Softhard's blog

Rated or Unrated System should be included before Contest.
By Softhard, history, 2 years ago, In English

I think codeforces should include a system like rated or unrated before contest otherwise sometimes it effects the rating changes.As far as I know rating changes depends on number of participants when many participants see Problem A is a bit of difficult they quit the contest which reduces the number of participants. So if codeforces can bring a system like you have to ensure yourself whether you want to be rated or unrated just before the contest then It could be more fair who participated in the contest.

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +14 Vote: I do not like it

This is implemented at atcoder, you have to choose while registering. For me this is the better way to handle it.

The CF "opt-in-by-first-submission" forces me to find a decision that has actually not much to do with competitive programming. It just a strategical "should I really partitipate today?".

If it turns out later that the decision was wrong, that's a source of anger.

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    2 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

    Sometimes, you're not available for the whole duration of the contest. Even if you got late by say 15 minutes, you wouldn't want to do the contest. While rating isn't the first priority for many users, still I believe not many would want to lose their rating unnecessarily in such conditions and have to explain to their friends/colleagues that they got late, that's why couldn't perform to their optimum and/or why they got late.

    There are so many reasons why you wouldn't want to do a rated contest but still want the thrill of live participation that is unmatched in any other form. Maybe you're not well, maybe you'll will have to leave in between due to some emergency...

    Not only that, it comes with the added benefit of taking away (to a good extent),the motivation to create alts. Did you recently reach Master and don't want to lose your rank immediately? Participate in unrated manner instead of doing it from alt(s).

    While AtCoder implemented it before, I believe CF can thoughtfully implement this system and improve over their implementation in some ways.

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      2 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

      Have you tried virtual contests? They cover the "unrated" aspect.

      But in my opinion, the only major defect which ruins the whole thing is that virtual contests don't simulate the risk of FST. And this makes the experience very different. There was a blog post about system tests simulation in virtual contests a long time ago, completely ignored by Mike despite several pings.

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        2 years ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it +8 Vote: I do not like it

        Nah. Solving in a virtual contest is not even close to solving during an actual contest even when unrated

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