Codebusters

Welcome to Codebusters! In this event, teams will cryptanalyze and decode encrypted messages using cryptanalysis techniques for historical and modern advanced ciphers.

The information below should not be interpreted as an extension of the rules. You can find free online copies of the current rules for download on the 2023 Rules page of the Science Olympiad website. The official rules in the current Rules Manual take precedence.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Codebusters Overview - Use this link to access an overview of the Codebusters event containing information about various ciphers as well as instructional resources
• Cipher Summary - Use this link to find a breakdown of the Codebusters ciphers by Division & Tournament Type
• Codebusters Example Resource Sheet - This document provides teams and coaches with an example of what a Codebusters Resource Sheet could look like at a tournament. It is important to understand that the actual sheet may defer from what is posted here as it should be customized for each tournament by the Event Supervisor.
• Generating Cryptarithms for Science Olympiad Codebusters Video 
• American Cryptogram Association - has many examples of Aristocrats and Patristocrats, as well as some Xenocrypts
• Recommended Book Resources
• Lesson Plan on Cryptography 

Science Olympiad Store Materials 

• Codebusters Digital Download DVD
• 2023 National Test Packet
• 2022 National Test Packet
• 2020 National Test Packet
• 2019 National Test Packet

PRACTICE PROBLEMS & TESTS

• Codebusters Test Generator and Help Guide from NCSO
• Codebusters Exam Archive
• Additional practice problems 
• Codebusters Activities
• Cryptoclub practice problems
• New! Practice Test - 2023 Columbia University Invitational
• New! Practice Test - 2023 University of Michigan Invitational
• New! Practice Test - 2023 MIT Invitational
• New! Practice Test - 2023 Northmont Invitational
• New! Practice Test - 2023 Ohio State University Invitational
• New! Practice Test - 2023 Carolina Science Olympiad Invitational
• New! Practice Test - 2022 UT Austin Invitational
• New! Practice Test - 2022 Rickards Invitational
• New! Practice Test - 2022 Highlands Invitational
• New! Practice Test - 2022 BullSO Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 National Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 SOLVI Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 MIT Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 Northwestern Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 UChicago Invitational
• Practice Test - 2021 UT Austin Invitational
• Practice Test - 2021 BirdSO Invitational

EVENT SUPERVISOR RESOURCES 

In addition to the resources on the Event Supervisors page, Codebusters Event Supervisors should be sure to use the following resources:

• Practice Exam Writing Tool and Training Video
• Codebusters Exam Writer
• Event Logistics Manual (Updated 12/02/22 to fix an error with regard to resources allowed for Environmental Chemistry)

CAREER CONNECTIONS

• CareerOneStop - Intelligence Analyst
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Information Security Analysts
• Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security Career Cluster Information