The official purpose of the test is to select some members of the U.S. Sudoku team, to participate in the 2013 World Sudoku Championship (Beijing, China, October 12-14, 2013). This test has always been open to unofficial participation to all puzzlers world-wide. This year we are proud to be an official part of the WPF Sudoku Grand Prix.
All contestants must register to participate in this online championship, and must login to submit answers. Contestants who registered anytime on or before May 22 (including those for the 2010-2012 team qualifying tests), will receive an email with a reminder of the test schedule and their user name. See the Privacy Policy regarding our use of registration and other information collected by this site.
Starting on Monday, May 13, you can download the Puzzle Instructions (also available from the WPF site), containing the instructions, sample puzzles, and solutions for each of the puzzle types appearing on the test.
There is also a Practice Test, which uses the same formats and procedures as the official qualifying test. There are new rules this year, so everyone should try all of the procedures described here using the Practice Test (including downloading, decryption, printing, answer submission, and answer resubmission).
On Friday, May 24, one day prior to the US qualifying test, you will download the encrypted test file to your local computer, and save it until you start the test.
At this time, you can also download the Answer Keys document, which lists all of the puzzle titles in order, along with their points and "answer key" text. An "answer key" is the description of what you must enter into the Answer Page to demonstrate that you've solved the complete puzzle. This text will correspond to the two arrows shown next the puzzle grid.
You should review the Puzzle Instructions and Answer Keys, so that on the day of the test you are familiar with the procedures and are ready to solve puzzles!
For USA Team Qualifying:
For WPF Sudoku Grand Prix only:
Your last Answer Page submission will be time-stamped and scored. Your final score is the total of all points accumulated, including bonus.
Ranking and tie-breaking will be based on the following rules in order:
Outside solving help of any kind is not permitted. This includes but is not limited to: assistance of any kind from any other person; prepared notes, books, calculators, computers, or tools other than items explicitly permitted.
You are allowed to use writing implements, eraser, blank paper (including commercial graph paper), ruler, scissors, and tape.
All entries and scores are subject to review for rules compliance. USA 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.
In case of a dispute, protest, or other judgment, the decision of the judges is final.
The organizers do not expect any technical problems with the operation of championship. If you do encounter a problem that is likely causing trouble for many contestants, check the Qualifying Test home page. If you have a problem that is most likely affecting only you, you may call the test hotline number: (+1) 650-302-4898. Officials will not, however, answer any questions regarding the puzzles themselves.
The official end of the test is the end of the WPF Sudoku Grand Prix window: 1am (EDT), or 5am (UTC) on May 28. Solutions to the test puzzles will be posted later that day.
The USA contestants with the top five unaudited scores will be notified within one day of the test. Within two days, all contestants will receive an email or online summary of their score, and will have a 1-day window to respond with any scoring protests. Results will be posted on this web site no later than Friday May 31.
There are three open positions for the USA Sudoku Team. First priority will go to any US citizen placing in the Top-10 of the WPF Sudoku Grand Prix. Remaining positions will be filled based on the results the this qualifying test. The U.S. Sudoku Team plans to compete at the World Sudoku Championship in Beijing, China, October 12-14.
Unofficial scores for participants from other countries will be posted at the same time as the USA scores, and may be forwarded to the corresponding WSC team organizer, upon request, for consideration. If there is no organized team for your country, you may be contacted regarding individual WSC participation. All scores will be transmitted to the WPF for those contestants registered to participate in the WPF Sudoku Grand Prix.