--- title: "Coding Competitions for Primary Kids in Australia: A Guide" description: "Coding and computational thinking competitions open to Australian primary students, by year level: Bebras, the CAT, the coding challenge, ICAS, robotics and more." canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/australian-coding-competitions-for-primary-kids source: src/pages/australian-coding-competitions-for-primary-kids.html --- > Coding and computational thinking competitions open to Australian primary students, by year level: Bebras, the CAT, the coding challenge, ICAS, robotics and more. In short Australian primary students can enter Bebras from Year 3, the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking competition and the free Raspberry Pi Foundation Coding Challenge from Year 5, and ICAS Digital Technologies from Year 2. Team options include RoboCup Junior, FIRST LEGO League from Year 1 and Young ICT Explorers from Year 3. Bebras and the CAT need no coding experience, according to the Australian Maths Trust. Where to start ## Three courses for young competitors Thinking skills first, then code. Every competition on this page rewards both. [![Problem Solving and Computational Thinking for Kids course thumbnail](/images/problem-solving-kids.webp) CPK / 01 Computational thinking Puzzles, patterns and logic, the exact ground Bebras and the CAT test. Open the syllabus →](/courses/problem-solving-and-computational-thinking-for-kids)[![Scratch Coding for Kids course thumbnail](/images/scratch-kids.webp) CPK / 02 Scratch for kids Block coding that suits the Novice and Explorer coding challenge divisions. Open the syllabus →](/courses/scratch-programming-complete-course)[![Python and AI for Kids course thumbnail](/images/python-kids.webp) CPK / 03 Python and AI for kids For upper primary students ready for text code and the Navigator division. Open the syllabus →](/courses/python-ai-kids-masterclass) By year level ## Which competitions a primary student can enter Year levels are as each organiser publishes them. Most entries go through a school; each linked guide explains how that competition works. | Competition | Primary years | Type | Our guide | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | FIRST LEGO League Explore | Years 1 to 4 (ages 6 to 10) | Team model build, no matches | [FIRST LEGO League](/first-lego-league-australia-coding-help) | | ICAS Digital Technologies | Years 2 to 6 (and Year 7) | Individual paper, 30 to 35 questions | [ICAS Digital Technologies](/icas-digital-technologies-practice) | | Bebras | Years 3 to 6 (and secondary) | Puzzles, alone or in teams of up to four | [AMT competitions](/australian-maths-trust-amc-aio-cat-preparation) | | Young ICT Explorers | Years 3-4 and 5-6 categories | Project, alone or in teams of up to four | [Young ICT Explorers](/young-ict-explorers-project-help) | | GPN Junior (workshops) | Years 3 to 6, Sydney | Free coding program, not a contest | [GPN next steps](/girls-programming-network-next-step-australia) | | FIRST LEGO League Challenge | From Year 4 (age 9) | Team robot season with 2:30 matches | [FIRST LEGO League](/first-lego-league-australia-coding-help) | | Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) | Years 5 and 6 (and secondary) | Individual paper, 60 minutes | [AMT competitions](/australian-maths-trust-amc-aio-cat-preparation) | | Raspberry Pi Foundation Coding Challenge | Years 5 and 6 (and secondary) | Free, 45 minutes, divisions by skill | This page, below | | RoboCup Junior Australia | Primary divisions and entry levels | Team robots: OnStage, Rescue, Soccer | [RoboCup Junior](/robocup-junior-australia-coding-help) | For a month-by-month view of the same competitions, including the secondary ones, see our [Australian competitions calendar](/australian-coding-maths-and-ai-competitions-calendar). Entry fees, where they exist, are set by each organiser and are not shown on this page. The three AMT contests ## Bebras, the CAT and the coding challenge in detail The Australian Maths Trust runs three of the most accessible options for primary students. The details below come from its 2026 pages. | | Bebras | CAT | Raspberry Pi Foundation Coding Challenge | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Primary eligibility | Middle Primary (Years 3 and 4), Upper Primary (Years 5 and 6) | Upper Primary (Years 5 and 6) | From Year 5 | | Time | 60 minutes for Middle Primary, 45 for others | 60 minutes | 45 minutes | | Questions | 15, mixing multiple choice, integer and interactive | Three-stage tasks on test data of