How much does it cost?
It is free. Irrespective of the number of entries or the status of the school, participation in Applications Olympiad is free.
May primary school students participate?
Yes, but the Applications Olympiad is designed for high school learners
May home-schoolers participate in the Applications Olympiad?
The contest has to be written at a school under the supervision of a qualified teacher. Certificates are issued in the name of the school and are signed by the Principal and the Teacher. Home-schoolers could approach a school in their area and if the school is not yet registered with the Olympiad, encourage them to register, and request permission to participate at that school.
Which applications may we use?
Microsoft Office Applications.
Who may participate?
Anyone, who in the opinion of the school, should take part.
To whom are certificates issued?
Gold: the top 7% of all participants
Silver: the next 14% of all participants
Bronze: the next 29% of all participants
Silver: the next 14% of all participants
Bronze: the next 29% of all participants
Can someone win two certificates?
No.
Will it be difficult to mark?
No marking at all for participants who take part online. The marks are sent to the teacher after the event.For those who take part offline, the whole set-up has been designed to make it as easy for the teacher as possible. The learner’s answer sheet matches the marking key, and all the teacher has to do is to go down the column – tick ,tick ,tick. It is that easy.
Are any extra certificates available?
Only to replace certificates lost in the post.
When, during the given week, must we write the First Round paper?
Those aspiring to the Finals or Provincial Certificates must write on the first day. Others can write at any time during the five-day period.
Do all participants have to write at the same time?
No.If you would like learners to be considered for the Finals or Provincial Certificates, they have to write on the official Olympiad date, but they could write in two or more groups at any time during the day. If you are using the Olympiad internally only (no one for the Finals, no one for Provincial Certificates) you may write any time during the week after the official date and have as many groups as you like.
What is the duration of the Applications First Round?
One hour.
What happens if the school does not receive the papers in time?
The paper will be faxed or e-mailed to the teacher.
Must we photocopy the papers ourselves?
Yes.
Do you have past question papers available?
Yes. See the “Past Papers” section on this website.
May we enter the Applications Olympiad without taking part in the Talent Search?
Yes.
Who sets the questions?
Most questions are set by the following:
• Past Olympiad participants, especially past winners
• Past members of the South African IOI team
• University of Cape Town staff, students and graduates
• Experienced Educators, including the Computer Olympiad office staff
• Past Olympiad participants, especially past winners
• Past members of the South African IOI team
• University of Cape Town staff, students and graduates
• Experienced Educators, including the Computer Olympiad office staff
May I bring a calculator into the exam room?
Yes for a simple calculator. No if it is a programmable device. A calculator will be of limited use, however, because most questions involve reasoning and minimal calculation.
May we do only the Applications Olympiad?
The Computer Olympiad Office runs the Talent search, the Applications Olympiad and the Programming Olympiad. Schools may enter one, two or all three of the competitions. The school decides how many and which learners take part in each of the competitions.
Do scores in one competition affect the other competitions?
The three competitions are independent. Schools can enter any one, any two or all three as they wish. Results in the one competition do not affect the other competitions as far as we are concerned. Some schools use the Talent Search to select learners for the Applications Olympiad or Programming Olympiad, but that is their choice. There is no obligation to do so.
May schools from neighbouring and distant countries take part?
Schools from outside of South Africa may participate in the First Round. They receive all documentation electronically, but will not receive certificates or be able to participate in the Second Round or Finals.
What format does the competition take?
Learners can take part online or offline. The questions are the same and the time allowed is the same. Online results are sent to the school after the event. The offline results should be sent to the Olympiad Office after the teacher has marked the answers.
May a school write on a different date?
No school may write before the official date.If a school cannot write on the official date, they may write on the first suitable date after that. However, only learners who wrote on the correct date are eligible for selection for the Finals.