Reasons for the Competition Format

The main criticisms of the competition format were

The Timetable

    1. There should have been fewer problems in less time.
    2. The competition should have been longer than two days.
    3. The competition should been shorter than two days.
Since we want to select a team for the IOI we use the same number of problems as are used in the IOI. Unfortunately, we squeeze them into two days whereas in the IOI they have a rest day. Which brings us to the second point. If the competition lasted longer than two days, it would have been more expensive for those travelling to Dublin. (Needless to say most of those who wanted the competition to last longer were from Dublin.)

The Problems

    1. They were too hard.
    2. They were too easy. (Admittedly not many competitors thought they were too easy.)
    3. They were too mathematical.
It is intended to have at least some easier problems this year.

Marking

    1. Don’t mark by computer.
Again this is down to the timetable. It would have been impossible to have the prize giving two hours after the competition if the programs were not marked by computer. This would have meant that most competitors from outside Dublin would have had to stay an extra day to attend the prize-giving. In fact the problems of the sixth IOI in Sweden were also marked by computer, and it was a much harder marker than the DCU program.