(This page will be updated from time to time whenever we receive new queries.)

1. When will we receive the invitation letter from the Algo*Mania organiser?
2. When will the on-line registration site be ready?
3. Is the contest open-book or closed book?
4. What are the compilers used?
5. Are the programs to be written by the contestants console or windows based?
6. Must contestants report in school uniform?
7. Must the coaches/teachers-in-charge report with their students in the morning?
8. When will the results be announced?
9. Is training provided for the contestants?
10. Why is there no National Olympiad in Informatics (NOI) for this year's NIC, and will NOI be resumed next year?

1. When will we receive the invitation letter from the Algo*Mania organiser?

We will send out the invitation letters to all schools in early July. The registration deadline is 7 September 2007.

2. When will the on-line registration site be ready?

It will be ready by end of June.

3. Is the contest open-book or closed book?

It is open-book. Please refer to the Rules page for more details.

4. What are the compilers used?

Please refer to the Rules page.

5. Are the programs to be written by the contestants console or windows based?

Contestants will write programs using standard input/output or simple text files. You may refer to some sample tasks in the Tasks page. Hence, the program's interaction is via the console.

6. Must contestants report in school uniform?

Yes, for secondary school, junior college and ITE students, they are to report in their school uniform.

7. Must the coaches/teachers-in-charge report with their students in the morning?

Coaches/teachers-in-charge need not accompany their students to report in the morning. However, they are to ensure that all the three team members turn up to report to the organiser. Coaches/teachers are welcome to attend the prize-giving ceremony.

8. When will the results be announced?

They will be announced on the same day of the challenge. After the contest, there will be some programmes for the contestants in the afternoon. This will be followed by the announcement of the results at the prize-giving ceremony. The detail programmes will be available later.

9. Is training provided for the contestants?

We do not provide training. However, Singapore Polytechnic, which is organising the National Software Competition (NSC), conducts training for the NSC contestants. You may approach Singapore Polytechnic for training.

That said, do bear in mind that Algo*Mania, like the National Olympiad in Informatics (NOI), requires contentants to already possess good programming and problem solving skills. Hence, training on programming may not be sufficient. Please refer to the sample problems to gauge the type of problems you would encounter in the Algo*Mania challenge.

10. Why is there no National Olympiad in Informatics (NOI) for this year's NIC, and will NOI be resumed next year?

NOI 2007 was held in January 2007 as part of NIC 2006. NOI 2008 will be held next year (2008) and will be part of NIC 2008.

So for this year's NIC, the Algo*Mania challenge is introduced as a challenge from NUS.

Next year, NOI 2008 will be back in early April, which is a preferred time for the schools.