If your child is starting competitive programming in China, CSP-J/S informatics is almost certainly the first milestone you will hear about, and understanding it early makes the whole journey far less confusing.
CSP-J/S stands for the Certified Software Professional certification for non-professionals, organized by the China Computer Federation (CCF). First launched in 2019, it is a nationwide assessment of algorithm and programming ability that is open to anyone who registers. For most students, it functions as the official entry point into the Chinese competitive programming and informatics olympiad system.
The Two Divisions: CSP-J and CSP-S
The certification is split into two levels of difficulty that students can attempt independently or even at the same time.
- CSP-J (Junior / entry-level): Designed for first-time participants and students with limited competition experience. It emphasizes foundational programming and basic algorithms rather than original algorithm design.
- CSP-S (Senior / advanced level): Aimed at students who already have competition experience and want to push further. Problems may require applying or adapting algorithms to specific situations.
Both divisions test algorithmic thinking and hands-on coding, and the standard language used is C++. A student may register for both CSP-J and CSP-S in the same cycle, completing each division's rounds separately.
How the Two Rounds Work
CSP-J/S is run in two stages within a single year, and you must clear the first to advance to the second.
- Round one (knowledge assessment): A written-style test covering general and practical computer science concepts, such as number-base conversion, data structures like linked lists, and reading code to predict its output. In some regions this round is administered on a computer rather than on paper.
- Round two (programming): A practical contest where students write and debug programs on a computer. The CSP-J session runs roughly three and a half hours and the CSP-S session about four hours, each typically with four problems.
Only students who score well enough in round one advance to round two. After round two, the CCF issues certificates based on each group's results and the announced score lines. Because the exact thresholds, schedule, and fees change every year, always confirm current details on the official CCF certification site before registering.
Where CSP-J/S Fits in the Bigger Picture
CSP-J/S does not exist in isolation. It is the first rung on a well-defined ladder that leads to the most prestigious informatics competitions in China and internationally:
CSP-J/S → NOIP (provincial selection) → NOI (national olympiad) → IOI (international olympiad)
Strong CSP-S performers can qualify for the NOIP provincial selection, top NOIP finishers advance to the NOI national olympiad, and the very best earn a path toward the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI). This is why families treat CSP-J/S seriously: it is both a credential in its own right and the gateway to everything that follows. The skills it rewards, structured problem-solving and clean C++ implementation, overlap heavily with global contests such as USACO, which makes it excellent preparation for a broader competitive profile. You can explore the full landscape of contests on our competitions overview.
How to Start Preparing
The fastest progress comes from building three habits early: solid C++ fundamentals, consistent practice on algorithm problems, and timed mock contests that mirror the round-two format. Many students begin with simpler problem sets and gradually layer in data structures, recursion, dynamic programming, and graph algorithms. Working through past CSP papers under exam conditions is one of the most effective ways to close the gap between knowing a concept and applying it under pressure.
At BIAA (标奥), our coaches guide students from their first lines of code through advanced olympiad training, with a curriculum mapped directly to the CSP-J/S informatics pathway. If you are ready to take the first step, learn more about our competitive programming program and start building the foundation for CSP-J/S and beyond.