Team of 2 · Test, then coding

Coding

Solve problems with code.

Individual testsTeam qualifiesScratch challenge

What you make or do

Prepare for a computer science and coding test.
If your team advances, create a Scratch solution to a new challenge at the conference.

This year’s challenge

Use Scratch for the onsite challenge. The actual problem is given at the conference.

How the competition works

Before the event

Study computer science and coding concepts, practice Scratch, and prepare the required laptops and offline software.

First round

Both teammates take a one-hour test individually. Your team ranking uses the average of your scores.

If you advance

Work together on a two-hour Scratch programming challenge. Your solution is tested and presented to the judges.

Know before you choose: The coding challenge runs without internet. Your team needs the software ready for offline use.

How your work is scored

Your team’s average test score counts in the first round. If you advance, judges check your solutions and rank them by submission time.

Download the official rubric or score sheet (PDF)

Open the scoring pages within the full event guide

Read the full 2027 theme or preparation information

To prepare for MS Coding competition, teams should have knowledge of concepts (software development, computer science, and coding topics) that will be on the Coding written test. They also should be familiar and comfortable with using the Scratch programming language.

Scratch is a free visual programming language available from the MIT Media Lab (https://scratch.mit.edu/download). An offline version of the Scratch tool should be downloaded and available on each team’s laptop.

Teams that advance to the semifinalist level, based on written test performance, will perform a challenge using the Scratch programming language. Semifinalist teams will receive the challenge on site and will have two hours to complete it. (PLEASE NOTE: Semifinalist teams MUST have a version of this program available for offline use, as there will be no Internet access available during the semifinalist level of the competition.)

Examples of the types of challenges students may be asked to complete can be found at this link: https://scratch.mit.edu/starter-projects

Official files to keep

Read the guide, current challenge, and updates together. This overview helps you choose; the official documents give the full requirements.

Guide evidence: 95–98. Annual sources checked September 10, 2026. These are national competition rules; your teacher will confirm any regional or state changes.

Interested in this event?

Use the notes sheet to check what this choice would involve.

Start my competition notes