growing size | 10 tasks in two sections | | Coding needed? | No | No | Yes, in blocks or text, by chosen division | | 2026 dates | Monday 9 February to Sunday 8 March | 19 to 21 May | 16 to 18 June | | Also worth knowing | Teams of up to four allowed | Free CAT Coding long-form challenge | Free to enter | Bebras is an international computational thinking challenge; the AMT says it involves over 2.9 million students from 60 countries. Bebras Australia began in 2014, was delivered by CSIRO until 2023, and has been run by the AMT since 2024. A follow-up event is held in Term 4 for international Bebras week. The CAT, according to the AMT, uses unique three-stage tasks that encourage students to develop informal algorithms and apply them to test data of increasing size or complexity. It needs no programming experience and suits any maths class. The Raspberry Pi Foundation Coding Challenge was previously delivered as the Coding Challenge and the Oxford University Computing Challenge. Its four divisions are chosen by skill, not age: Novice and Explorer for block-based programmers, Navigator and Trailblazer for text-based programmers. In the coding challenge, questions 1 to 7 are worth 4 marks each and questions 8 to 10 worth 8 marks each. The AMT points to the UK Bebras website for practice challenges. Sources: [AMT Bebras](https://amt.edu.au/bebras); [AMT CAT](https://amt.edu.au/cat); [AMT Raspberry Pi Foundation Coding Challenge](https://amt.edu.au/rpfcc); [AMT 2026 key dates](https://amt.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/2026-Competitions-and-Programs-Key-Dates-Calendar.pdf). Read 7 October 2026. Entry prices printed there are not shown. Puzzle to try ## A sorting network with four cards Computational thinking competitions love puzzles about putting things in order with simple, fixed steps. This one is ours, and needs only four numbered cards and a pencil. ### The rule Lay four cards face up in positions 1 to 4. A "comparator" looks at two positions and swaps the cards if the left one is bigger. Nothing else is allowed. ### The network Compare positions 1 and 2, and 3 and 4. Then 1 and 3, and 2 and 4. Finally 2 and 3. That is five comparators in a fixed order, whatever the cards are. ### The challenge Shuffle the cards and run the five comparators. Do they always end up in order? Try several shuffles, then try to explain why it works. | Step | Compare positions | Cards after the step | | --- | --- | --- | | Start | | 7, 3, 9, 1 | | 1 | 1 and 2 (7 is bigger, swap) | 3, 7, 9, 1 | | 2 | 3 and 4 (9 is bigger, swap) | 3, 7, 1, 9 | | 3 | 1 and 3 (3 is bigger, swap) | 1, 7, 3, 9 | | 4 | 2 and 4 (7 is smaller, no swap) | 1, 7, 3, 9 | | 5 | 2 and 3 (7 is bigger, swap) | 1, 3, 7, 9 | We checked all 24 possible orders of four different cards: this five-step network sorts every one of them. Leave out the last comparator, though, and 16 of the 24 orders finish with the middle two cards the wrong way round, which shows exactly why that step is there. Steps 1 and 2 never touch the same cards, so two children could do them at the same moment, and the same is true of steps 3 and 4. The whole network therefore runs in three rounds of work, where checking every pair one after another, as a simple bubble sort does, takes six comparisons in a row. Doing work at the same time like this is called parallel processing. ### Making it a game Draw four lines on paper, one for each position, and join pairs with short bridges for the comparators. Children walk cards along the lines, swapping at each bridge if needed. With several children as cards, it works in a playground too. For a harder challenge, ask whether any network with only four comparators can sort four cards every time. Exploring that question is real computer science. ### Where it leads The same thinking underlies how computers sort data with many processors at once. It also prepares children for competition questions that ask them to follow fixed rules exactly, a skill Bebras and the CAT both test. Once the card version is easy, children can build the network in Scratch: four variables, five "if bigger then swap" blocks, and a check that the result is sorted. Choosing one ## Picking a first competition, and preparing well The right first competition depends on what a child enjoys and how they like to work. A short, low-pressure one is usually a better start than an ambitious one. | If your child likes | Years 1 and 2 | Years 3 and 4 | Years 5 and 6 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Puzzles and logic | Unplugged puzzles at home | Bebras | Bebras, the CAT | | Building with LEGO | FIRST LEGO League Explore | FIRST LEGO League Explore | FIRST LEGO League Challenge, RoboCup Junior | | Making apps or games | Scratch projects for fun | Young ICT Explorers (Years 3-4) | Young ICT Explorers (Years 5-6), the coding challenge | | Using computers well | Everyday software skills | ICAS Digital Technologies | ICAS Digital Technologies | Our classes teach the thinking these competitions reward: reading instructions carefully, spotting patterns, tracing steps, and building small working programs in Scratch and later Python. Practice uses our own puzzles, never copied competition papers. For team events, we teach children to program and debug; the team's robot or project stays the team's own work. We are independent of every organiser on this page and do not enter students, run competitions or handle results. Most entries go through schools, and each organiser explains how families can take part. We do not promise a score, a certificate level or a place. For a primary child, the main value of a first competition is the experience of thinking hard and enjoying it. Growing as a young coder ## Four rungs through primary school Children move at their own pace; this is the usual order. | Around | Rung | The sign it is secure | | --- | --- | --- | | Years 1 and 2 | 1. Follows exact steps | Carries out a short sequence of instructions without skipping | | Years 3 and 4 | 2. Spots patterns | Predicts what comes next in a sequence or puzzle | | Years 4 and 5 | 3. Builds working programs | Makes a Scratch project that does what was planned | | Years 5 and 6 | 4. Designs algorithms | Writes a step-by-step method and tests it on new cases | ### After a first competition Ask which question was most fun and which was most confusing. Both answers point to what to explore next. Keep the focus on enjoyment and effort. A primary child's first result says little about later ability. ### Maths competitions too For maths contests at primary level, see our [guide to maths competitions for primary kids](/australian-maths-competitions-for-primary-kids). For online coding lessons, see [coding classes for kids in Australia](/online-coding-classes-for-kids-australia). The catalogue ## Nine courses for primary coders From unplugged thinking to first text code. Each card opens a full syllabus. I ### Thinking Bebras and the CAT CPK / TH / 01 #### Computational thinking Logic and patterns first. [Open the syllabus](/courses/problem-solving-and-computational-thinking-for-kids) CPK / TH / 02 #### Mental maths for kids Number sense for puzzles. [Open the syllabus](/courses/mental-maths-mastery-kids) CPK / TH / 03 #### Maths through coding Maths and code together. [Open the syllabus](/courses/maths-through-coding)II ### Blocks Novice and Explorer coders CPK / BL / 01 #### Scratch for kids Games and stories in blocks. [Open the syllabus](/courses/scratch-programming-complete-course) CPK / BL / 02 #### Coding for kids Blocks to apps and simple AI. [Open the syllabus](/courses/kids-coding-blocks-masterclass) CPK / BL / 03 #### Game development for kids Scratch, Roblox and Minecraft. [Open the syllabus](/courses/game-development-masterclass-for-kids)III ### First text code Upper primary CPK / TX / 01 #### Python and AI for kids A gentle first text language. [Open the syllabus](/courses/python-ai-kids-masterclass) CPK / TX / 02 #### Web development for kids Pages that do something. [Open the syllabus](/courses/kids-ai-web-development-course) CPK / TX / 03 #### Office skills for kids Everyday software, used well. [Open the syllabus](/courses/microsoft-office-kids-mastery) How lessons run ## Short, lively online classes after school Lessons are taught live by teachers in India. Australia is ahead of India on the clock: Adelaide by four hours in winter and five in summer, Brisbane by four and a half all year. A class after an Australian school day falls in the Indian afternoon, so younger children can learn at a sensible hour. After school Puzzles and Scratch for younger children. Saturday morning A longer build or a puzzle set. Before a competition Practice with our own puzzles in the competition style. ### Play first Young children learn best through puzzles and making things. ### Our own puzzles Competition-style practice written by us, never copied. ### Classes Fifteen to twenty children at a similar level. ### One-to-one option For a child who needs a different pace. ### Team-friendly We teach the coding; teams keep their own projects. ### No result promised Organisers set and