Join the Scratch Olympiad to showcase your coding creativity, solve fun challenges, and connect with a global community of young programmers. This competition offers an exciting opportunity for growth, whether you're a beginner or experienced coder.

High school is a great time to push your boundaries, explore new skills, and gain experiences that help you grow as both a student and a person. One exciting opportunity for growth is participating in the Scratch Olympiad—a global competition that challenges students to use Scratch programming to solve problems and express their creativity. This competition is much more than just a chance to code—it’s a pathway to developing valuable life skills. Here are eight tips to consider before joining the Scratch Olympiad

1. Familiarize Yourself with Official Resources

Before starting your project, explore the official Scratch Olympiad website to understand the rules, submission guidelines, and judging criteria. You need to be fully aware of what’s expected of your project, including how it will be evaluated. Pay special attention to deadlines, as missing these could disqualify your work. This foundation will keep you on the right track from the start and help ensure that your project meets all necessary requirements.

Website: https://creativeprogramming.org/

2. Study Past Winning Entries

Analyzing previous winning entries is one of the best ways to understand what sets top projects apart. Visit the Scratch website and browse projects that have won in past Olympiads. Take note of the creativity, storytelling, and coding techniques they used. Consider the overall design, complexity, and interactivity of these projects. By understanding what made these entries successful, you can incorporate similar elements into your own project while adding your unique twist.

Link: https://scratch.mit.edu/

3. Join the Scratch Community

The Scratch community is a vibrant, supportive space where you can connect with other Scratch enthusiasts from around the world. By joining the forums, you can ask questions, share ideas, and get feedback on your projects. Participating in community discussions can provide valuable insights into creative coding and problem-solving strategies. Additionally, engaging with other participants helps you stay motivated and inspired throughout the competition.

Website: https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/ 

4. Utilize Scratch Tutorials

Even if you’ve used Scratch before, there’s always more to learn. Scratch’s official tutorials cover a wide range of topics, from beginner-level introductions to advanced coding techniques like creating complex animations, integrating sound, and adding interactive elements. Going through these tutorials can help you sharpen your skills and add depth to your project. You’ll also gain the confidence to tackle more challenging aspects of the competition, such as integrating creative designs or complex coding logic.

Tutorials: https://scratch.mit.edu/ideas 

5. Don’t Forget About User Experience

User experience (UX) is a key factor in how your project will be received. A technically advanced project that’s difficult or frustrating to use won’t score as well as one that’s intuitive and engaging. Consider how users will interact with your project. Is the navigation smooth? Are the instructions clear? Think about what makes apps and games enjoyable to use and try to incorporate those principles into your project. Resources like UX Collective can offer guidance on creating user-friendly designs.

Resource: https://uxdesign.cc/

6. Plan and Prototype Early

Starting early gives you the advantage of time to experiment, test, and refine your project. Begin by sketching out your ideas—whether it’s a game, story, or interactive experience. Create a storyboard or flowchart to visualize how your project will progress. Prototyping early allows you to test different ideas and find out what works best. Tools like Lucidchart can help you organize your thoughts and structure your project efficiently.

Lucidchart: https://www.lucidchart.com/

7. Explore Scratch Extensions

One way to stand out in the competition is by using Scratch’s extensions. These extensions add unique functionalities to your project, such as integrating physical devices (like LEGO robots), enabling voice control, or even using video sensing for interactive play. Experimenting with these features can make your project more interactive and dynamic, setting it apart from other entries. Adding innovative features can make your project not just creative but also cutting-edge.

Extensions: https://scratch.mit.edu/extensions

8. Seek Feedback Early and Often

Feedback is critical to improving your project. Start sharing your work-in-progress with trusted friends, mentors, and fellow Scratch community members as early as possible. The earlier you get feedback, the more time you’ll have to make improvements. Regularly presenting your project to others allows you to spot issues you might not have noticed and refine your project based on constructive criticism. Engaging with others will also keep you motivated and ensure you’re on the right path.

Feedback Forum: https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/

Conclusion

With the right preparation and resources, the Scratch Olympiad can be an incredibly rewarding experience. By familiarizing yourself with official guidelines, analyzing past winners, joining the Scratch community, and continually improving through tutorials and feedback, you’ll put yourself in the best position to succeed. Start early, stay focused, and enjoy the creative process—winning might just be a bonus to the amazing learning journey ahead!