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Codebusters

Division: A- Elementary School

Event Rules and Score Sheets: See 2024 Division A Rule Manual

Description:

Teams will cryptanalyze (decode) encrypted messages using cryptanalysis techniques and show skill with ciphers by decrypting a message.

Materials:

Teams must bring a writing utensil. No other resources are allowed.

Scoring:

High score wins.

Common Mistakes:

  • Students do not have to work through each cipher together – divide and conquer the test!  You are allowed to take it apart.

FAQs

Will the students be given the Caesar offset number or will they have to figure it out?

– If we give the Caesar offset, it will be worth less than if we don’t, but they might see it both ways!

What is the best way to study for this test?

  • Make test in the Codebusters tool – this is how all the tests will be made this year, so students should get used to the format.  They can make ciphers for each other too – you can’t break it, let them take a sentence and change the cipher type to see how it changes what will print on the page!

Event Resources:

The State event supervisor for Codebusters has set up a twitter handle to send out tips and tricks.  @NCSO_cb