The UK Bebras Challenge
The next UK Bebras Challenge will take place: 4th - 15th November 2024
If you are interested in running the challenge at your school for the first time, why not join one of our online information sessions? See the calendar page for details.
What is the UK Bebras Challenge?
The Bebras Challenge introduces computational thinking to students worldwide. This exciting challenge takes place in schools, under the supervision of teachers, over a two-week period every November. Last year, over 3 million students from more than 80 countries participated!
In the UK, the challenge is open to all young people aged 6 to 19. Each participant has 45 minutes to tackle a series of interactive tasks, designed to encourage logical thinking and problem-solving skills appropriate for their age group. The challenge is conducted online, and tasks are marked automatically by our competition system.
The tasks are designed to allow every student the opportunity to showcase their potential, whether they excel in maths or computing, or not.
The UK Bebras Challenge is organised by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and delivered in partnership with the University of Oxford.
What teachers say about the challenge:
“Our students completed the challenge this morning, I just wanted to say thank you for running this. It's a brilliant idea!”
“I just want to say how much the children are enjoying this competition. [...] It is really helping to challenge their thinking, and they are showing great determination to try and complete each task! Also fantastic to find something that works on our iPads.”
Age groups
The UK Bebras Challenge is available for the following age groups:
| England & Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kits* (age 6-8) | Years 2 & 3 | P2 & P3 | Years 3 & 4 |
| Castors* (age 8-10) | Years 4 & 5 | P4 & P5 | Years 5 & 6 |
| Juniors (age 10-12) | Years 6 & 7 | P6 & P7 | Years 7 & 8 |
| Intermediates (age 12-14) | Years 8 & 9 | S1 & S2 | Years 9 & 10 |
| Seniors (age 14-16) | Years 10 & 11 | S3 & S4 | Years 11 & 12 |
| Elites (age 16-19) | Years 12 & 13 | S5 & S6 | Years 13 & 14 |
* Kits and Castors can enter individually or as a small team (up to 4)
Frequently asked questions
How do students participate?
Students cannot register individually. Instead, a teacher must sign up as the main school coordinator and can then enrol groups of students or even the entire school. The main coordinator has the ability to approve additional teacher account requests, allowing teachers to manage their own student groups.
What if my child is home educated?
Home-educated students are very welcome to participate in UK Bebras. Please sign-up here and we will be in touch with further information in due course.
Is there a fee to participate?
The UK Bebras Challenge is generously supported by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and is entirely free to enter. We may request feedback at the end of a challenge, and we kindly ask that you provide as much information as possible as this helps us assess the impact of our work.
How can students prepare?
We provide sets of past tasks on the challenges page of this site, and teachers have access to even more tasks to create quizzes for their students.. While preparation isn't essential, students tend to enjoy the experience more if they practice. It's also a great opportunity for them to develop their computational thinking skills. Many schools integrate Bebras tasks into their maths or computing lessons, or organise enrichment clubs to get students ready for the challenge.
Can students use tablet computers?
Students can use desktops, laptops, or tablets with internet-connected web browsers for both the competition and practice tasks. While mobile phones may be usable, the smaller screen size might be a limiting factor.
Are there prizes?
Every participating student receives a certificate. Certificates are awarded within each age group based on school performance, not national boundaries, in three categories: Distinction (top 25%), Merit (next 25%), and Participation (remaining 50%). Additionally, a "Best in School" certificate is awarded in each age group category. Certificates can be printed at school or home or distributed electronically.
Are the answers provided?
Yes, after each official challenge, we provide an answer and explanation booklet. These resources are available for teachers in the Documents section of the admin site.
What is computational thinking?
Computational thinking involves the thought processes and problem-solving methods used to develop algorithms. These skills include abstraction, decomposition, and pattern recognition. Importantly, computational thinking isn't limited to software development; these skills are valuable in various problem-solving contexts.