mark every competition. Student work ## Projects our students have made Made because they wanted to, not for a contest. More in the [student labs](/student-labs). ![NutriLife AI nutrition coach project screenshot](/images/projects/nutrilife.webp) AI and ML #### NutriLife An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target. by Bhavya · [Open it](https://nutrilife-bhavya.lovable.app) ![Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot](/images/projects/misti.webp) AI and ML #### Misti A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student. by Harshit · [Open it](https://misti.modernagecoders.com) ![GuardianX AI internet safety assistant screenshot](/images/projects/guardianx.webp) AI and ML #### GuardianX An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online. by Vivaan · [Open it](https://guardianx-cybersaver.lovable.app) ![SkyCast weather forecast application screenshot](/images/projects/skycast.webp) Web app #### SkyCast A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location. by Krish Fees ## Fees Classes are billed per month in US dollars, our rate for families outside India. There is no sign-up charge and no fixed term. Competition entries, where they cost anything, are paid to the organisers, usually through schools. Free first class USD 0 no card required - A first class at no charge - A short puzzle and coding check - No card details Book it Group batch USD 100 a month, billed in US dollars - Fifteen to twenty children at one level - The same teacher each week - Puzzles and projects shared - A certificate at the end Start here One to one USD 150 a month, billed in US dollars - A teacher for one child - A plan matched to the child's pace - Times that suit the family Enquire What families say ## Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews From our Google listing, unedited. ★★★★★ "The one step solution for my son. Modern Age Coders make learning coding so simple that kids love it. The teachers explain complex concepts clearly with practical exercises and interactive content." Ria Mukherjee Parent ★★★★★ "Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease." Samriddha Mondal Student ★★★★★ "One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development." Vansh Agarwal Student ★★★★★ "My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative." Sonam Oswal Parent of Dhairya ★★★★★ "Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation." Sonu Goyal Parent ★★★★★ "I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding." Ritu Kedia Parent Questions about primary coding competitions ## What parents and teachers ask ### Is there a coding competition for primary students in Australia? Yes, several. Bebras from Year 3, the CAT and the Raspberry Pi Foundation Coding Challenge from Year 5, ICAS Digital Technologies from Year 2, plus team events such as RoboCup Junior, FIRST LEGO League and Young ICT Explorers. ### Which competitions need no coding? Bebras and the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking competition need no coding experience, according to the Australian Maths Trust. ICAS Digital Technologies includes some programming questions but is mostly about digital skills. ### Is any primary coding competition free? The Raspberry Pi Foundation Coding Challenge, run in Australia through the AMT, is free. GPN Junior workshops in Sydney are free too, though they are a program rather than a competition. ### What is a sorting network? A fixed set of compare-and-swap steps that puts any list of a given length in order. Four items can be sorted by five comparators done in three rounds. ### What is Bebras? An international computational thinking challenge delivered in Australia by the Australian Maths Trust. In 2026 it ran from 9 February to 8 March, with 60 minutes for Years 3 and 4 and 45 minutes for older divisions. ### What are the coding challenge divisions? Novice and Explorer for block-based programmers, Navigator and Trailblazer for text-based programmers. Students choose by skill, not age. ### Can Year 1 or 2 children take part in anything? FIRST LEGO League Explore is for ages 6 to 10 (Years 1 to 4), and ICAS Digital Technologies starts with an Introductory paper for Year 2. ### How do children enter? Usually through their school. Each organiser explains its own entry process, and some team events can be entered through community groups. ### Do you prepare children for these competitions? We teach the thinking and coding skills they reward, with our own practice puzzles. We are independent of every organiser and do not