Contest Python: USACO Bronze

Algorithms for your first programming contests

14 units, 4 checkpoints, 1 project, in the order the course teaches them.

Unit 1: Reading the InputExercises (9): Unit 1 — Reading the Input Slides: Unit 1 — Reading the Input
Unit 2: Boolean Logic & AlgebraExercises (9): Unit 2 — Boolean Logic & Algebra Slides: Unit 2 — Boolean Logic & Algebra
Unit 3: Fast Enough?Exercises (9): Unit 3 — Fast Enough?Slides: Unit 3 — Fast Enough?
Unit 4: Sets, Tuples & SortingExercises (9): Unit 4 — Sets, Tuples & Sorting Slides: Unit 4 — Sets, Tuples & Sorting
Unit 5: Searching & Complete SearchExercises (9): Unit 5 — Searching & Complete Search Slides: Unit 5 — Searching & Complete Search
Checkpoint 1: Mock Contest 1Questions (6): Checkpoint 1 — Mock Contest 1
Unit 6: GreedyExercises (9): Unit 6 — Greedy Slides: Unit 6 — Greedy
Unit 7: Simulation & Ad HocExercises (9): Unit 7 — Simulation & Ad Hoc Slides: Unit 7 — Simulation & Ad Hoc
Unit 8: Prefix SumsExercises (9): Unit 8 — Prefix Sums Slides: Unit 8 — Prefix Sums
Checkpoint 2: Mock Contest 2Questions (6): Checkpoint 2 — Mock Contest 2
Unit 9: Recursion & BacktrackingExercises (9): Unit 9 — Recursion & Backtracking Slides: Unit 9 — Recursion & Backtracking
Unit 10: Stacks, Queues & DequesExercises (9): Unit 10 — Stacks, Queues & Deques Slides: Unit 10 — Stacks, Queues & Deques
Unit 11: Number Systems, Bitwise & Number TheoryExercises (10): Unit 11 — Number Systems, Bitwise & Number Theory Slides: Unit 11 — Number Systems, Bitwise & Number Theory
Unit 12: Binary Trees & TraversalsExercises (9): Unit 12 — Binary Trees & Traversals Slides: Unit 12 — Binary Trees & Traversals
Checkpoint 3: Mock Contest 3Questions (7): Checkpoint 3 — Mock Contest 3
Unit 13: Grids, Graphs & TraversalExercises (9): Unit 13 — Grids, Graphs & Traversal Slides: Unit 13 — Grids, Graphs & Traversal
Unit 14: Two Pointers & Sliding WindowExercises (9): Unit 14 — Two Pointers & Sliding Window Slides: Unit 14 — Two Pointers & Sliding Window
Checkpoint 4: Mock Contest 4Questions (7): Checkpoint 4 — Mock Contest 4
Project 3: Grand Mock Contest — Contest Python: USACO Bronze CapstoneProblems (8): Grand Mock Contest — Contest Python: USACO Bronze Capstone

Printable books (PDF)

Release pdfs-2026-09-30. The links open the files on GitHub.

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Concept mastery

The share of each concept's quiz cards you know well (answered right twice, at least a day apart). Practise with the quiz cards.

All 21 concepts

Data structures

Set literals0%
Set operations (add/discard, union/intersection)0%
Tuples0%
Double-ended queue (deque)0%
2D grids (list of lists)0%

IO

Splitting strings0%
Parsing structured input0%

Sorting

Sorting with a key0%

Techniques

Recursion (self-calling functions)0%
Time complexity / Big-O0%
Boolean algebra0%
Reading and tracing code0%
Greedy algorithms0%
Simulation / ad hoc0%
Prefix sums0%
Two pointers / sliding window0%

Number theory

Bitwise operators0%
Number base conversion0%
Sieve of Eratosthenes / primes0%

Search

Complete search (brute force)0%
Binary search0%