American Computer Science League (ACSL)

American Computer Science League

overview

The American Computer Science League (ACSL) is an international competition that challenges students on topics in computer science, programming, and computational thinking. ACSL attracts over 6,000 students annually from 21 countries across 6 continents.

ACSL promotes real-world coding and algorithmic skills through a structured series of contests that combine both written logic problems and hands-on programming challenges.

Exam Dates:

Contest#1: Nov. 4 – Jan.12

Contest #2: Jan. 6 – March 2

Contest #3: Feb. 3 – April 13

Contest #4: March 3 – May 18

Grades:

Depends on Division

Format

Depends on Division

Duration

72 Hours

Eligibility

The American Computer Science League (ACSL) welcomes students in grades 3 through 12. Eligibility for each division is based on grade level and programming experience. Whether you’re just starting to explore coding or preparing for AP-level courses, ACSL offers a fitting division—from Elementary (grades 3–6) to Senior (advanced high schoolers). Each student competes in the division best aligned with their skill level to ensure fair, age-appropriate challenge.

Five Divisions

The American Computer Science League (ACSL) competition features five divisions — each tailored to students of different ages, grade levels, and programming experience.

The Senior Division: designed for high school students with programming experience. Each contest includes a 6-question short-answer test and a programming problem that can be completed in Python, Java, or C++.

The Intermediate Division: ideal for high schoolers or advanced junior high students who are newer to coding. Participants complete a 6-question short-answer test alongside a programming problem.

The Junior Division : targets middle school students, specifically those in grade 9 or below. Like the upper divisions, students solve a 6-question short-answer test and a programming challenge.

The Classroom Division : students of all grade levels who are enrolled in computer science principles courses or non-programming CS classes. Contests consist of a 10-question short-answer test, with no coding component.

The Elementary Division: tailored for younger learners in grades 3 through 6. These students complete a 6-question short-answer test focused on foundational, non-programming computer science concepts.

ASCL Qualification

The American Computer Science League (ACSL) is structured into four independent contests held throughout the academic year. Each contest evaluates students on different fundamental topics in computer science.

Importantly, students are not eliminated between rounds—they may participate in all four contests, and their cumulative scores determine their overall standing. At the end of the season, top-scoring students (based on cumulative results) from each division and scoring type (3-score or 5-score) are invited to the Finals—a separate, prestigious online competition.

A Short Answer Test (typically 6 questions in 30 minutes; 10 questions in 50 minutes for Classroom Division).
A Programming Problem (for Senior, Intermediate, and Junior Divisions), which must be submitted within 72 hours of starting.

All contests are taken online via the ACSL HackerRank platform. Students may start at any time during the contest window, but once they begin, the timer runs continuously.

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