InfoCode

China · NOI series and GESP

China informatics pathway
GESP, CSP-J/S, NOIP, provincial selection, NOI and IOI

The main route is CCF's Informatics Olympiad (NOI series); GESP is optional, and a high C++ score can exempt CSP-J/S Round 1; other whitelisted contests have no official link to the main route. Select a box to jump to its explanation.

Open the interactive diagram

Three routes

Entry · GESP Programming Ability Certification (optional)

CCF's programming level certification; not a contest.

GESP Levels 1–8 → (high C++ Level 7/8 scores) exemption from CSP-J/S Round 1

Main route · Informatics Olympiad (NOI series)

An extracurricular academic activity hosted by CCF; CSP-J/S is a certification, competitions start at NOIP, and NOI is on the Ministry of Education whitelist.

CSP-J/S → NOIP → provincial team selection → NOI → national training team → IOI

Parallel contests · Other whitelisted and provincial contests

No official link to the main route: no exemptions and no bonus points.

Independent; the modeling contest E4/E5 only gives a difficulty reference

Stages and details

GESP Programming Ability Certification

Organizer
China Computer Federation (CCF)
Nature
A programming level certification, not a contest; levels 1–8 can be taken in block-based programming, Python or C++.
Open to
Young learners; the official minimum age is not stated. The first attempt starts at Level 1; a score above 90 on one level allows skipping one level.
Time
March, June, September and December each year (the December 2026 session moved to the 26th).
Links
C++ Level 7 with ≥80 or Level 8 with ≥60 may apply for exemption from CSP-J Round 1; Level 8 with ≥80 may exempt CSP-J or CSP-S Round 1 (choose one). Valid only in the same year, requires age 12 or above, and is capped at 10% of normal registrations per province.
Can show
Command of the syntax and algorithms in that GESP level's syllabus under exam conditions (objective questions plus 2 programming tasks).
Cannot show
Whether the learner can independently solve unfamiliar, open-ended problems; contest-level algorithm skills. A high score only counts for CSP Round 1 exemption in the same year.

Follow the official notice for the current year: GESP minimum age; Details of eligibility for skipping levels.

Sources: gesp.ccf.org.cn (1) · gesp.ccf.org.cn (2) · gesp.ccf.org.cn (3) · gesp.ccf.org.cn (4) · gesp.ccf.org.cn (5)

CSP-J / CSP-S Round 1

Organizer
China Computer Federation (CCF)
Nature
A software ability certification, not a contest; results are called Level 1, 2 or 3, not awards. Round 1 is a written test.
Open to
People who turn 12 by September 1 of that year; not open to primary pupils under 12.
Time
September each year (September 19, 2026).
Links
Linked from GESP: high C++ Level 7/8 scores may apply for Round 1 exemption. Linked to Round 2: according to the province's advancement rules.
Can show
Basic knowledge and code-reading ability for the Junior or Senior level (written test).
Cannot show
Hands-on programming ability (tested only in Round 2); CCF advises against linking certification results to school admission.

Sources: noi.cn (1) · noi.cn (2) · noi.cn (3) · noi.cn (4) · noi.cn (5)

CSP-J / CSP-S Round 2

Organizer
China Computer Federation (CCF)
Nature
A software ability certification, not a contest; Round 2 is a programming test and results are likewise Level 1–3.
Open to
Those whose Round 1 score meets the province's advancement rules, and those exempted from Round 1 via GESP.
Time
Late October each year (October 31, 2026).
Links
Linked to NOIP: most provinces allocate NOIP places by CSP-S Round 2 results (provincial rules differ). CCF advises against linking certification results to school admission.
Can show
Ability to turn problems into correct, efficient programs in a timed programming test (at Junior or Senior difficulty).
Cannot show
This is a certification level, not a contest award; it does not represent R&D, research or product ability.

Sources: noi.cn (1) · noi.cn (2) · noi.cn (3) · noi.cn (4)

NOIP National Olympiad in Informatics in Provinces

Organizer
Hosted by CCF, organized by provinces
Nature
The provincial league of the Informatics Olympiad, with first, second and third prizes.
Open to
All categories of NOIP 2026 are limited to enrolled high-school students.
Time
November 28, 2026, 8:30–13:00; 4.5 hours, 4 programming tasks.
Links
Provincial selection eligibility depends on NOIP results, which count for at least 30% of the provincial selection total.
Can show
Algorithmic contest performance among high-school students in the province (ranked awards).
Cannot show
Cannot alone represent R&D, research or product ability; nor does it show that training produced those abilities.

Follow the official notice for the current year: The province's exact places and selection conditions follow its official 2026 notice.

Sources: noi.cn (1) · noi.cn (2) · noi.cn (3)

Provincial selection (NOI provincial team)

Organizer
Provincial NOI organizers
Nature
Selects the provincial team that represents the province at NOI.
Open to
Enrolled high-school students with mainland school registration, not in their final year, under 19.
Time
Set by each province; team lists are reported to CCF by early April.
Links
Follows NOIP and leads to NOI.
Can show
Joining the strongest group of contestants in the province (the provincial team).
Cannot show
As above: contest results only cover timed algorithmic tasks with clear rules.

