Thank you for all for loving LeetCode contests. To provide better contest and ensure the fairness, we listened to LeetCoders' feedback and put in lots of thoughts behind the updated contest rule. The new contest rule covers more scenarios with details explained.
Now, please take some time and read the rule thoroughly.
📌 Below actions are deemed as contest violation
- One user submitting with multiple accounts during a contest. LCUS (leetcode.com) account and LCCN (leetcode-cn.com) account are considered to be separate accounts, even if both accounts belong to the same user.
- Multiple accounts submitting similar code for the same problem.
- Creating unwanted disturbances that interrupt other users' participation in a contest.
- Disclosing contest solutions in public discuss posts before the end of the contest.
- The use of code generation tools or any external assistance for solving problems is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, actions such as inputting problem statements, test cases, or solution code into external assistance tools.
When a user is deemed violating contest rules, we will apply the following penalties on this user:
- First violation: ❗️ Contest score resets to zero, LeetCoin amount resets to zero and contest and discuss ban for 1 month.
- Second violation: 🚫 Contest score resets to zero and permanent account deactivation without appeal.
Other cases:
➡️ Hardcoding Test cases
Definition: The user has hardcoded some test cases using if-else statement.
To ensure the fairness of the contest, LeetCode will hide some test cases during the contest. When users submit incorrect submissions, LeetCode will not show the hidden test cases to the users.
Action: If the user use hardcoding test cases in the submission, but the submission get "Accepted", LeetCode will accept the submission as valid and no action would be taken against the user.
➡️ Precomputed results
Definition: The user has precomputed the result for some or all the test cases, and added the result directly into the submission.
Action: If a user uses precomputation in the submission, we recommend that users provide the code that was used to solve the problem AND the code that was used for precomputation in the submission. If the user’s code with precomputed results passes all the final test cases, LeetCode will view the user’s submission as a valid submission.
📌 Issues during LeetCode Contest:
In any case, users should submit the code that is correct to the best of their knowledge. If users find a Wrong Answer submission is judged as Accepted during the contest, users should continue to submit the correct code. LeetCode will calculate the final ranking based on the final judgment.
➡️ Test Cases Issues
Weak test cases
Weak test cases that cause some incorrect submission to be judged as "Accepted".
- In such scenario, Leetcode will add test cases and rejudge all the "Accepted"
submission.
Incorrect test cases
Incorrect test cases that cause some correct submissions to be judged as “Wrong Answer” and incorrect submissions to be judged as “Accepted”.
- The contest will be marked as unrated if more than 10% of the submissions’ result change after the rejudge of the incorrect test cases.
➡️ Technical issues during contest
If the technical issue impacts either LCCN or LCUS site that leads to a significant disadvantage for either side of the users, the contest will be unrated.
- If the site is slow, down, or if the 'Run Code/Submit' feature is completely down or experiences similar issues for 15 minutes or less, no action.
- For longer durations, the contest will be unrated.
📌 Rejudge rules
If the rejudge is executed, LeetCode will rejudge all the submissions that were submitted to the problem by users who were impacted during the contest. The first Accepted submission will be taken as the final result, and the "Wrong Answer/Time Limited Exceeded" submissions made prior to the first "Accepted" submissions will be counted for penalty time.
- If the submissions that should have been judged as “Wrong Answer” were judged as “Accepted” during the contest for any reason, LeetCode will rejudge all the submissions that got “Accepted” during this contest for the problem.
- If the submissions that should have been judged as “Accepted” were judged as “Wrong Answer” during the contest for any reason, LeetCode will rejudge all the submissions that got “Wrong Answer” during this contest for the problem.
- If the correct submissions were judged as “Wrong Answer”, and incorrect submissions were judged as “Accepted” during the contest for any reason, LeetCode will rejudge all the submissions that were made during this contest for the problem.
To help us maintain efficient contest ranking updates and a smooth user experience, we encourage you to contribute any test cases before Sunday midnight, Pacific Time. Please note that late submissions may be subject to rejection.
📌 Other issues
For any other issues that may arise in the contest, LeetCode will make a reasonable judgment based on the impact of the issues, and the principle of fairness. LeetCode's decision is final and will be announced in the contest discussion post.
