top of page
ACSL.jpg

ACSL

The American Computer Science League (ACSL) contains 4 contests.

 

​Achieve Top 65% in Round 1 (Qualifier round) will allow entry to Round 2-4.

​

Students are only awarded in [Round 2-4] when all the results are out.

​​

Year group and levels: 

 

Elementary: students in Years 4-7 (Grade 3 to 6)

 

Junior: students in Year 8-10 (Grade 7-9)

 

Intermediate & Senior: students from Years 11-13 (Grade 10-12)

​

  • Students in Year 11 (grade 10) can only participate and team in the Intermediate / Senior level.

​

  • Intermediate G10-12 are those students with computer programming experience;

  • Senior G10-12 are those students with experience in programming, especially those who are taking a Computer Science AP course.

​

Exam Format: Online at home

Register For ACSL Round 1 Now!

Elementary

Only Individual written contest

Exam length:

30 minutes, 5 multiple choice questions.

​

Scoring: 1 point for each question, total 5 points.

Junior 

Individual and Team round

Exam length:

Individual: 30 minutes, 5 multiple choice questions.

Team: 2 hours, 1 programming question

​​

Scoring: worth 5 points. (All members of the team are required to answer questions and submit answers)

​

Team: 3 students (or at least 2 students) per team

​

For Year 8-10 students (G7-9)

Intermediate / Senior

Individual and Team round

Exam length:

Individual: 30 minutes, 5 multiple choice questions.

Team: 2 hours, 1 programming question

​​

Scoring: worth 5 points. (All members of the team are required to answer questions and submit answers)

​

Team: 3 students (or at least 2 students) per team

​

For Year 11-13 students (G10-12)

PGA reserves the right to interpret all competition and course arrangements.

What is ACSL?

The American Computer Science League (ACSL) organizes computer programming and computer science contests for K-12 schools, organizations, and local groups.

 

The 2025-2026 school year will be our 48th year of continuous operation! Last year, over 6,000 students from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia participated in the regular season competitions.

Competition Structure

ACSL offers multiple divisions, providing an appropriate challenge for students of varying ages and abilities.

 

Each season is divided into four contests, testing students on fundamental concepts in computer science, ranging from Number Systems to Boolean Algebra to Digital Electronics.

 

In the upper divisions, each contest also includes a programming problem using Python, C++, or Java.

​

Contests are administered online, with team advisors facilitating student access to the platform. The platform automatically grades submissions and reports scores to ACSL.

 

At the end of the season, top-performing students are invited to compete in an online Finals competition.

Divisions

ACSL offers four divisions: Senior, Intermediate, Junior, and Elementary, ensuring students can participate in a division that matches their age and ability level.

​

Senior Division (Team)

  • is geared to high school students with experience in programming, especially those who are taking a Computer Science AP course.

 

Intermediate Division (Team)

  • is geared towards senior high school students with computer programming experience, and advanced junior high students.

 

Junior Division (Team)

  • is geared to middle school students with no previous experience in programming. No student beyond Year 10 (grade 9) may compete in the Junior Division.

 

Elementary Division

  • is open to students from Years 4-7 (grades 3 - 6). It consists 5 questions on a computer science topic such as Boolean Algebra and Graph Theory.

Topics 

Screenshot 2025-10-26 at 5.24.46 pm.png

Awards

Individual Awards (R2-4)

​

  • Perfect Score:  Get a perfect score in Rounds 2-4

  • Individual top Scores:  Top 20% individuals

  • Excellence Award:  Top 55% individuals

Team Awards (R2-4)

​

  • Gold:  Top 10% teams

  • Silver:  Top 25% teams

  • Bronze:  Top 35% teams

  • Regional Honorable Awards: Regional Top 20% teams

 

Reward by different levels. Team members who miss one round at most can receive team awards.

Finals (All-Star Contest)

The winning teams/individuals will be invited to participate in All-Star Contest.

 

The Contest will be held in August, 2026.

 

All the teams will compete in their own division.

Final Date: August 2026 (TBD)

 

Content

  • Elementary: 20 multiple choice questions

  • Junior, Intermediate and Senior: 20 multiple choice questions (written contest), 2 Programming problems.

 

*PS：Subject to the actual number of questions. Elementary division only has written contest.

​

Written Contest

  • Elementary: 60-minute exam consisting of 20 multiple choice questions.

  • Junior, Intermediate and Senior: 60-minute exam consisting of 20 multiple choice questions. Team members need to answer questions independently

​

Programming Contest​

  • Format: 3 students per team (at least 2 students)

  • Content: 2 Programming problems scored with 10 points per question. All members of the team are required to answer questions and submit answers. (3 hours)

Awards

Global Awards (only Individual)

  • Gold: Above the score line set by the organizing committee

  • Sliver: Above the score line set by the organizing committee

  • Bronze: Above the score line set by the organizing committee

National awards

  • Top Scores: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Individuals / Teams

  • Gold: Top 10% Individuals / Teams

  • Silver: Top 20% Individuals / Teams

  • Bronze: Top 35% Individuals / Teams

  • Honorable Award: Top 50% Individuals / Teams

Grading

  • Individual scores: Individual written scores + Individual programming scores

  • Team scores: Average team written scores + Average team programming scores

​

  • If there is a tie, the individual/team with the highest score in multiple choice questions will win; if it is still a tie, the individual/team with the higher programming score will win.

​

  • PS: Points from Regular Season are not counted in All-Star Contest

bottom of page