Sources: noi.cn

NOI National Olympiad in Informatics

Organizer
China Computer Federation (CCF)
Nature
The national final of the Informatics Olympiad, on the Ministry of Education whitelist (listed as the National Middle School Informatics Olympiad, for general high schools).
Open to
Provincial team members from each province.
Time
July each year (July 18–24, 2026).
Links
The top 50 join the national training team; silver or above is the threshold for most universities' Strong Foundation Plan exceptions (check each university's rules).
Can show
Top-level algorithmic contest performance nationwide (timed tasks with clear rules).
Cannot show
R&D, research or product ability; ability to handle real problems with unclear requirements and multiple goals.

Follow the official notice for the current year: Eligibility of D/E category trial participants in the summer camp, including whether middle-school students are allowed; University-by-university differences in Strong Foundation Plan thresholds (only Tsinghua checked).

Sources: noi.cn (1) · moe.gov.cn · noi.cn (2) · join-tsinghua.edu.cn

Nat. team

Organizer
CCF (NOI Scientific Committee)
Nature
Selection and training: the NOI top 50 are selected, and the national team is chosen through multiple exams and interviews.
Open to
The NOI top 50 contestants.
Time
The training camp opens in autumn (September 26, 2026) and trains in Beijing in December.
Links
Training team members qualify for university recommendation; next comes the winter camp / national team selection.
Can show
Top national algorithmic contest performance; training team members qualify for university recommendation.
Cannot show
As with NOI: not equal to R&D, research or product ability.

Follow the official notice for the current year: The official calendar says "NOI Training Camp 2026: December", which conflicts with the opening news; this page follows the news.

Sources: noi.cn (1) · noi.cn (2) · moe.gov.cn

Winter camp / national team selection

Organizer
CCF (NOI Scientific Committee)
Nature
The top 30 by training results enter the winter camp selection; the top 6 by total score are interviewed; 4 national team members are finally chosen.
Open to
National training team members.
Time
The winter camp is during the winter break (February 6–13, 2026, Qingdao).
Links
The national team competes at IOI.
Can show
The highest level required by national team selection (4 people).
Cannot show
As with NOI: not equal to R&D, research or product ability.

Follow the official notice for the current year: The full IOI 2027 national team selection rules were not available this round; this page uses the IOI 2026 rules (quasi-official PDF).

Sources: qoj.ac · noi.cn

IOI International Olympiad in Informatics

Organizer
International contest; China's team is selected and formed by CCF
Nature
International contest; China sends 4 contestants.
Open to
Members of China's national team.
Time
Around August each year (August 9–16, 2026, Uzbekistan).
Links
Follows the winter camp / national team selection.
Can show
World-class timed algorithmic contest performance.
Cannot show
As with NOI: contest results have limited explanatory power for professional performance.

Sources: noi.cn (1) · noi.cn (2)

Scientific Inquiry Modeling Ability Contest E4 / E5

Organizer
Beijing Normal University
Nature
A Ministry of Education whitelisted contest; E4 is the popular category and E5 the challenge category for computer modeling.
Open to
Lower primary through high school (including vocational high schools).
Time
The 2026 E4/E5 second round runs October 20–November 1; the national round is provisionally in early December, subject to the official site.
Links
No exemptions or bonus points. The official difficulty reference: E4 ≈ GESP Levels 2–6, E5 ≈ CSP-J to CSP-S; a difficulty reference only, not a pathway.
Can show
Ability to complete scenario modeling tasks with programming and explain the approach (the second round includes a 20% technical defense).
Cannot show
Equivalence to NOI-series results or to a specific GESP/CSP level (the official source only gives a difficulty reference).

Sources: moe.gov.cn · simcc.bnu.edu.cn (1) · simcc.bnu.edu.cn (2)

National Youth Information Literacy Contest

Organizer
Chinese Institute of Electronics
Nature
A Ministry of Education whitelisted contest (listed under the World Robot Conference Youth Robot Design and Information Literacy Contest); its programming track is the Algorithm Application Theme Contest.
Open to
Primary grades 1–3, grades 4–6, and middle school.
Time
Preliminary in May, second round in July, final in August.
Links
No official link to the NOI series or GESP (no exemptions, no bonus points); it references the institute's own level standards.
Can show
Programming and algorithmic literacy within this contest's syllabus (compared by division).
Cannot show
Any correspondence to GESP or CSP levels; there is no official link.

Sources: ceic.kpcb.org.cn (1) · ceic.kpcb.org.cn (2) · moe.gov.cn

Guangdong Zhihui Youth Programming Invitational

Organizer
Guangdong Institute of Electronics
Nature
The Guangdong authorized event of a national contest, held only in Guangdong.
Open to
Grades 1–9.
Time
Preliminary in June, final in July (2026).
Links
No official link.
Can show
Programming performance within the same division in Guangdong.
Cannot show
Nationwide performance; there is no official link.

Follow the official notice for the current year: Which national contest it is authorized by.

Sources: edu.gd.gov.cn

Official links and difficulty references

Difficulty references are not pathways; parallel contests have no official link to the main route.

Age and school-stage boundaries

Frequently asked questions

Is GESP required?

GESP is optional: you can enter CSP-J/S Round 1 without taking GESP.

Is CSP-J a prerequisite for CSP-S?

CSP-J is not a prerequisite for CSP-S; the official rules set no grade restriction between J and S.

Is there a level-by-level mapping between GESP and CSP-J/S?

The official sources give no level-by-level correspondence between GESP and CSP-J/S, so the diagram does not draw one.

Sources

Links point to organizers or official sources; InfoCode does not replace official eligibility decisions.