When I first joined Codeforces, Div. 2 felt like climbing Everest without training. Many beginners open a contest, see the problems, and quit before they even enjoy the platform. It made me wonder: what if there was a Division 5 — a safe space for absolute newcomers?↵
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Why Div. 5 could help↵
Confidence building: Newcomers could solve problems without the pressure of competing against Div. 2 regulars.↵
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Accessibility: Problems could be closer to “first steps” in programming contests — sorting, simple loops, basic math.↵
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Community growth: More beginners might stay active, eventually moving up to Div. 4 and Div. 3.↵
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Comparisons↵
Other platforms already do this:↵
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AtCoder has Beginner Contests.↵
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LeetCode weekly contests often start with very approachable problems.↵
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These formats show that beginner‑friendly divisions can work well.↵
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Open question↵
Would a Division 5 (or something similar, like beginner‑only practice rounds) make Codeforces more welcoming? Or should we instead improve existing Educational Rounds to serve this purpose?↵
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I’m curious to hear your thoughts. Do you think a Div. 5 would help, or is there a better way to support absolute beginners?
