Bebras Mawhiba 2026 registration closes on November 22, 2026, with a parent contribution of SAR 60. The competition is for general education students in Saudi Arabia from Grade 3 through Grade 12. The official test takes place on December 5, so the registration deadline and competition day are separate dates.
For a student who enjoys puzzles, sorting information and finding patterns, Bebras offers an introduction to computational thinking. A useful starting point is to understand the challenge and try the official practice resources before deciding whether any extra preparation is necessary. This guide explains the application process and key dates, then offers practical suggestions for preparing without putting unnecessary pressure on a child.
Information checked on November 15, 2026 against Mawhiba and the official Bebras competition website. The preparation suggestions below are editorial guidance, not an official training programme.
Bebras Mawhiba 2026: important dates
| Stage | Published date |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | October 6, 2026 |
| Registration closes | November 22, 2026 |
| Practice test period | October 6 to November 29, 2026 |
| Official test | December 5, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. |
| Test duration | 60 minutes |
| Results announcement | January 5, 2027 |
| Medals sent to education departments | February 5, 2027, for distribution to students through those departments |
These dates come from the official 2026 timeline. The practice window extends beyond registration, which does not mean applications remain open until the practice period ends. Likewise, the medal delivery milestone refers to education departments; individual student collection arrangements can follow their local process.
Who is eligible to register?
Mawhiba identifies the target group as general education students studying inside Saudi Arabia, from the third year of primary school to the third year of secondary school. In international grade numbering, that is Grades 3–12. University students and children below Grade 3 fall outside this stated range.
Review the school grade recorded in the student profile before applying, especially when an account was created in an earlier academic year. An existing account makes it easier to return to the service, but it is still worth checking every relevant detail. Participation in a different Mawhiba programme should not be treated as confirmation of entry into this particular competition.
How to register through the official service
- Open Mawhiba’s Bebras service page and follow its registration button.
- Sign in and check the personal profile details carefully.
- Register for the service and read the terms displayed in the system.
- Accept the required conditions and pay the parent contribution using the available payment options.
- Return to the account, check the application status and retain the confirmation and payment reference for your records.
The first four steps summarise the official application route; retaining confirmation and checking status are practical organisational suggestions. Reaching a payment screen is not evidence that an application has been completed. If a message is unclear after payment, review the account or contact support before starting another transaction based on an assumption.
Completing the process early leaves room to deal with an outdated profile or account access problem. The published information gives a closing date; this guide does not invent a specific final-hour cutoff. A parent should handle payment and keep account credentials private, rather than sharing screenshots containing sensitive details in public groups.
How much does participation cost?
The current service page lists a SAR 60 parent contribution. This pays for participation and does not guarantee a medal or a particular ranking. Check the amount displayed by the official service when paying, especially if another article or social media post refers to an older edition.
Keep the competition contribution separate from any price quoted by an independent training provider. Before buying additional material, let the student explore the official library. A short practice session may show that the main need is to read instructions more carefully, manage time or become comfortable moving objects on screen, rather than purchase another course.
What does the competition involve?
The official Bebras website explains that students do not need programming knowledge to begin. The challenge centres on reasoning through problems, recognising patterns and developing logical steps. Its published structure contains 10 interactive tasks with four levels per task, and a total possible score of 400 points.
A useful habit is to pause before interacting with a question. Ask: what is the goal, which rules must remain true, and which details actually affect the answer? Turning a busy picture or a long description into a few clear constraints can make a problem feel more manageable.
An original example from SaudiWe
Imagine three cards: red, blue and green. They must be placed in a row. The red card must come before the blue card, while the green card must come after the blue card. The arrangement satisfying both rules is red, then blue, then green. Randomly moving cards may eventually work, but stating the two rules clearly reveals why this order is correct.
This is an original illustration, not an official competition question or leaked material. Its purpose is to show a thinking process: identify the constraints and test a proposed answer against each one. Asking a child to explain the choice is more informative than celebrating a correct answer reached by guessing.
A flexible seven-day preparation plan
The following plan is an editorial suggestion that families can adapt to a student’s age and schedule. It is not an official timetable or a promise of a particular score. Keep sessions short enough to sustain attention, and stop when practice becomes tiring or turns into repeated arguments.
- Day one: Explore the interface using the official Bebras library. Read instructions before moving any objects or choosing an answer.
- Day two: Practise breaking a problem into smaller steps. Describe the goal and rules in plain language.
- Day three: Look for patterns and relationships, then explain what repeats and why it matters.
- Day four: Review earlier mistakes. Separate a misunderstanding of the question from a rushed action or a missed condition.
- Day five: Try a timed session to observe how speed affects accuracy, without turning it into a family contest.
- Day six: Revisit selected tasks and explain the reasoning rather than memorising the location of the correct answer.
- Day seven: Check the device, account access and connection, and leave room for rest instead of adding a large set of new puzzles.
Parents can support preparation by creating a quiet environment and helping a child understand instructions. Asking “Which rule helped you decide?” leaves room for independent thought. Giving the full answer immediately removes that opportunity. During the official test, follow the competition’s independence and integrity instructions.
What to check before test day
The competition is delivered remotely using a desktop or laptop computer, according to Mawhiba’s 2026 announcement. Practise on the device that will actually be used, prepare its charger and arrange a quiet place. Confirm account access ahead of time. Do not assume that a phone offers the same supported experience without checking platform instructions.
Pay particular attention to submission. The service’s frequently asked questions state that multiple official attempts are not allowed and that a student cannot return after submitting. Read any confirmation message carefully. If a technical problem occurs, follow the official guide and support advice rather than relying on informal promises of a replacement attempt or recovered answers.
An immediate score and the final results are different milestones
The service says an electronic test result appears after completion, while the edition’s timeline schedules the results announcement for January 5, 2027. Distinguish a score displayed at the end from the subsequent official results and medal arrangements. A previous year’s medal cutoff should not be treated as a guaranteed threshold for this edition.
After the competition, discuss the experience in practical terms. Which problem was enjoyable? Where would slower reading have helped? What could the student try differently next time? That conversation helps turn participation into useful feedback, even when the outcome does not include a medal.
Quick questions before applying
Is registration free?
No. The current official parent contribution is SAR 60. Check the transaction amount before confirming payment.
Must a student know how to write code?
No programming knowledge is required to begin. Reading carefully and practising logical reasoning are more relevant starting points.
Does registration close when practice ends?
No. Registration closes on November 22, while the published practice period continues until November 29, 2026.
Where can families request help?
Use Mawhiba’s official channels. Its service page lists BebrasCare@mawhiba.org.sa for competition support. Describe the problem and when it happened, but never include the account password or bank card details.
