The U0-U4 curriculum separates shared foundations from stage-specific work. CIT classes are available online or in person in Apgujeong in 1:1 and small-group (1:n) formats; official competition rounds remain onsite and proctored.
Published: May 16, 2026 | Last updated: August 29, 2026 · Based on official 2027 USAAIO information
The international-school route remains first. CIT preparation can be taken in person in Apgujeong or online across South Korea and overseas, but every official 2027 competition round is onsite and proctored. Online lessons do not replace an exam venue, proctor, device, account, or eligibility requirement.
CIT is an independent education provider, not the organizer or an authorized test site. Verify the 2027 competition page, Contest Rules, and official syllabus. CIT does not guarantee eligibility, advancement, awards, Team USA selection, admission, or search-platform placement.
The USAAIO (USA·North America AI Olympiad) is a Team USA selection pathway. Its official 2027 page lists IOAI (International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence) and IAIO, while the organizer's homepage separately mentions IAI²O AIIC. The 2027 page describes Round 1 as a three-hour English Google Colab proctored exam, followed by Round 2 and USAAIO Camp. Because each stage uses a different format, CIT designs separate modules by stage.
KOAI and USAAIO preparation can share Python, math, machine-learning, PyTorch, and computer-vision foundations, but the reviewed official materials publish no fixed overlap percentage. CIT compares the current official syllabus with what the student has actually learned. Classes can be taken online, while the official 2027 Round 1 exam must be proctored at a school or authorized site. For schedule, format, and eligibility details, see the USAAIO competition info page.
| Steps | Assessment core | CIT module |
|---|---|---|
| Shared foundation | Python, math, machine learning, PyTorch, and computer vision · re-diagnosed against the current official syllabus | F1·F2·A1·A2 |
| Eligibility & Registration | Published citizenship, residency, and school-enrollment category review + registration steps | U0 |
| Round 1 | 3 hours · Google Colab · CPU only · by-hand math + code | U1 → U2 |
| Round 2 | March or April 2027 · some Colab L4 GPU problems · venue not yet announced | A1·A2 → U3 |
| USAAIO Camp | Round 2 finalists' camp → Team USA; the 2027 page lists IOAI + IAIO | U4 Camp Prep |
USAAIO is demanding in eligibility, format, and depth of math. CIT doesn't push registration; instead, it precisely reinforces only the unique areas on top of the foundation shared with KOAI.
The official 2027 page says Round 1 is “open to everyone,” while the Contest Rules list specific citizenship, residency, and school-enrollment categories. Because their relationship is unclear, CIT checks the student's status and Team USA requirements and recommends written organizer confirmation for anyone outside the listed categories.
F1·F2·A1·A2 and USAAIO share Python, math, machine-learning, PyTorch, and computer-vision foundations. We do not publish a fixed overlap rate; the current official syllabus and student diagnostic determine what can be reused and what must be reinforced.
CIT prepares theory and programming as separate assessed skills. Practice combines LaTeX formulas and code cells in Colab, while by-hand derivation and from-scratch implementation are checked independently against the current syllabus and contest instructions.
Only students who meet both competitions' official requirements should combine KOAI and USAAIO preparation. We do not quantify or guarantee advancement probability, and we do not assume a particular university environment before the 2027 Round 2 and Camp venues are announced.
The structure layers the USAAIO-only track (U0-U4) on top of foundations also used in KOAI (E→F→A). The current syllabi and each student's diagnostic determine reusable scope; no fixed overlap is guaranteed.
E1 → E2 → E3 (elementary pipeline) → F1 · F2 (foundation) → A1 · A2 (advanced)
U0 Published-Rule Review + Registration Coaching → U1 Math + Colab Reinforcement → U2 Round 1 Mock Bootcamp → U3 Round 2 Bootcamp → U4 Camp Prep (if applicable)
Advance through Camp → official Team USA selection → the 2027 page lists IOAI + IAIO. The organizer homepage separately mentions IAI²O AIIC; verify the current pathway.
