Registration

1. The Test Page structure will change this year. See the US Sudoku Team Qualifying pages for a preview. Please note that entry, scoring, bonus, and tie-breaking rules will change from what you see below.
   

2. Registrants as of August 8 will receive an email confirmation at about that time; registrants after that time will see a confirmation web page immediately after successful registration. Either way, this notification will give you the URL of the official Test Page. This will be your only notice of this page; go to it immediately and bookmark it.
   

3. One day prior to the Test, the Test Page will be updated with links to Advance Instructions and the encrypted Test, both in PDF/Acrobat 5.0 format.
   

4. The test will start on Saturday, August 21 at 1pm EDT (GMT-4). At that time, the decryption key for the full Test will become available via the Test Page. You will have 2 1/2 hours to solve as many puzzles as you can, and submit your answers via the Answer page linked at the bottom of the Test Page.
   
   To reduce network traffic, please do not refresh the password page until the test starting time (using the server timer page). Also you should ensure that you web browser will actually refresh the page when requested (we have received reports from previous years that the AOL browser does not do this properly).
    

5. Outside help of any kind is not permitted. This means: no assistance of any kind from any other person; also no books, calculators, computers, or tools other than items explicitly permitted. You are allowed to use writing implements, erasers, paper, scissors, and any items explicitly required to solve a specific problem. (All such items are listed on the Hints and Tips page.)
   

6. In scoring, each correct answer will earn the number of points indicated in the puzzle. An incomplete or incorrect answer will incur a penalty of 5 points. Leaving an answer blank will score 0 points. Some puzzles may be open-ended, and they will be so noted. (Penalties will not apply to these.) Your final score is the total of all points accumulated, minus any penalties.
   
   The points are a rough indication of a puzzle's difficulty. Some puzzles may include bonus points, which reflect the organizers' desire that you attempt to solve specific puzzles and have no bearing on difficulty or penalty.
   

7. Answers must be submitted within the 2 1/2 hours time limit. Late submissions will be penalized 10 points for each minute (or part thereof) that they arrive after the deadline. You may submit multiple answer forms. Your official entry will be the last answer given for each puzzle. You may submit your answer page early to avoid any time crunch near the deadline. You are then free to submit additional answer pages.
   

8. Ties will be broken using the following rules in order (point totals here include bonus points; note that 40+ point problems are not prioritized):
   
   1. Most 35-point puzzles solved
   2. Most 30-point puzzles solved
   3. Most 25-point puzzles solved
   4. Most 20-point puzzles solved
   5. Most 15-point puzzles solved
   6. Most 10-point puzzles solved
   7. Most under-10 and over-35 point puzzles solved

   8. The earliest timestamp on the last completed puzzle.
      

9. The organizers do not expect any technical problems with the Test. If you do encounter a problem that is likely causing trouble for many contestants, check the Technical Support Alerts page. If you have a problem that is most likely affecting only you, you may call one of the following telephone numbers: 650-302-4898 or 914-769-9128. Officials will not, however, answer any questions regarding the puzzles themselves.
   

10. All scores are subject to review for rules compliance. Winners may be asked provide a copy of their passport ID page to prove nationality, and to sign an affidavit confirming that they did, in fact, abide by the rules of the competition. The organizers reserve the right to disqualify any contestant if, in their sole judgment, they believe the rules have been violated.
    

11. In case of a dispute, protest, or other judgment, the opinion of the judges is final.

The Results and Winners

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