--- title: "VEX IQ Programming Help: Coding Tutorial for 2026-27" description: "VEX IQ coding help for 2026-27: solo coding rules in the RECF Engage Tier Takeover manual, segment-and-reset routines, sensor checkpoints and a 60-second plan." canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/vex-iq-programming-help source: src/pages/vex-iq-programming-help.html --- > VEX IQ coding help for 2026-27: solo coding rules in the RECF Engage Tier Takeover manual, segment-and-reset routines, sensor checkpoints and a 60-second plan. In short VEX IQ programming means writing the code a VEX IQ robot runs on its own. In the 2026 to 2027 RECF Engage game, Tier Takeover, a solo coding match lasts 60 seconds with no controller, and teams may split code into segments launched after a reset. Modern Age Coders teaches the coding behind it live online, in a batch or 1-on-1. Learn with a teacher ## Courses for young robot programmers Block coding first, then Python, then the logic and planning a coded run depends on. [![Coding for Kids course thumbnail](/images/kids-coding.webp) VIP / 01 Coding for kids: blocks Ages about 8 to 12. Sequences, events, loops and conditions. Open the syllabus →](/courses/kids-coding-blocks-masterclass)[![Python and AI for Kids course thumbnail](/images/python-kids.webp) VIP / 02 Python for kids Text code once blocks feel slow, with real projects. Open the syllabus →](/courses/python-ai-kids-masterclass)[![Problem Solving and Computational Thinking for Kids course thumbnail](/images/problem-solving-kids.webp) VIP / 03 Problem solving Breaking a task into steps, the core of a coded run. Open the syllabus →](/courses/problem-solving-and-computational-thinking-for-kids) Two programs ## Which VEX IQ competition is my team in for 2026 to 2027? For this season VEX IQ robots appear in two separate programs: the VEX Robotics competitions, and the RECF Engage Robotics Competition run by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation. They have different games, events and championships. | Point | RECF Engage Robotics Competition | VEX Robotics competitions | | --- | --- | --- | | Run by | The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit | VEX Robotics, Inc. | | 2026 to 2027 game | Tier Takeover | Not printed here: the VEX site refused our request | | Hardware | Specific VEX IQ, Hexbug and LEGO electronics and components | Not printed here | | Teams | Two or more students; 12U elementary and 15U middle school | Not printed here | | Championship | The 2027 RECF World Championship in St. Louis | The 2026 to 2027 VEX Robotics World Championship | | Relationship | The manual says Engage is not sponsored by, affiliated with or endorsed by VEX Robotics, Inc. or Innovation First, Inc. | RobotEvents states RECF events with VEX products will not qualify teams for the VEX Robotics World Championship | ### Ask your coach one question Ask: "Which program are we registered in, and where is our game manual?" RECF Engage teams register on RECFevents.org and read their manual on games.recf.org. Teams in VEX’s own competition follow VEX’s manual. The coding ideas on this page work in both, because they are about how to program a robot that runs alone. The rules quoted are from the RECF Engage manual only. ### Why the VEX side is thin here When we tried to read vexrobotics.com, its knowledge base and its coding sites on 31 October 2026, every one returned an access-denied error. We do not work around blocks like that. So this page prints no VEX game name, VEX rule or VEXcode command. Check those directly on VEX’s site, and use what follows for the programming method. Sources: [RECF Robotics Competitions](https://recf.org/teams/recf-robotics-competition/), the [RECF Engage Tier Takeover game manual](https://games.recf.org/engage) and the [RobotEvents](https://www.robotevents.com/) notice, read 31 October 2026. VEX, VEX IQ and VEXcode are trademarks of Innovation First, Inc. We are not connected with RECF, VEX Robotics or Innovation First. Solo coding ## How does a Tier Takeover solo coding match work? In a solo coding match a team has 60 seconds to score using only pre-written code, with up to three members at the field and no controller. Solo matches are not scheduled; each team gets up to five solo attempts per event, split between driving and coding as it likes. | Rule | What the manual says | | --- | --- | | Field | A 6 by 8 foot field; robots collect bean bags and place them in and on matching goals | | Match length | 60 seconds for solo driving, solo coding and alliance matches | | Solo attempts | Up to five per competition, shared between solo driving and solo coding | | Resets | In solo coding, a robot reset can be used as a strategy, with code in small segments each launched from the starting position | | Drive team | In solo coding, team members do not have to stay in the driver box | | Starting size | No larger than 11 inches wide, 20 inches long and 15 inches tall | | Motors | Up to 6 motors per robot | | Points | Floor goal 1, L1 5, L2 10, L3 25 per matching or yellow bean bag; L4 