It consists of the shared foundation (same as the KOAI track) and 5 USAAIO-only modules. Click any course to see its goals, target students, hours, weekly overview, and assessment deliverables in detail.
Regression, classification, and clustering pipelines with NumPy/Pandas/scikit-learn. About 10 hours.
F2 · SharedHands-on implementation from MLPs to mini transformer models in PyTorch. About 14 hours.
A1 · SharedFrom CNNs to diffusion models. Classification, detection, segmentation, and generation tasks. About 10 hours.
A2 · SharedThrough BERT, LLM APIs, and Whisper. End-to-end text and audio. About 10 hours.
※ The 4 foundation modules are also used in the KOAI track. Prior work may be credited only after a diagnostic against the current syllabi; no fixed overlap or automatic exemption is promised. For details, see KOAI Prep Curriculum.
Review the published citizenship, residency, and school-enrollment categories, flag questions for the organizer, and support registration steps. About 2 hours of 1:1 consulting.
U1 · Round 1 reinforcementBy-hand math derivation + Colab markdown answer standardization. 10 weeks. About 10 hours.
U2 · Round 1 intensive3-hour / CPU-only format stamina, speed, and accuracy + wrong-answer log. 8 weeks. About 10 hours.
U3 · Round 2Selected Colab L4 GPU problems plus hands-on Transformers, NLP, CV, and generative AI. The 2027 venue has not been announced. Six weeks; about 13 hours.
U4 · Camp (if applicable)Team USA selection simulation + early exposure to the IOAI and IAIO finals. Adaptive scheduling. About 10 hours.
The competitions have different organizers, eligibility rules, and season-specific formats. This table summarizes only the currently verified distinctions; recheck each organizer's current notice before entering.
| Item | KOAI (Korea) | USAAIO (USA·Canada) |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Check the current KOAI notice | The 2027 page and Contest Rules differ; students outside the listed categories should ask the organizer |
| Round 1 assessment | Check the current KOAI notice | February 19, 2027 · three-hour Google Colab proctored exam |
| Exam venue | Check the current KOAI notice | Round 1 at a school or authorized site; Round 2 venue not yet announced |
| Exam language | Check the current KOAI notice | English |
| Math and code | Check the current KOAI notice | Current USAAIO syllabus and contest instructions control |
| Steps | Check the current KOAI notice | Round 1 → Round 2 → Camp |
| Endpoint | Team Korea → IOAI | The official 2027 page lists Team USA → IOAI + IAIO; verify current pathways |
The official 2027 schedule lists registration from June 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027, Round 1 on February 19, Round 2 in March or April, and Camp in June. Check the USAAIO Competition Guide and the organizer's page for exact times, venues, and changes.
| Timing (relative to season) | Courses run | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| When registration opens | U0 published-rule review | Review published status and school-enrollment categories + registration steps |
| Early season (fall semester) | F1·F2·A1·A2 (shared) | Run shared with the KOAI track |
| Round 1 D-10 weeks ~ | U1 (10 weeks) | Math + Colab reinforcement |
| Round 1 D-8 weeks ~ D-0 | U2 Bootcamp (8 weeks) | Round 1 format intensive |
| Round 1 results ~ just before Round 2 | U3 Bootcamp (5-6 weeks) | Qualifiers only · Colab L4 and proctored-exam preparation |
| Round 2 results ~ just before Camp | U4 Camp Prep | Round 2 finalists only · adaptive |
| After Camp | IOAI/IAIO 1:1 or small-group (1:n) coaching | Team USA selectees only |
The path branches based on eligibility type, grade level, and prior experience. We build an individual plan for each student in the first diagnostic session.
Enrolled at a Korean international school, holds U.S. citizenship
F1 → F2 → A1+A2 → U1 → U2 → U3. Parallel KOAI and USAAIO planning is considered only after checking both competitions' current eligibility, dates, and diagnosed overlap.
Enrolled at a Korean international school, holds a green card
U0 → F1 → F2 → U1 → U2 → take the USAAIO. Can also take the KOAI middle-school division at the same time upon reaching the eligible grade.
