Norsk Informatikkolympiade 2024
For many students, programming is just another subject in school, but for one student, it became a challenge worth taking. The Norsk Informatikkolympiade (NIO) is a fierce competition, it’s a test of problem-solving and algorithmic thinking that pushes participants beyond basic coding skills.
The competition started at school level, where four students qualified for the second round. But the difficulty increased quickly.
“The second round was much tougher,” he explained. “It wasn’t just about writing code in Python, it was about applying specific algorithms to solve tricky problems, and the competition was more geared toward C++ which I did not have a lot of experience in.” Even so, he stuck with Python, proving that a solid understanding of concepts wins out when you’re competing.
Though it wasn’t all prior knowledge, to prepare, he worked through around 100 problems on the NIO training server and referenced the Competitive Programming Handbook to sharpen his skills. “I didn’t memorize everything, just focused on understanding what worked,” he said.
The final round is set for March. While the competition isn’t a direct ticket to university admissions, it offers valuable experience, scholarships, and a boost for future studies. More importantly, he finds the skills he’s learning useful beyond the Olympiad.
“Olympiads teach problem-solving techniques that help a lot with IB Math,” he noted. He also competes in the Abel Konkurranse, a math contest with some overlap with IB but a stronger focus on game theory.
“This year’s competition is really tough,” he admitted. “I think I have a better shot at NIO than Abel since Abel is more about Olympiad math, but I’ll give it a try for fun.”
His approach to studying for all this? Good methods matter. “Don’t cram—take notes, ask questions, and use active recall,” he shared. His favorite tools for learning school information are flashcards and problem-solving practice, which help him retain concepts without stress.
With a combination of curiosity, strategy, and persistence, he’s proving that competitions like the NIO aren’t just for coding prodigies—they’re a great way for anyone with a passion for problem-solving to learn, grow, and have fun along the way.
Comments