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For Educators by Educators

Bay Power Solutions

Hopefully you will find your questions answered here. If not, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

What are the dates for the 2024 competition?
GCC will host only one competition this year.  
Senior Division - March 9, 2024
Junior Division - April 27, 2024

What is the deadline for registering?
Senior Division - January 19, 2024
Junior Division - March 8, 2024
$50.00 late fee/team postmarked after registration deadlines
No registration will be accepted after January 26, 2024 for the senior competition and March 15, 2024 for the junior competition.

How do I register for the 2024 Great Computer Challenge?
Registration will open on December 15, 2023.  Follow the Registration Process here.

Can I pay with a P.O.?
Yes. Please include a copy of the P.O. with your registration form.

Who do I make my check out to?
WHRO/C.I.I.

How can I order extra t-shirts or tote bags?
Your registration fee pays for t-shirts for the students participating, but not the alternates or the coaches. You can order them ahead of time on your registration form.  For 2021, the shirts will be mailed to your school prior to the competition day. 

What is needed to compete?
~Computer with keyboard (multiple keyboards are not allowed)
~Access to internet
~Specific software for competition

Does each team have to bring a computer?
With the exception of Internet Scavenger Hunt, yes. One computer per team. A spare computer can be brought to the competition, but it cannot be in the room.

Do I need a computer for the Internet Scavenger Hunt?
No. This is the only competition that does not require a computer. The students will be working on PCs available in the ODU labs that will have Internet access. They will be using Chrome, Internet Explorer, or Firefox as the browser.

Can I enter a team with only one student?
Yes. For Levels 1-3, teams can have 1-3 students. For Level 4, teams can have 1-5 students.

How much time do the students have to work on their problems?
Level 1 (grade K-2) - 1 hour
Level 2 (grades 3-5) - 1 hour and 45 minutes 
Level 3 (grades 6-8) - 2 hours 
Level 4 (grades 9-12) - 3 hours 

What if I don’t have the students' names yet? Can I still register?
Yes. Please email, fax or call the names in when you get the students lined up. We need to know your category, level and t-shirt sizes by the deadline. The students’ names do not affect our pre-planning.

Is food provided?
No. Food is on your own. However, several ODU restaurants will be open and there are many others within walking or driving distance.

Can parents come?
Parents are more than welcome to come support their child. They will not be allowed in the rooms during the competition, but they can attend the awards ceremony. 

Can I set up the computers the night before?
No, there is no guaranteed security of the equipment. We recommend that you bring support to help you set up in the morning if you have several teams competing.

Will I have Internet access for the Web Design competition?
No. You must be prepared to work with what you have on your hard drives or what you have brought with you. 

How many teams can we bring?
Each school may enter one team per category per level except for the categories listed below.

Level 3 (grades 6-8)

  • Integrated Applications
  • Music Composition
  • Programming-Object Oriented Business

Level 4 (grades 9-12)

  • CAD
  • Cyber Security
  • Integrated Applications
  • Music Composition
  • Programming-Scientific/Non-Business
  • Programming-Object Oriented Business

What if the grades of my students cover more than one competition level?
The highest-grade student on a team determines the level.

How do we prepare for the competition?
Check out our Past Problems page. You can use these problems with the students prior to the competition to expose them to the types of problems they may receive. They will receive a problem or problems the day of the competition to work on, one which they will have never seen before.

Is there grant funding to pay for the Great Computer Challenge registration fees?
No, sorry. You or your school will need to pay the fees.

Registration Fee
Your school division must be a C.I.I. Member (click to see member divisions) or C.I.I. Service Participant to participate in the Great Computer Challenge. If you are not a member and would like to find out how to become a member, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Levels 1, 2, & 3

  • $45 (C.I.I. Member)
  • $85 (C.I.I. Service Participant)
  • $50 late fee/team postmarked after registration deadlines

Level 4

  • $55 (C.I.I. Member)
  • $95 (C.I.I. Service Participant)
  • $50 late fee/team postmarked after registration deadlines

What is the C.I.I.? How do I know if I am a member? Who are the C.I.I. Service Participants?
The Consortium for Interactive Instruction. If your school or school division is listed as a C.I.I. Member on the C.I.I. Roster, then you are considered a C.I.I. Member and can receive the discounted prices. If your school or school division is listed as a C.I.I. Service Participant on the C.I.I. Roster, then you must pay the C.I.I. Service Participant fees for the Great Computer Challenge.

What is the cancellation policy?
A full refund will be issued up until the following dates:
Senior 2024 - January 26, 2024
Junior 2024 - March 15, 2024
Please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let us know you need to cancel your team registration. After these dates, no refund will be issued.

What are the categories that we can register for?
(Click on the category title for full details.)

Level 1 (grades K-2)

Level 2 (grades 3-5)

Level 3 (grades 6-8)

Level 4 (grades 9-12)

What software are we allowed to use?
There are no limitations on the software you can use at the competition.

Which categories need printers?
Printers are no longer needed for any category.

Can I use the Internet?
INTERNET DETAILS SENIOR: Level 3 & 4 Desktop Publishing, Desktop Presentations, and Graphic Design - Internet access is optional to access additional clipart, use web or server based software, or to download sponsor logos (WHRO, ODU, C.I.I., Bay Diesel). All other categories are prohibited from using the internet during the competition.

INTERNET DETAILS JUNIOR: Level 1 Desktop Publishing, Level 2 Graphic Design, Desktop Publishing, and Desktop Presentations:  Internet access is optional to access additional clipart, use web or server based software, or to download sponsor logos (WHRO, ODU, C.I.I., Bay Diesel). Level 2 Internet Scavenger Hunt will have computers, printer and Internet provided by ODU. All other categories are prohibited from using the internet during the competition.

Is the Great Computer Challenge correlated to the SOLs?
Most of the problems have been correlated. View a sample of how the SOLs will be listed within the problem