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DrCT (Design Thinking with robotics and Computational Thinking)

Overview

The International Design Thinking with Robotics and Computational Thinking Competition would like to extend an invitation to you (DrCT). BEBRAS is now available to all DrCT students in Singapore and other international countries. BEBRAS is the most well-known platform for creating CT questions for schools all over the world.

Using the internationally renowned BEBRAS challenges, DrCT provides CT (Computational Thinking) training by breaking down problems, analysing the validity of solutions, and finding patterns in data - all of which are essential workplace skills.

We provide students with a platform to learn about informatics in a more creative way and compete with students around the world. Our methodology of combining design thinking and robotics will provide an intuitive first introduction to programming, as well as limitless possibilities for gradually building more advanced projects using an electronics platform, satisfying a standard loved and tested by millions of people who use informatics for real-world application projects all over the world.

DrCT will assist students in improving their coding and programming skills and preparing for the National Olympiad in Informatics (NOI), the highest national competition for informatics in all countries, in which the top four students from Primary 1 to 6, Secondary 1 to 4, and JC1/2 students (Grades 1 to 12 students from International schools) will be chosen to represent their country at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI).

Objectives

Students' creativity, logical reasoning ability, and algorithmic and computational thinking skills should all be encouraged. We will facilitate a deeper understanding of the world around the learner and enable them to solve everyday problems by leveraging the power of computers and information technology by completing our contest tasks and applying design thinking methodology to develop a robotic solution for a problem statement. Students will learn the finer points of programming, how to focus on solutions, and how to take action. Programming is more than just writing code; it also involves useful algorithmic techniques and problem-solving skills.

The benefits of participating in DrCT:

  • DrCT is an important competition that help students prepare for the NOI competition. Around 25% of the questions are similar to NOI and set by IOI medalists and reviewed by NUS School of Computing professor.

  • NOI Gold Medalists from Singapore can apply for admission to NUS School of Computing directly.

  • Competitive Programming 4 book 1 is the recommended text for DrCT and NOI written by Dr. Steven Halim, Dr. Felix Halim, and Dr. Suhendry Effendy. The authors are part of the star-studded UVa Online Judges team of the ICPC (International Collegiate Programming Contest), according to Prof Bill Poucher, President of ICPC Foundation.

  • Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalists of DrCT International Local will be invited to join STEAM AHEAD to compete in the STEAM AHEAD – DrCT Global Finals. They will have a chance to win the President’s Award for Excellence in Steam.

  • For all Singapore MOE Schools, students enroll through their school for FREE DrCT contest, and GOLD Secondary medalists of DrCT will be invited to participate in National Software Competition (NSC) organized by Singapore Polytechnic.

  • Gold Medalists of DrCT will also be invited to participate in a series of programming workshops organized by NUS, School of Computing (SOC) to prepare them for NOI 2024.

Test Format

Click here for Exam Schedule & Format


Awards

  • All participants will receive an e-certificate.
  • The top 40% of the participants will receive a physical certificate and a medal.
  • The top 40% of winners will be invited to compete in Steam Ahead 2023-DRCT Global Finals, which will be held in December 2023.

*Examination mode will be announced on our website once it is finalized.
*In case of any change in the schedule of the exam, the revised date will be shared on our site.