50 per yellow bean bag; a parked robot 25 | ### Why solo coding deserves practice The manual advises teams to complete at least one solo coding match at each event, because some awards consider a team’s solo coding score. A team that only practices driving gives that away. Coding also changes how students think about the robot. A driver corrects mistakes by instinct; a programmer has to predict them, and that is where the real learning sits. ### The code must be the students’ Rule 2.3.1 is clear: "Adults may teach coding concepts, but may not tell students what should or should not be included in their code." Our lessons follow that rule exactly: we teach ideas with our own practice robots and tasks, and students write their team’s code. Coding libraries are allowed as a starting point, but the manual expects teams to change them, explain how their code works and credit outside sources in the engineering notebook. Source: [RECF Engage 2026-2027 game manual](https://games.recf.org/engage) (version 2.0, September 29, 2026). The manual lists a major version 3.0 release for November 10, 2026, so check for later changes. Segments ## How do you code a VEX IQ autonomous run in segments? Break the 60 seconds into short segments, each started from the starting position after a reset, as rule 4.1.2 allows. A short segment is easier to test, and when one fails the rest of the run is not lost. ***A three-segment solo coding run (our pseudocode)**Pseudocode* ``` # Our pseudocode for one solo coding run, in three segments. # Command names are ours; your VEXcode or LEGO tool will spell them differently. segment_A(): # launched from the start position drive_forward(400 mm) turn_right(90 degrees) drive_until(distance_sensor < 80 mm) # stop on a reading, not a guess lift_to(L2) release() # robot reset to the start position by a team member (rule 4.1.2) segment_B(): drive_forward(250 mm) turn_left(45 degrees) if optical_sensor sees RED: lift_to(L2) else: lift_to(FLOOR) release() segment_C(): # the last 6 seconds drive_backward_until(bumper_pressed) stop() # parked in the load zone ``` Our own illustration, not a working program for any particular tool. The structure is the lesson: each segment is short, ends in a known state, and makes at least one decision from a sensor. 1. **List the scoring actions.** Write every action the robot could do in a run, with the points it earns from the manual’s table. 2. **Time each one.** Drive each action by hand five times and write down the slowest time, not the fastest. 3. **Group into segments.** Two or three actions that start from the same place belong in one segment. 4. **End every segment in a known state.** Lift down, claw open, motors stopped, so the reset is quick. 5. **Test one segment ten times.** Count how many of the ten score. Fix the worst segment first. 6. **Practice the resets.** Time spent moving the robot back to the start is part of the 60 seconds, so team members rehearse it. ### Why segments beat one long program A single 60-second program has one failure mode that ruins everything: an early miss leaves the robot in the wrong place for every later step. Segments contain the damage to one part of the run. Segments also make testing honest. A student can run segment B twenty times in ten minutes, which would take an hour if the whole program had to run first. ### Naming and comments We ask students to name segments by what they do, such as `score_red_L2`, and to write one comment line per decision. Judges may ask how the code works, and a readable program is easier to explain. The same habits carry straight into school computer science later, which is part of why we teach them. Sensors ## Which sensors can a VEX IQ robot use, and how should code use them? The Engage manual lists the legal VEX IQ sensors: Color, Optical, Distance, Touch, Gyro, AI Vision and Vision. The programming idea that matters is to stop or decide on a reading, not on a fixed distance or time alone. | Sensor | One use in a coded run (our suggestion) | | --- | --- | | Distance Sensor | Drive until the goal is a set distance away, then stop | | Optical Sensor | Check a bean bag’s color before choosing a goal | | Color Sensor | Detect a colored line or tile edge on the field | | Touch Sensor (bumper) | Back up until the wall is touched, a reliable reset point | | Gyro Sensor | Turn to a heading instead of a guessed motor rotation | | AI Vision and Vision Sensors | Find a bean bag by color in front of the robot; added as legal parts in version 2.0 | **Worked example, a sensor checkpoint (ours).