Testing

Want to test problems created for CodeChef contests? We need a bunch of hardcore problem solvers to solve and scour our new problems for errors. Our fearless Problem Testers certify the quality of problems before the rest of the programming world can even have a look at them! We currently need Problem Testers for our Long Contests, Cook-Offs and LunchTimes. If you think you have what it takes, read the rules and apply to become a Problem Tester.
Roles & Responsibilities
  • For every problem set you test, you must provide:
    • Solutions to all the problems with appropriate comments for understanding.
    • A list of suggestions to improve the set of Test Cases.
    • Verify and suggest appropriate Time Limits for test cases such that solutions in various programming languages should pass.
    • Suggest modifications to the constraints on the input.
    • Your opinion about the actual difficulty levels of the problems, which will be verified and approved by the CodeChef Admin.
    • Make sure that problems of right difficulty levels and topics for a set are used. Suggest changes to the problems or replacement of a problem to have appropriate difficulty levels and varied topics.
  • No cheating! You are not allowed to participate in a contest that includes any of the problems you test. Also, you are not allowed to share any information about the problems or answers with anyone.
  • We're serious. Before you can test any problem, we require that you sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement.
  • Not all changes are to be done by the tester. He has to identify the correction and get it done by the setter. In case of a setter failing to do so and time not permitting, the tester will have to escalate the same to the CodeChef admin immediately and may make the correction himself.
  • For the contest that you test, you must be available during the contest to resolve any issue pertaining to any of the problems of that contest. You will have to help to reply / moderate / approve the comments on the problems. For short contests, you have to be online during the whole duration of the contest. For Long contest, you have to login every day to approve/ reply comments.
  • For the contest that you test, you must also answer the questions or any queries pertaining to the problems that you have tested after the end of the contest on the problem discussion forum. Most of the questions are asked within a week of the contest ending.
  • The tester will have to verify the editorials for the correctness, before the editorialist posts it.
  • The tester has to make sure that the total number of test files for a problem should be kept to minimum (preferably not exceeding 10 for the hardest problem and not exceeding the number of subtasks for the easy ones). If needed, more test data can be added to the existing test files. (The reason being the judge get overloaded if there are more test files, it overloads the judge.)
  • Under the exceptional situation of your tested problem having identified to have weak test data after the contest, you have to add additional test data to improve the problem in the practice section.
  • In case there are two testers for one contest, each tester will be paid 75% of the amount per problem.
Frequency and Schedule
If you want to test for any of our contests, please let us know well in advance as per the following schedule:
LONG CONTEST
40 days before the contest
COOK-OFF
30 days before the contest
LUNCHTIME
30 days before the contest
Compensation
PROBLEM DIFFICULTY
Cakewalk USD 6
Simple USD 8
Easy USD 15
Easy-Medium USD 20
Medium USD 25
Medium-Hard USD 40
Hard USD 55