APL Problem Solving Competition

The 15th annual APL Problem Solving Competition is now closed

Register now to be notified when the next competition launches in spring 2024

Dyalog Ltd is pleased to host the APL Problem Solving Competition. The challenge has two phases:

  • Phase I consists of ten simple problems that must all be solved.
  • Phase II consists of more complex problem sets that do not all have to be solved.

We encourage students at all levels of education, anywhere in the world, to participate. Non-students are welcome to submit solutions, but proof of enrolment in a full-time educational program is required to win a cash prize.

Thanks to our sponsors SimCorp and InvestCloud, substantial cash prizes are offered. In addition, the winner is invited to the next Dyalog user meeting to present their winning work.

The 2023 APL Problem Solving Competition

Phase II – Grand prize winner

  • Andrea Piseri, Università degli Studi di Milano (University of Milan), Italy

receives a cash prize of $2,500 USD, and an invitation to present his winning work at Dyalog '23 in Elsinore, Denmark

Phase II – second place

  • Rory Kemp (University of Oxford, U.K.)

receives a cash prize of $1,250 USD

Phase II – third place

  • Dzintars Klušs, Rīgas Tehniskā Universitāte (Riga Technical University), Latvia

receives a cash prize of $750 USD

Phase II – Winning Professional Entrant

  • Alexander Block

receives a delegate package registration for Dyalog '23 in Elsinore, Denmark

Phase II participation awards (randomly selected from all entries that include a correct solution to any problem)

  • Kamila Szewczyk, Universität des Saarlandes (Saarland University), Germany
  • Daniel Vlasits, University of Cambridge, U.K.
  • Oskar von Seeler, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Georg August University of Göttingen), Germany
  • Madeline Vergani, Liceo Statale Scientifico e Classico "E. Majorana", Desio (Scientific and Classical State High School “E. Majorana”), Italy
  • Qifan Wang, Auburn University, Alabama, U.S.A.

each receive a cash prize of $200 USD (5 awarded)

Phase I winners (selected based on most well-written, accurate, submissions)

  • Brian Ellingsgaard, Tekniski Skúli í Klaksvík (Klaksvik Technical School), Faroe Islands
  • Mitchell Johnstone, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
  • Federico Landonio, Università degli Studi di Milano (University of Milan), Italy
  • Tzu-Ching Lee, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
  • Andrea Piseri, Università degli Studi di Milano (University of Milan), Italy
  • Gabriele Ronzoni, Università degli Studi di Milano (University of Milan), Italy
  • Kamila Szewczyk, Universität des Saarlandes (Saarland University), Germany
  • Madeline Vergani, Liceo Statale Scientifico e Classico "E. Majorana", Desio (Scientific and Classical State High School “E. Majorana”), Italy
  • Oskar von Seeler, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Georg August University of Göttingen), Germany
  • Mehdi Zribi, Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan), Italy
each receive a cash prize of $100 USD (10 awarded)

Previous Years

Details of the problems set in previous years (and the appropriate workspaces to help solve them) can be downloaded from the table below; this table also includes information on the main prize winners for each year. Phase I questions from 2013 onwards are also available online, with automatic solution validation.

Our blog includes posts relating to some of the problems set in previous years, with pointers on how they might be solved.

Weekly APL Quest chat sessions (with subsequent videos and demo code) investigate past Phase I questions.

YearTasksMaterialsWinnersWinners' PresentationsAPL Quest
2023 -
2022
2021 -
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012 - n/a
2011 n/a
2010 n/a
2009 n/a n/a