Published category appears applicable or organizer confirmation has been obtained; attempting the first season
U0 → U1 + U2 → Round 1 → depending on the result, advance to U3 or retry next season.
All times are recommended 1:1 hours. Depending on the student's prior knowledge, comprehension speed, and learning absorption, they vary by ±30-50%, and we build an individual plan for each student in the first diagnostic session.
| Course | Recommended hours | Range |
|---|---|---|
| U0 Published-rule review + registration coaching | About 2 hours | 1.5-3 hours |
| U1 Math + Colab reinforcement | About 10 hours | 6-14 hours |
| U2 Round 1 Mock Bootcamp | About 10 hours | 6-14 hours |
| U3 Round 2 Bootcamp | About 13 hours | 8-18 hours |
| U4 Camp prep | About 10 hours | 6-14 hours (self-study separate) |
| F1 Foundations I (shared) | About 10 hours | 6-14 hours |
| F2 Foundations II (shared) | ~14 hours | 10-20 hours |
| A1 CV Advanced (shared) | About 10 hours | 6-14 hours |
| A2 NLP & Audio (shared) | About 10 hours | 6-14 hours |
※ These hours are CIT internal planning estimates. Previously learned foundations may be omitted after diagnosis, but no fixed overlap percentage, added-hour total, or time-saving rate is guaranteed. Actual scope depends on the current official syllabus and the student's proficiency.
The official Contest Rules list U.S. or Canadian citizens or permanent residents, or full-time middle- or high-school students at a U.S. or Canadian school; students must also be under 20 on the first day of the international competition and not be full-time university students. However, the separate 2027 page calls Round 1 “open to everyone.” Because the relationship between those statements is unclear, students outside the listed categories should ask the organizer before registering and separately verify Team USA eligibility.
The competitions have different organizers, eligibility rules, and season-specific formats. The official 2027 USAAIO page describes Round 1 as a three-hour English Google Colab proctored exam using CPU. Round 2 is planned for March or April with some Colab L4 GPU problems, but its venue has not been announced. Check the current KOAI notice separately for its format.
Students who meet both competitions' current official eligibility requirements can re-diagnose the Python, math, machine-learning, PyTorch, and computer-vision foundation learned in KOAI F1·F2·A1·A2, then reinforce the USAAIO-specific format. The reviewed official materials publish no fixed overlap percentage or time-saving rate, so scope follows the current syllabus and the student's actual diagnostic results.
It consists of foundation F1·F2 and advanced A1·A2 that may overlap with the KOAI track, plus USAAIO-only U0 (published-rule review and registration coaching), U1 (Math + Colab reinforcement), U2 (Round 1 Mock Bootcamp), U3 (Round 2 Bootcamp), and U4 (Camp prep). The actual shared scope is determined from the current official syllabus and the student's diagnostic results.
Every course is available as a 1:1 or small-group (1:n) class, online or in person. The pace and scope are adjusted after diagnosis. Listed hours are CIT planning estimates, not organizer requirements or guaranteed completion times, and vary with prior knowledge and learning pace.
No. CIT lessons can be taken online across South Korea and overseas, but the official 2027 page says every competition round must be onsite and proctored at a school or USAAIO-authorized test site. Online lessons do not establish eligibility or replace the organizer's venue, device, proctor, account, or schedule requirements.
No. CIT is an independent education provider, not the USAAIO organizer or an authorized test site. Classes do not guarantee eligibility, registration, advancement, awards, Team USA selection, admission, or any search-platform placement. Current organizer rules and results control.
If a student advances through Round 2 and Camp and is selected for Team USA, the official 2027 page lists IOAI and IAIO as destinations. The organizer's homepage separately mentions an IAI²O AIIC pathway, so students should verify the current team, event, schedule, and eligibility details. CIT can provide event-specific preparation after the official pathway is confirmed, but does not guarantee selection.
The U0 review checks the published eligibility categories and flags when written organizer confirmation is needed. If the official requirements are met, CIT can design an individual path that uses diagnosed foundations shared with KOAI. CIT cannot decide official eligibility or guarantee advancement.