ag._.'s blog

Wrong submission penalty: Fixed versus proportional
By ag._., history, 2 months ago, In English

Currently, the system is that each wrong submission leads to a fixed penalty of 50 points irrespective of the maximum points available for a problem. This means that for each wrong submission, one can lose as much as 20% of the points for a problem notionally rated 250 and only 2% of the points for a problem rated 2500. I am not sure if this fixed penalty system is a good system.

Perhaphs a proportional penalty system would be better where each wrong submission leads to a 4% penalty. This would mean that a 250-rated problem generates a 10 point penalty for a wrong submission and a 2500-rated problem generates a 100 point penalty.

Such a proportional penalty system would also be consistent with the current time penalty system which for most competitions works as 0.4% penalty per minute. Therefore a 4% penalty for a wrong submission will translate to a 10-minute time penalty, which is also what we use for ICPC style contests on codeforces.

If there is a way to do a poll, I could add that here. I am only gathering views and don't know if downvoting the blog entry is a disapproval for seeking views or expression the opinion that fixed penalty system is better.

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2 months ago, # |
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2 months ago, # |
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If all people are equally affected, then net no effect on ranking table.

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    2 months ago, # ^ |
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    But then the same logic applies for time penalty. The proposed system brings consistency between the two.

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2 months ago, # |
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I think it's bad idea since getting accepted from a 800 rated problem is very easy with at most a few submissions. On the other hand, it's harder to get accepted a 2500 problem, and mostly more attempts are required. Getting a wa on a 2500 problem != gettin a wa on a 800.

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    2 months ago, # ^ |
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    I agree with what you are saying. Getting a WA on a 2500 problem is not the same. If you can solve a 2500-rated problem then the error on 250-rated problem is likely due to misreading the problem etc and should not be penalised with 20% cost. If you are a newbie, a 250-rated problem may be the only problem you solve and 20% penalty is again too harsh.

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2 months ago, # |
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