What is AIO?
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The AIO is an opportunity for students to demonstrate advanced problem-solving and computer programming skills. They will use problem-solving skills and algorithmic thinking to come up with strategies for solving problems, and programming skills to turn these strategies into code.
Students invent algorithms and write code to solve problems.
Competition date and time:
NZ: Thursday 28 Aug 2025, 17:00-20:00
Closing date of registering: Fri 22 Aug 2025
Eligible year groups: NZ Year 8-13 (Lower levels welcomed)
Competition format: Offline proctored online exam
Competition Location: Unit T/301 Botany Road, Auckland.
Competition date & time:
NZ: Thursday 28 Aug 2025, 17:00-20:00
Calculators are NOT permitted.
Fees for the AIO is $100 per student.
Please note: If you registered after the deadline, the fees will be doubled.
BANK: ANZ
Name of Account: Pinnacle Education Group
Account: 06-0241-0684634-00
Please make payment with the students 'full name + AIO ' as reference.
⚠️ Please note that any fees and payments made are non-refundable.
⚠️ Before you make any payment, make sure you read through the refund policy on our website to avoid misunderstandings.
(Terms and conditions apply).
PGA reserves the right to interpret all competition and course arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Student level group and divisions?
New Zealand Year 8-13 (lower levels also welcomed to challenge). Divisions: •Intermediate – students up to New Zealand Year 11 •Senior – students up to New Zealand Year 13
2. How long is the AIO?
The AIO is a three-hour exam.
3. How many problems will there be?
The AIO is consisting of six problems of increasing difficulty. Answers are in source code
4. What are topics in contest?
Students invent algorithms and write code to solve problems. Functions include opening, reading and writing files; declaring variables and arrays; and using loops, conditional (if) statements and simple arithmetic operations.
5. What languages can students use for the AIO?
Allowed languages are C, C++, Java or Python 3.
6. What do students need to sit the AIO?
Students will need a computer with internet access. During the contest, students should only use the internet to access the contest system (and not to look up programming resources, look up answers, nor communicate with other students, etc).
7. What physical materials may contestants’ access during the AIO?
Each student should have access to ONLY one computer. Additionally, students may bring: pens, spare paper, calculators and other stationery any number of books or other written material, including printed source code and handwritten notes. Students are forbidden from having electronic equipment other than their computer and associated peripherals. For example, students cannot have mobile phones, tablets or smartwatches with them during the competition.
8. How is the AIO marked?
Students submit source code which is compiled and run against input scenarios to test correctness and efficiency. Submissions are marked on speed and correctness. Coding style is not taken into consideration. Students can see their marks during the competition as they are calculated by an automated judging system.
9. What are the criteria for marking?
A student’s submission is compiled and run against several input scenarios to test the correctness and efficiency of the submission. These input scenarios are grouped into subtasks, which are each worth a proportion of the full 100 points. When judging a submission, each subtask is judged individually. For each subtask, several input scenarios will be presented to the program. The program successfully solves a subtask if it produces the correct output for all input scenarios. For each input scenario, the program must run within the given time and memory limits specified in the problem statement. If, during judging, a program does not run within the time limit or uses more memory than permitted, it will fail that scenario and receive no points for the subtask. The final score for a problem will be the sum of the point values of all the subtasks that have been solved by at least one submission. This means students can write separate programs to solve different sets of subtasks, and their score will be automatically combined. The contest system will keep track of and display to the student their current score for a problem, at any point in time. Please note that the scores shown to students during the contest are provisional only and are subject to change. The judges reserve the right to re-judge any submission or re-examine any student for any reason before declaring official results.
10. Will there be certificates?
Yes, Contestant who submit a solution to at least one problem will receive a certificate (either for Participation, or at Bronze, Silver or Gold level) to acknowledge their work.
11. What are Award Criteria?
Gold – top 10%
Silver – the next 15%
Bronze – the next 25%
Credit – the next 20%
Participation – all remaining students