promise any result. ### What happens in the free class? Your child tries a short puzzle and a small Scratch task with a teacher, and you get honest advice on which competition might suit them. Related pages ## More for primary families Competitions, coding and maths for younger students. ### [Maths competitions for primary kids](/australian-maths-competitions-for-primary-kids) The maths side of the same picture. ### [Competitions calendar](/australian-coding-maths-and-ai-competitions-calendar) Every contest by month. ### [ICAS Digital Technologies](/icas-digital-technologies-practice) Papers for Years 2 to 7. ### [Bebras practice](/bebras-challenge-australia-practice) Original puzzles in the Bebras style. ### [AIO preparation](/australian-informatics-olympiad-preparation) For older students who want real programming contests. ### [Coding for 7 and 8 year olds](/coding-classes-for-7-and-8-year-olds-australia) What lessons look like at that age. ### [Coding classes for kids](/online-coding-classes-for-kids-australia) Live online classes explained. ### [Coding classes in Australia](/coding-classes-in-australia) The national guide. Start here ## Book a free class for your child Tell us your child's year level and what they enjoy. The free class tries one competition-style puzzle and one small coding task, then suggests a good first competition. Curious about the courses first? Each syllabus is listed on the [course atlas](/course-atlas), and [how we teach](/how-we-teach) shows a typical class. [WhatsApp us](https://wa.me/919123366161?text=Hello%20Modern%20Age%20Coders%2C%20I%20would%20like%20a%20free%20class%20about%20coding%20competitions%20for%20my%20primary%20school%20child%20in%20Australia.) · [+91 91233 66161](tel:+919123366161) · [connect@modernagecoders.com](mailto:connect@modernagecoders.com) We usually reply fastest on WhatsApp. It is an Indian number because our school operates from India; there is no Australian branch. ### Want a class sooner? Book a priority demo A priority demo is a full class of about 45 to 60 minutes. After the class the mentor sends a written skill report and a personal learning roadmap on WhatsApp. If you enrol, the demo fee is adjusted against your first month's fee. Share your demo Order ID with us on WhatsApp and we take it off. [Book a priority demo](/book-demo) ## Keep exploring Modern Age Coders ### Related courses and guides - [Australian Curriculum Digital Technologies Help](/australian-curriculum-digital-technologies-help) - [Aura Type - Master Your Typing Flow](/aura) - [Student Hackathons in Australia: Who Can Enter, How to Prepare](/australian-student-hackathons) - [ATAR Explained for Coding Students](/atar-explained-for-coding-students) - [Beat The Babu: The Fastest 90-Second Math Challenge Game](/beat-the-babu) - [Astro Pi Mission Zero Help](/astro-pi-mission-zero-and-space-lab-help) - [Winter Coding Camp for Kids 2026 (Ages 6–11)](/winter-coding-camp-kids) - [How Computer Vision Works](/how-computer-vision-works) - [Big Bang Competition Project Help](/big-bang-competition-project-help) ### Learn more - [Coding Olympiad Medal Track: IOQI, ZIO, INOI, IOI, Bebras](/coding-olympiad-medal-track) - [CBSE Computational Thinking & AI for Kids (Class 3-8)](/courses/cbse-computational-thinking-and-ai-course-for-kids-classes-3-to-8) - [Coding Classes for 5 and 6 Year Olds in Australia](/coding-classes-for-5-and-6-year-olds-australia) - [Online Maths Tuition for Kids in the UK](/online-maths-tuition-for-kids-in-uk) ### Free resources - [HTML & CSS Tutorial: Build Websites from Scratch](/resources/html-and-css) - [Operators in C++](/resources/cpp/operators-in-cpp) - [Responsive Design and Media Queries](/resources/html-and-css/responsive-design-and-media-queries) - [Templates - Function and Class Templates | C++ Tutorial](/resources/cpp/templates-in-cpp) ### From the blog - [Coding for Kids: Guides for Parents](/blog/topic/kids-coding) - [30+ Scratch Project Ideas for Kids: Starter Projects to Advanced Games](/blog/30-plus-scratch-project-ideas-kids-fun-coding-beginner-advanced) - [What Is Blockly? Block Coding for Kids, Explained](/blog/what-is-blockly-for-kids) - [Coding for 7 Year Olds: What to Learn](/blog/coding-for-7-year-olds-what-how-kids-should-learn-programming) ### Start here - [What Modern Age Coders families say](/love) - [Book a free demo class with Modern Age Coders](/book-demo) Free class[Priority demo](/book-demo)[Call us](tel:+919123366161) --- *Canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/australian-coding-competitions-for-primary-kids*