The coding ladder for BC students, Grade 1 to Grade 12
Coding contests start with puzzles and grow into programming. A child who enjoys the Beaver Computing Challenge in Grade 5 can move on to the Canadian Computing Competition in high school. Robotics teams and Saturday clubs are a good way to build skills in between. Parents can sign up for clubs and camps directly. The contests go through the school, so it helps to ask a teacher early.
- Grades 1–4
Build and tinker
There are no coding contests this young. Hands-on clubs and camps are the way in. Geering Up runs Saturday clubs at UBC for Grades 1–12 and week-long camps, and parents register directly. FIRST LEGO League starts at Grade 1, but your child needs a team, which is usually run by a school, a community group or a parent.
- Grades 5–6
A first computing contest
The Beaver Computing Challenge is for Grades 5–10. It is puzzles about how computers think, and no coding is needed. Your child can't register alone. A teacher orders it for the school, and the order deadline is in late October. Keep the clubs and a LEGO League team going alongside.
Beaver Computing ChallengeFIRST LEGO LeagueGeering Up ClubsGeering Up summer camps
- Grades 7–8
Robots with real code
Beaver is still open. FIRST LEGO League runs to Grade 8. FIRST Tech Challenge starts in Grade 7: teams design, build and code a robot. Both are team programs that join through a school or community team, or through FIRST Robotics BC.
Beaver Computing ChallengeFIRST LEGO LeagueFIRST Tech ChallengeGeering Up Clubs
- Grades 9–10
Your first programming contest
The Canadian Computing Competition (CCC) opens in Grade 9, with Junior and Senior levels. Students choose by skill, not grade, so beginners start with Junior. It is written at school in February, and the school must register by about February 11, so ask a computer science or math teacher in January. Beaver is still available through Grade 10. In Grade 10 students can also apply to SHAD, a month-long summer program.
- Grades 11–12
Senior level and the Olympiad
Strong programmers write the Senior CCC. About 20 of the top Senior writers are invited to the Canadian Computing Olympiad, which is used to pick Canada's team for the International Olympiad in Informatics. Only official participants whose school registered them can be invited. SHAD is open in Grade 11 too.
Pick what your child enjoys. Nobody needs every step.
Never find out too late
Put every deadline for your child's grade and city in your own calendar, with a reminder a week before. No email, no account: the dates update themselves and move up a grade each September.