Summer Coding Challenge 2026

The ACSL Summer Coding Challenge is open to all students who have not yet entered college. If you participated in ACSL 2025-26, you should have already received an email inviting your to register. If you didn't participate in ACSL this past year, or if you did not receive the email (for example, if the email address you used during the school year is no longer accessible to you), please register here.

The ACSL Summer Coding Challenge is a set of 3 programming problems, to be solved in a single 4-hour window. You can choose when to start, between Friday morning, July 24th and Sunday evening, August 2nd. You will need to use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge to participate, and your computer must have a webcam. You will also need to have a reliable internet connection for the entire 4-hour period.

There are two divisions: Rookie, for students with no more than one year of coding experience, and Veteran. There is a cost of $20 (USD) to participate in either division. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 finishers in each division, and all participants will receive a certificate of participation.

You will use the HackerRank platform in their "Secure Mode". The following integrity controls will be enabled:

• Full-screen enforcement: You must keep the contest window in full-screen mode throughout the contest.

• Tab switch alerts: Warns when you attempt to navigate away from the contest. You must remain on the contest page for the entire duration of the contest.

• Copy/paste restriction: Blocks external copy and paste actions during the contest.

• Multiple monitor check: Blocks the use of multiple monitors during the contest.

• Image analysis: Uses your webcam to capture images of you during the contest, and flags any suspicious activity.

Please keep in mind that this is a competition to test your coding skills. It is not a contest to see if you can get the answer using AI, friends, parents, or random internet sources; there are other contests to test that very valuable skil!