn about computer science. Every competition includes a 30-minute online assessment with 5 questions, concentrating on a specific category of content and not involving any programming.
Middle School Competitions
The Middle School Division is intended for students in grades 6-8. These computer science competitions are tougher and are designed to enhance the basic concepts learned in earlier grades. There will be a combination of short-answer queries and coding challenges, all intended to assess developing abilities.
Junior Division Competitions
For students in grades 9-10, the Junior Division is where you can showcase your skills. Students above 9th grade are not allowed to compete in this category, ensuring fair competition among participants. Every competition includes a brief 5-question test that lasts for 30 minutes online, as well as a programming challenge that needs to be completed within a 72-hour time frame.
Senior Division Competitions
Competitions for high school juniors and seniors with programming skills, particularly those enrolled in AP Computer Science, are held in the Senior Division which is known for its challenging and complex nature. Every competition consists of a brief online test with five questions that must be answered in 30 minutes.
Many students are hesitating about whether to join the USACO (USA Computing Olympiad) or ACSL. Let's examine both of these contests to learn about their similarities and distinctions.
ACSL classroom division lasts fifty minutes and consists of short answer questions at the primary school level of the ACSL. For all programming problems, the time limit is 72 hours and 30 minutes of short-answer puzzles. USACO competitions, on the other hand, require participants to solve three issues in four hours. The one exception is the year's last competition, which is often an hour longer due to its increased difficulty. There is a lot greater time pressure because of the contest's length. Once the problem has been identified, you must be able to code precisely and effectively.
Even though ACSL is a team competition, each student works alone rather than with others (except in the Classroom category). Teams of students are assembled by each school for a certain level; teams may consist of one or more teams, each with a maximum of twelve applicants. The fact that schools can choose between a 3-score and a 5-score competition is an interesting feature. The aggregate of the individual scores of the top three or five competitors determines the team's final score. Therefore, they could choose a 3-score if their squad is tiny or top-heavy. However, they may choose to use a 5-score if they have a big team or want more children's scores to "count."
In contrast, USACO is a wholly individual tournament. You compete on your own from the comfort of your own home, at the time that works best for you. Every contest weekend runs from Friday to Monday. Your 4-hour timer only starts once you look at the problems.
ACSL employs a thorough scoring mechanism that guarantees recognition for both individual and team contributions. Teams can score either 5 points or 3 points. In the 5-score choice, the top five scores from every team are taken into account. Only the highest three scores are considered in the 3-score choice.
Scores for individuals are determined by combining the outcomes of both the short-answer test and the programming problem. These scores play a role in the team's overall success. Individuals who excel can greatly enhance their team's probability of advancing to the finals.
Teams that have the best total scores from all regular season games move on to the finals. The finals are where top competitors display their skills and compete for prestigious awards.
In order to qualify for the ACSL finals event as a school team member or participant, you must meet a minimum scoring threshold. This is dependent on the division you choose to compete in, which is either the lower 3 score division option or the higher 5 score division, where team scores are calculated by adding the scores of the top 5 students (or top 3 students, respectively). It is divided into different groups based on the student's grade and prior knowledge of computer science. You have to meet or exceed the minimum scores in each category in order to advance to the championship round. The Senior Division, for instance, may have a higher minimum score due to the challenging questions, whereas in the Junior Division, it might be a bit lower.
The ACSL Finals will take place online through the HackerRank platform, which students have already been using during the regular season. All participants will commence and complete the contest at the same scheduled times. The competition's format will mirror that of the regular season. There will be no team awards; all prizes will be determined based on individual scores.
The following is the event schedule, with all times given in EDT (UTC-4):
- 10:00 AM: A live feed of the competition for the Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Divisions begins.
- 10:30 AM: Students have until 10:30 AM to start the programming test. The participant has three hours from the start time to complete the two problems in this stage, which are worth a total of 20 points.
- 2:00 PM, all contestants will be able to watch another live feed.
- Before 2:30 PM: Students in every level must begin the Short Problems portion by 2:30 PM. There are 20 questions in this section, and you have one hour to complete it. There won't be any new categories added; all tested categories will match those used during the season.
- 3:45 PM: Zoom-based breakout discussion rooms with alumni from ACSL moderating will open for student participation.
- 5:00 PM: A live stream will be used to announce the contest results and medal winners.
Students must receive at least 28 points in the Junior, Intermediate, or Senior Divisions, 24 points in the Classroom Division, or 14 points in the Elementary Division in order to advance to the Finals. Invitations will be delivered by email beginning on May 1.
A highly effective preparation method for the Finals is for students to practice using past contests. You can find them here: https://www.acsl.org/get-started/study-materials
Is ACSL a team-based competition?
The American Computer Science League competition could be both a team and individual competition with several categories.
How big are the teams in the ACSL?
If you join Steam the maximum amount of members is 12.
How long is ACSL?
With the exception of the Classroom Division, the time limit for short answer tests is 30 minutes. The time limit for Classroom Division is 50 minutes, and the time limit for all programming problems is 72 hours.
How much does ACSL cost?
The cost of registering a team in a Division (except for the Elementary Division) is $150. Each additional team in this division costs $75. For the Elementary Division, the cost is $100 and $50. Сost for participation includes a registration fee of $30 per student.
Participating in competitions like ACSL is a really good way to stand out from other college or university applicants. But don't forget that there is another good and very powerful way to stand out from the crowd, and that's by doing your own research.
Indigo Research has many mentors from different disciplines who can help you succeed with your research. You can also choose the program that suits you best from the ones offered by the Indigo team.
Whichever way you choose, our team sincerely wishes you to succeed in your dreams!
Participating in the ACSL is a fantastic way for high school students to sharpen their computer science skills, gain hands-on experience, and demonstrate their problem-solving abilities to colleges. But why stop there? At Indigo Research, we provide students with the opportunity to take their passion for STEM even further by working on individualized research projects under the mentorship of world-class professors. Whether you're aiming to deepen your knowledge or enhance your college applications, our programs are designed to help you achieve your goals.