** Suppose a robot must stop 80 mm from a goal. Coded as "drive 600 mm", it stops wherever the wheels say 600 mm, which shifts if the start was a little off or a wheel slipped on a bean bag. Coded as "drive until the distance sensor reads under 80 mm", it stops in the same place relative to the goal every time, whatever happened before. The second version takes one more line and turns a near miss into a score. ### Teaching the idea without a robot Students without a robot at home can still learn sensor logic. In our classes a student writes the same "repeat until" logic in a block coding game, where a sprite moves until it touches a colored edge. When they return to the team robot, the structure is already familiar, and only the sensor block changes. ### Checks before trusting a sensor Print the sensor value on the brain’s screen while moving the robot by hand. If the reading jumps around, the threshold in the code needs a margin. Test under the event’s lighting where possible: optical and vision readings can change between a classroom and a gym. Planning ## How do you plan a 60-second solo coding run for points? Divide each action’s points by its time to find points per second, then fit the best actions into 60 seconds with time to spare. The timings below are invented for teaching; the point values are from the manual. | Action | Points | Our assumed time | Points per second | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Place a matching bean bag on L1 | 5 | 8 seconds | 0.63 | | Place a matching bean bag on L2 | 10 | 14 seconds | 0.71 | | Park in the load zone | 25 | 6 seconds | 4.17 | ### Three plans that all score 60 With these timings we searched every combination in Python. Three plans reach 60 points: five L1 bags, one L2 bag and a park (60 seconds exactly); three L1, two L2 and a park (58 seconds); one L1, three L2 and a park (56 seconds). They score the same on paper, but they are not equal. The last one leaves 4 seconds spare, and a plan with no spare time fails on the first slow reset. ### What the table teaches Parking is worth far more per second than any placement for this robot, so it goes in every plan, and the code for it should be the most reliable segment. For a real team the timings come from their own robot, measured as in the segment steps above. The method stays the same; the numbers are the team’s. ### Measure Slowest of five timed attempts per action. ### Rank Points per second, highest first. ### Fit Fill 60 seconds, keep a few spare. A season plan ## An eight-week coding plan for a VEX IQ club member Our plan for a student who meets their team weekly and adds one live coding lesson a week with us. It assumes the team has a working robot. | Week | Lesson with us | Practice with the team | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Sequences and units: distance, degrees, time | Drive a square and measure the error | | 2 | Loops and repeat-until | Drive until a bumper press, ten times | | 3 | Conditions: if and else | Choose a goal from an optical reading | | 4 | Functions: one segment, one name | Split the run into segments | | 5 | Sensor thresholds and margins | Print readings; set safe thresholds | | 6 | Points per second | Time each action, build the table | | 7 | Debugging: one change at a time | Ten-run reliability counts per segment | | 8 | Explaining code to a judge | Notebook pages on how the code works | ### Blocks or text? Younger students in the 12U group often start with blocks, which let them think about order and logic without typing errors. Many move to text code in the 15U years. Our courses follow the same path: block coding first, then Python. The ideas, not the syntax, are what transfer to the robot. ### The engineering notebook RECF Engage judges look at a notebook documenting the engineering design process. Coding belongs in it: the plan, the test counts and the changes made. We help students learn how to record that well. The notebook and the code remain the team’s own work. Readiness ## Four steps from driving the robot to coding it Many young robotics students can drive well long before they can code a run that scores. These are the steps between. | Step | How it shows | | --- | --- | | 1. Sequencer | Writes a list of moves that runs start to finish | | 2. Sensor user | Stops and decides on readings, not on fixed distances alone | | 3. Segmenter | Splits a run into short named parts, each tested alone | | 4. Planner | Chooses actions by points per second and keeps spare time | ### For parents and coaches Ask your student to explain one segment out loud. If they can say what it does and why, they understand it; if not, the next lesson should start there. Under rule 2.3.1, adults teach concepts but do not decide what goes into the team’s code. That is how we teach too. ### For students Count successes out of ten for every segment. A segment that scores seven times in ten is worth fixing before adding a new one. Keep the last working version of your code before every change. Going back is faster than guessing what broke. The catalogue ## Nine coding courses for robotics students Live online classes with one regular teacher, as a group or one to one. I ### First code Ages about 8 to 12 VIP / KID / 01 #### Coding for kids Blocks, games and logic. [Open the syllabus](/courses/kids-coding-blocks-masterclass) VIP / KID / 02 #### Scratch coding Loops and events, deeply. [Open the syllabus](/courses/scratch-programming-complete-course) VIP / KID / 03 #### Problem solving Steps and decomposition. [Open the