Navigators, Pathfinders and Trailblazers

The Coding Challenge will run between 24th March and 4th April 2025.

Text-based coding challenges

These challenges will require students to produce solutions using a text based programming language. Supported languages include Python, VB, Java and C#. You can find a full list of supported languages (and versions) here.

The following table outlines the format of each challege and the skills that will be tested. At the end of each table is a sample challenge so you can assess the level of skill required. There is also a set of links to tutorials which can be used to practice skills and build confidence.

It is essential that every student who plans to enter the challenge is familiar with the Cuttle system that is used to mark the code. Please make sure you have followed the code submission tutorials to familarise yourself with the system.

Group name	Navigators (beginners)	Pathfinders (intermediate)	Trailblazers (advanced)
Group description	New to text-based programming	Developing text-based programming	Experienced text-based programming
Technique	Text based	Text based	Text based
Duration	45 mins	45 mins	45 mins
Question distribution	8 questions - 4 marks each	8 questions - 4 marks each	5 questions - 4 marks each
Question distribution	2 questions - 8 marks each	2 questions - 8 marks each	5 questions - 8 marks each
Programming constructs
	Sequence Selection: IF - ELSE IF - ELSE Iteration: simple COUNT and CONDITION controlled loops 8 mark tasks only Nested IF statements Nested loops Iterating over a string of characters	Nested IF statements Iterating over characters in a string Iterating over elements in a list	Functions Recursion Nested loops
Input/output
	Input - single value (max 2 lines) Output - single line	Input - multiple lines Output - multiple lines	Input - line(s) representing advanced data structure
Maths skills
	Rounding to n places Substituting numbers in simple equations
Maths operators
	+ (add) - (subtract) * (multiply) / (divide)	^ (exponent) % (modulus) // (floor division)
Relational operators
	== (equal to) != (not equal to) < (less than) > (greater than) <= (less than or equal) >= (greater than or equal)
Logical operators
		OR AND NOT
String handling
	String length Convert to upper/lower case String concatenation (joining strings) Indexing characters in a string	Split string	Slice string Extract substring Replace substring Reverse string Removing whitespace (strip)
Data types/structures
	Strings Integers Real numbers (decimal/float) Boolean values Casting between data types (e.g string to integer) Variables	Arrays/lists (one dimensional)	Arrays/lists (multi-dimensional) Dictionaries
Standard algorithms
		Find the minimum/maximum Sum list of numbers Count occurrences Calculate mean of list of numbers	Searching
SQL
			Single table SELECT statements
Help sheets
	Navigators Python hints and tips	Pathfinders Python hints and tips	Trailblazers Python hints and tips Trailblazers SQL hints and tips
Tutorials/Examples	Raspberry Pi Foundation projects site: Introduction to Python (first 3 projects)	Raspberry Pi Foundation projects site: More Python (first 3 projects)	Ada Computer Science (with sample code in Python, VB, Java and C#) Data structures Searching algorithms Pathfinding algorithms
Example Challenge	Navigators	Pathfinders	Trailblazers

Practice Questions

The most effective way to prepare for a coding challenge is to practise. Start by trying the sample quiz in the table above.

The Coding Challenge will use questions that are in the same style as the old OUCC. You can find three year's worth of past questions on the Challenges page. Teachers can make practice quizzes for their student using questions available on the admin site. We will make practice quizzes available to home educated students starting in February.

Did you know the UK Bebras Challenge is run by the Raspberry Pi Foundation? Discover free teaching resources, tools, and expert support for computing education at raspberrypi.org.