syllabus](/courses/problem-solving-and-computational-thinking-for-kids)II ### Text code Ages about 10 to 15 VIP / TXT / 01 #### Python for kids From blocks to Python. [Open the syllabus](/courses/python-ai-kids-masterclass) VIP / TXT / 02 #### C++ for kids For future V5-level code. [Open the syllabus](/courses/cpp-programming-for-kids-course) VIP / TXT / 03 #### Math through coding Angles and distances in code. [Open the syllabus](/courses/maths-through-coding)III ### Build and invent Beyond the robot VIP / MAK / 01 #### Game development Logic with instant feedback. [Open the syllabus](/courses/game-development-masterclass-for-kids) VIP / MAK / 02 #### Hackathon prep Project planning for kids. [Open the syllabus](/courses/hackathon-prep-for-kids-coding-innovation-ai-projects-course) VIP / MAK / 03 #### AI literacy for kids How vision and AI work. [Open the syllabus](/courses/ai-literacy-for-kids-course) How lessons run ## Live coding lessons between team practices Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays. Weekdays After school, before or after team meetings. Weekends A calm slot before Saturday events. 1-on-1 Paced to one student’s robot and role. ### Concepts only We teach ideas; the team writes its code. ### Practice robots Our own tasks, never the team’s run. ### Ten-run counts Reliability measured, not hoped for. ### Blocks to Python One path, at each child’s pace. ### Any state Live online, coast to coast. ### Group size Fifteen to twenty per batch, or one student. Student work ## Projects from our students Games, apps and AI projects built by our learners. 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 Team registration and event fees go to the competition program; our fee is for coding lessons only. We bill monthly, so a student can take lessons through the season and pause after the last event. Free first class USD 0 no card required - A free first lesson - A short logic and sequencing check - No card details Book it Group batch USD 100 a month, billed in US dollars - Fifteen to twenty students - One regular teacher - Choose your batch - Monthly Start here One to one USD 150 a month, billed in US dollars - A private coding teacher - Lessons around your season - Concepts matched to your robot type Enquire What families say ## Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews Parents’ reviews from Google, as they wrote them. ★★★★★ "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 from families and coaches ## VEX IQ coding: what families ask ### What is the 2026-27 VEX IQ game? It depends on the program. The RECF Engage Robotics Competition, which uses VEX IQ hardware, plays Tier Takeover in 2026 to 2027. VEX Robotics runs its own competitions with their own game; its site refused our request, so check vexrobotics.com directly. ### How long is a VEX IQ solo coding match in Tier Takeover? The RECF Engage manual gives 60 seconds, the same as solo driving and alliance matches. The robot runs on pre-written code with no controller. ### Can you reset the robot during a solo coding match? Yes, in RECF Engage. Rule 4.1.2 says a reset can be used as a strategy, so code can be split into small segments, each launched from the starting position after a reset. ### How many solo coding attempts does a team get? Up to five solo match attempts per competition, shared between solo driving and solo coding however the team likes. The manual advises doing at least one solo coding match, because some awards use that score. ### Can a parent or tutor write the robot's code? No. The RECF Engage manual says adults may teach coding concepts but may not tell students what should or should not be in their code. We teach concepts on our own practice tasks; students write their team's code. ### Which sensors are legal on a VEX IQ robot in RECF Engage? The manual lists the VEX IQ Color, Optical, Distance, Touch and Gyro sensors, plus the AI Vision and Vision sensors added in version 2.0. Some LEGO sensors are legal on LEGO-based robots. ### What ages can compete in RECF Engage? Students in the 12U elementary category must be 12 or younger on May 6, 2027, and in the 15U middle school category 15 or younger on May 6, 2027. Each team has two or more students. ### Do RECF events qualify teams for the VEX Robotics World Championship? No. RobotEvents states that RECF competitions involving VEX products are not sanctioned by VEX Robotics and will not qualify teams for the 2026 to 2027 VEX Robotics World Championship. RECF Engage leads to the RECF World Championship instead. ### Should my child learn blocks or Python for VEX IQ? Younger students often start with blocks and move to text code later. We teach block coding first, then Python, because the logic transfers to whichever tool the team uses. ### When are your coding lessons? Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays. ### Are you connected with VEX or RECF? No. Modern Age Coders is independent and has no tie to VEX Robotics, Innovation First or the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation. VEX and VEX IQ are their owners' trademarks. Elsewhere on this site ## More for young coders and builders Competitions, coding classes and next steps. ### [US competitions calendar](/us-coding-math-and-ai-competitions-calendar) Coding, math and AI contest dates for 2026 to 2027. ### [Coding for elementary students](/coding-classes-for-elementary-students) First steps in code, grades K to 5. ### [Coding for middle schoolers](/coding-classes-for-middle-school-students) Where 15U robotics students go next. ### [C++ for kids](/c-plus-plus-for-kids) A first look at a compiled language. ### [ACSL preparation](/acsl-competition-preparation) A computer science contest with no robot. ### [Congressional App Challenge](/congressional-app-challenge-guide) Build an app instead of a robot. ## Related pages in this guide Part of the guide: [US math and coding competitions guide](/us-math-and-coding-competitions-guide) ### Coding and robotics - [Bebras Challenge practice](/bebras-challenge-practice) - [FIRST LEGO League coding help](/first-lego-league-coding-help-usa) - [FTC programming help](/ftc-programming-help) - [Science Olympiad coding events help](/science-olympiad-coding-events-help) - [ACSL competition preparation](/acsl-competition-preparation) - [Coding competitions for middle school students](/coding-competitions-for-middle-school-students) - [Coding competitions for high school students](/coding-competitions-for-high-school-students) ### Math contests - [MOEMS math olympiad preparation](/moems-math-olympiad-preparation) - [Noetic math contest preparation](/noetic-math-contest-preparation) - [Math League contest preparation](/math-league-contest-preparation) - [Continental Math League preparation](/continental-math-league-preparation) - [Math competitions for middle school students](/math-competitions-for-middle-school-students) - [Online math circle for kids](/online-math-circle-for-kids) - [Art of Problem Solving alternative](/art-of-problem-solving-alternative) ### Projects and next steps - [ISEF computer science project mentoring](/isef-computer-science-project-mentoring) - [Girls Who Code next step](/girls-who-code-next-step) - [After the Hour of Code](/after-hour-of-code-next-steps) - [US competitions calendar 2026-27](/us-coding-math-and-ai-competitions-calendar) More guides: [US state math tests by state](/us-state-math-tests-by-state) · [US gifted and selective school tests](/us-gifted-and-selective-school-tests-guide) · [US math placement and college readiness tests](/us-math-placement-and-college-readiness-tests) · [Homeschool and school math curricula guide](/homeschool-math-curriculum-guide-usa) Start here ## Book a free first lesson Tell us your child’s age, their robot’s brain type and whether they code in blocks or text. The teacher runs a short logic and sequencing task and suggests where to begin. To see our teaching style, read [how we teach](/how-we-teach), or explore the [full list of courses](/courses). [WhatsApp us](https://wa.me/919123366161?text=Hello%20Modern%20Age%20Coders%2C%20my%20child%20is%20on%20a%20VEX%20IQ%20robotics%20team%20in%20the%20US%20and%20wants%20help%20with%20coding%20the%20robot.%20Could%20we%20book%20a%20free%20first%20lesson%3F) · [+91 91233 66161](tel:+919123366161) · [connect@modernagecoders.com](mailto:connect@modernagecoders.com) Lessons are live video with teachers in India, booked at US after-school and weekend times. WhatsApp is usually the quickest way for families to reach us. ### 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 - [Vibe Coding Classes for Kids, Teens & College](/vibe-coding-classes) - [VCE Software Development Help](/vce-applied-computing-software-development-help) - [Vibe Coding for Beginners](/vibe-coding-for-beginners) - [VCE Data Analytics Help](/vce-applied-computing-data-analytics-help) - [Vibe Coding for Teens](/vibe-coding-for-teens) - [VCE Algorithmics (HESS) Help](/vce-algorithmics-hess-help) - [Coding Classes for Kids in North York](/coding-classes-for-kids-in-north-york-toronto) - [What Happens in a Demo Class](/what-happens-in-a-demo-class) - [NAPLAN Year 7 Numeracy Practice](/naplan-year-7-numeracy-practice) ### Free resources - [C++ Tutorial: From Basics to Advanced](/resources/cpp) - [Natural Language Processing (NLP) Fundamentals](/resources/ai-and-machine-learning/natural-language-processing) - [Strings - C-style and std::string | C++ Tutorial](/resources/cpp/strings-in-cpp) - [Arrays and Multidimensional Arrays](/resources/cpp/arrays-in-cpp) ### From the blog - [App Idea to App Store in 60 Days: Teen Developer's Complete Roadmap](/blog/app-idea-to-app-store-60-days-teen-developer-roadmap) - [Touch Typing for Kids: When to Start and How to Practise](/blog/touch-typing-for-kids) - [String Handling in Java: The ICSE and CBSE Guide](/blog/string-handling-in-java) ### Start here - [Book a free demo class with Modern Age Coders](/book-demo) - [Real projects built by Modern Age Coders students](/student-labs) Free class[Priority demo](/book-demo)[Call us](tel:+919123366161) --- *Canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/vex-iq-programming-help*